Back-to-school days! I hope your holiday break was a happy one. Now that you’re back in school, whether you’re studying in a classroom, learning online, or your school is where your home is, you need food to keep your brain and body going. And a Banana Lassi is just the thing! It makes a great breakfast with a slice of toast, or a snack that keeps you going until dinner time. This recipe is from What’s on Your Plate? Exploring the World of Food by Whitney Stewart, a children’s cookbook that is loaded with recipes for the beginning cook from around the world.
Banana Lassi
What You Need
- 2 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced1 (Ask a grown-up to help you with this until your elbows reach the countertop without standing on your tippy toes.)
- 1 cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt
- 2½ cup milk
- 1 tbsp honey
- Pinch each of cinnamon and cardamom
What You Do
- Combine ingredients in a blender until smooth.
- Serve at room temperature or over ice in your favorite glass, and sip through a straw if you’d like.
Helpful Hints and Hacks
- We all occasionally have a banana or two that are at the peak of ripeness and we’re just not ready to eat them. Rather than let them go brown, peel those ‘nanas, cut them in half, put them in a ziplock bag, and freeze them. When you are ready to make a banana lassi, take out a couple frozen bananas, slice them up and toss them in the blender with the other ingredients. This will make your lassi smooth and chilly!
- So that your blending will go smoothly (haha—see what I did there?), add all your liquid ingredients to the blender first and blend until smooth. Then add the remaining ingredients and blend again.
Variations: Here’s where it gets fun!
- For some pop of yellow color in your banana lassi, add 3 or 4 drops of yellow food coloring and blend with the liquid ingredients.
- Want something a little more exotic? Add a pinch of cinnamon, cardamom, or nutmeg.
- You can make this a power-laden morning breakfast drink by adding ¼ vanilla protein powder.
- Add 2 tbsp peanut butter for a PB&B after-school snack.
- Chocolate banana shake anyone? Add 3 – 4 tbsp chocolate syrup OR 2 tbsp hot fudge sauce with the liquid ingredients.
- Use other fruits! Some to try would be strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, kiwi, or mango. You could even combine fruits if you like.
A banana lassi is a great way to start your morning or wrap up a day of learning. It’s nice and cool, and it’s easy to make! Wishing you an exciting and successful second half of your school year! Ciao for now!
Reviewed by Anne
