Spiced Vegan Mango Lassi {paleo + vegan}

This bright and refreshing spiced vegan mango lassi is the perfect warm weather drink! A vegan twist on a classic yogurt based Indian drink that’s made with with fresh or frozen mango, dairy free yogurt, ice, cardamom, and cayenne for a little kick!

A quick note on this recipe! The original version of this post was published back in 2015. Since then I’ve re-tested the recipe, updated the photographs, and the content. I’m republishing it for you today to enjoy! I hope you continue to make and love this spiced vegan mango lassi. xo

When mango season is in full swing, it’s always my mission to take advantage of the sweet fruit in as many ways as possible!

This spiced vegan mango lassi is one of my favorite ways to highlight the flavor of a perfectly ripe mango.

This lassi makes an excellent breakfast or snack that tastes surprisingly like dessert (YES!), and could not be easier to make.

With a few simple ingredients that are customizable based on what you have on hand, you’ll be sipping on one of these refreshing vegan mango lassi drinks in NO TIME!

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Now you might be wondering…

What exactly IS a mango lassi drink?

Mango lassi is a popular Indian drink that is made with fresh or frozen mango, yogurt, and some varied spices.

Lassi is actually a broader term for a blended yogurt drink that can be made either sweet or salty.

This vegan mango lassi definitely falls into the sweet category, although I do actually include a pinch of salt in the recipe to balance out the flavors. Unlike more traditional recipes that use sugar, this recipe rely’s on the natural honeyed sweetness of ripe mango pulp.

If the mango you’re using is not very sweet, you can always add a little bit of honey or maple syrup to sweeten the drink naturally.

Essentially a mango lassi is very much like a simple smoothie or yogurt drink that is made with just a few delicious and healthy ingredients. Cool and refreshing, it is the perfect warm weather drink.

This mango lassi is:

• Perfectly sweet + tart
• Lightly spiced
• Healthy
• Easy to make
• Restorative
• Crave-able
• Nourishing

How to make a spiced vegan mango lassi

The beauty of this fruit forward beverage is that to make it all you need to do is slip the simple ingredients into your blender and process until smooth and creamy. The finer points of making the MOST delicious lassi possible are tied more to the quality of the ingredients than the method.

Ingredients

This sweet and refreshing Indian inspired drink is made with a few simple ingredients. And because it’s made with2 just a couple of key ingredients, you want to find the best that you possibly can.

What you need to make this vegan mango lassi:

• Fresh or frozen mango
• Dairy free yogurt – my personal favorite store bought dairy free yogurt is by the brand COYO. For a homemade version – This 2 ingredient version by the Minimalist Baker is an awesome recipe
• Ice cubes
• Water
• Honey or maple syrup to sweeten (as needed – sometimes the mango itself is sweet enough without adding any additional natural sweeteners)
• Cayenne
• Cardamom
• Sea salt

Atlaufo / honey mango season is in full swing right now, and they are the cheapest and sweetest you’ll find them all year. They’re my absolute favorite mangoes for making this healthy mango lassi.

Pro tip: When these sweet and tender mangos are on sale, often grocery stores will sell them for an even bigger discount if you buy them by the case. Grab a case or two and wait until they’re perfectly ripe before peeling and cutting into blend-able chunks. Freeze the pieces to save for a rainy day. I promise you’ll be SO happy that you did!

What makes this spiced vegan mango lassi healthy

Hot coffee on a cold morning, slipping into your favorite pair of jeans, the ripest raspberries straight from the bush in the middle of the summer – the best things in life are simple, don’t ya think?

And this mango lassi is exactly that.

Perfectly uncomplicated & perfectly balanced in flavor, texture, and nutrition.

It hits all the major points of a winning snack in my book – healthy fats, fiber, vitamins + minerals.

This mango lassi drink is healthy because it contains:

• Nourishing and anti-inflammatory fats from dairy free coconut yogurt
• Ripe mango that is bursting with vitamin C, minerals, fiber, anti-oxidants, and phytochemicals that may sooth and protect your digestive tract
• Warming spices to stoke our digestive fire
• Mineral rich sea salt to promote hydration and mineral balance in the body

Dietary modifications

Because this lassi is made with dairy free yogurt, the recipe is already vegan.

To make this mango lassi Whole30 friendly: Technically, there is not any yogurt that is Whole30 approved. That’s because on a Whole30 diet the goal is to move away from consuming the processed and pre-packaged that we so often rely on. There are however, a few dairy free yogurts that are Whole30 compliant. This article from Olive You Whole is a great resource that breaks down why ditching yogurt all together on your Whole30 journey is encouraged, and what specific brands are and are not Whole30 compliant.

You would also need to omit any additional natural sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup.

To make this mango lassi paleo friendly: Make sure your dairy free yogurt is free of any added sugar, gums, or binders that are made from grains. Many dairy free yogurts will use rice starch in particular to thicken the yogurt.

A few notes on the recipe

• This mango lassi is make ahead friendly! It will keep in the refrigerator for about 2 days.
• The spices are completely customizable. You can leave out the cardamom and/or cayenne if you don’t have any on hand or don’t like the taste.
• If you happen to have rose water on hand (maybe leftover from this honey rose margarita? 😉) try adding a teaspoon or so to this mango lassi!
• Both fresh and frozen mango work for the recipe. If you’re using frozen mango you may want to reduce or omit the ice so the lassi doesn’t end up too thick.
• Don’t have any mango but still want to try your hand at making a lassi? Substitute another sweet fruit instead! Strawberries, papaya, or kiwi are all fun alternatives to mango!

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