Try this easy mango lassi smoothie recipe for a sweet snack that offers up some equally sweet nutrient benefits. You get the vitamin C and provitamin A-packed mango, along with some protein from Greek yogurt for staying power. There’s no added sugar here, and if you don’t like banana, I’m giving you multiple options to sweeten this lassi up! Banana haters deserve some no added sugar smoothie options too.
My local Costco carries a large selection of ripe and delicious fruit at all times of the year. I can’t claim that the fruit is all locally grown. However, when I’m craving some fresh fruit outside of the growing season, they have what I need.
I recently purchased a case of ataulfo mangoes (sometimes referred to as Champagne mangoes). These mangoes tend to be a little smaller than other varieties. They are my favorite mango flavor-wise because they are sweeter and creamier than the other types.
The lack of fibrous texture in Champagne mangoes makes them the perfect candidate for a smoothie. And what better way to feature mangoes in a smoothie than to make a mango lassi?
Mango lassi is a simple drink made of blended mango, yogurt, and spices. If you’ve had a mango lassi at an Indian restaurant in the U.S., you may guess an additional ingredient: sugar. The mango lassi drinks sold in the restaurants here are often extremely sweet.
I believe the Dietary Guidelines recommendation to limit added sugars is good advice that can benefit many. As such, I wanted to show you how easy it is to create a mango lassi smoothie without the added sugar. All the sweetness here is provided by the fruit and the dairy, just like in my strawberry cucumber smoothie.
Banana hater? I still have you covered!
It seems like many no added sugar recipes incorporate bananas, which is not so great for banana haters! I am giving you two options for sweetening things up here: bananas or pureed dates. Pick the one that suits your preferences.
I can purchase packages of pureed dates in the international section of my local grocery store. If you cannot find these, puree fresh dates in a food processor with a little water. Fresh dates are in the produce section; they are not the same as the dried date bits in the baking section.
The benefit of using dates over bananas is that you don’t end up with that lingering banana flavor. The version made with dates tastes more like authentic mango lassi, IMHO.
The downside of using pureed dates is that they may not blend as smoothly as the frozen bananas. If you have a high-speed blender, you should be able to incorporate your dates to get a smooth smoothie. This won’t be an issue.
On the other hand, if you lack a high-speed blender, your smoothie may have some texture from tiny, unblended date bits. If you are making your own date puree, this may be less of a problem. The date puree sold in stores is packed into a dense block, unlike when I make it at home.
I liked the textural variation, but my husband seemed to prefer the creamier banana version more. I’m offering you both options here so you can decide on your favorite.
Whatever fruits you use, make sure they are very ripe before trying this recipe! Most of the sweetness in this recipe comes from the fruit, so you want any mangoes and bananas to be at their peak.
And now for the disclaimer…
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The calorie information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be wildly inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
For more information on how the three recipe levels may help with a weight management goal, refer to this post. Let’s get cooking!
Mango Lassi Smoothie- No Added Sugar!
Ingredients
- 1 cup peeled and chopped Champagne mango (about 2 fresh mangoes, or use mango thawed from frozen to save time)
- 1 medium frozen banana, broken into chunks OR use 1.5 ounces/42.5 grams of pureed (fresh) dates
- ⅔ cup plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt (low-fat)
- ½ cup milk, 2%
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until completely smooth. Wasn't that easy?
- Note: If you are using the dates, I recommend using a high-speed blender or you may end up with small date bits in your smoothie.
Notes
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Calories given are for the banana version of the smoothie. The date version clocks in at 263 kcal per serving (i.e., no big difference between the two). This is a relatively high-calorie beverage that is easy to consume quickly. As such, it is an excellent option for those with high energy needs that are having trouble eating enough. You can use whole milk dairy and add chopped pistachios for garnish to increase the calories even more. For those with a fat loss goal, I would incorporate it into a small meal rather than have it as a snack. Another option is to make the smoothie into popsicles. This divides the recipe into smaller portions that must be eaten more slowly.
Nutrition
Do you prefer the banana version or the date version of this mango lassi smoothie? Have you ever tried cutting back on added sugars? Did you find that it helped you to appreciate the natural sugars in fruit more, or was there no difference?
Drop me a comment below and share your thoughts!
Terrified Amateur says
Mangoes are the most pursued fruit in the world, and you've shown us why, Summer. Thanks for reminding us why popular and good needn't exclude each other.
Summer Yule says
Thanks! A question for you, my online foodie friend: have you ever tried Pakistani mangoes? Supposedly they are the very best mangoes in the entire world, so good that Americans familiar with the fruit have resorted to buying them on What's App because they cannot be found in the stores here.
A few weeks ago, the Proof podcast had a couple of really interesting episodes talking about the Pakistani mangoes. They are titled "Underground Aams Trade" (Parts 1 & 2), if you are interested. Hopefully I will get to try them at some point!
Terrified Amateur says
No, Summer, I haven't. Would it diminish your regard much to read I haven't heard, even, of the Pakistani variety? Your endorsement has inspired my curiosity, though, and it's all I need to get started. "Bloodhound, Search!" Clap-Clap!
Around here, at least, it's Florida mangoes in season, Mexican mangoes at off times. I welcome the opportunity to expand the fruit universe. Thanks!
Summer Yule says
No problem! Apparently people are going to great lengths to get this particular mango, so I'm thinking they are really special!
Brian Hardin says
Great smoothie idea! An added bonus of the champagne mango is they ripen faster. I try to limit refined sugar as much as possible and let the natural fruit sweetness shine. Thanks for posting!
Summer Yule says
Thank you so much! I definitely agree that fruit by itself can be sweet enough 🙂
alisendopf says
Oh my goodness! All your recipes look amazing. I can't wait to try this one.
Summer Yule says
Thank you so much! I hope that you enjoy it. I'd love to hear whether you opted for the dates or the banana!