Jan Norris: Food and Florida

Got mangoes? I just bet you do! This year has produced a bumper crop (so called because the fruit’s up to the bumpers of the cars in the yard) of the tropical fruit here in South Florida, thanks to a late bloom after a freeze.

Lassi – a street drink

Here’s a lassi recipe – a common street drink in India and Africa, where they use buttermilk, or a thickened yogurt, pureed with the mango to produce a sweet-tangy shakelike drink.

To my Southern friends, and those who, like me, are allergic to mangoes: Peaches work deliciously in this recipe in equal measure. You can put the ice in the blender if you want; it’s not traditional to make a slushy, however.

Mango lassi

• 3/4 cup medium-dice mango
• 3/4 cup plain whole-milk yogurt (or buttermilk)
  
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• Crushed or cracked ice
• Mint leaves, optional
  

Combine all ingredients except ice in a blender and process until smooth, about 30 seconds.

Pour into tall glasses over crushed ice. Garnish with mint leaves if desired.

Makes 2 lassi.

Recipe courtesy Victoria Nodarse, as presented by the Fairchild Tropical Gardens Mango Festival.