Mango Just-Milk Shake

Author Notes

This recipe is featured in the story, 4 Milky Indian Elixirs to Soothe & Sweeten Your Day, sponsored by Milk Life.

This recipe is adapted from an old Parsi (Indian-Zoroastrian) cookbook called Jamva Chaloji. The author, Katy Dalal, has a recipe for something called “Cold Milk,” which has organic milk, sugar, ground pistachios, vanilla extract, cardamom, and nutmeg. Intrigued as I was, my eyes shifted to a different recipe for something that was actually what it sounded like: Mango Milkshake, which only has mango, organic milk, and sugar, to taste. I drink it like I would a smoothie, either for breakfast or as a post-workout drink, but I can’t think of an occasion where such a simple, humble mix of ingredients wouldn’t fly.

It's tempting to skip heating portion of this recipe, but boiling and simmering the milk thickens it, as well as intensifies the sweetness. Use the opportunity to infuse it with a flavor you like: I like vanilla, but cardamom, cinnamon, even a chile pepper, would be fine additions here. —Nikkitha Bakshani