Fall

Spiced maple carrot lassi: iced or warm

by:
February 26, 2011
4.5
2 Ratings
Spiced maple carrot lassi: iced or warm
  • Serves 1-2
Author Notes

After testing out savory shakes I have moved to the lassi. I like the combination of flavors here to bring out the carrot. I have spiced this with very fresh spices, a bit of juice from a Cara Cara orange (which my market ordered special for me), and light ginger. Even though the iced version looks smooth, it still has plenty of fiber: In the raw version you will have fine raw carrot to enjoy chewing, not just sipping along the way. For a more traditional completely smooth lassi, you should use lightly cooked carrots vs. raw. The spices are further developed with the cooked carrots in version two. You can let the carrots cool and then process with ice.This option led me to try a completely warm version by adding all the ingredients to the pan for a slow simmer. This was the first time I made a warm version of a lassi. I really love the pale orange color it becomes. And ah, the comfort of a warm drink on a snowy day! So here it is, one lassi three different ways. —Sagegreen

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 cup finely grated raw organic peeled carrots
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground green cardamom (ground seeds from 1 pod)
  • 1/8 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon Saigon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon Meyer lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon zested peeled fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon real maple syrup (more for the warm version)
  • 1 tablespoon linden or acacia honey, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice (sweet like a Cara Cara)
  • 1 cup thick Greek yogurt, fage
  • 2 ice cubes, crushed (for iced version)
  • sprinkle of cardamom, nutmeg and cinnamon for garnish
  • fresh mint leaves for garnish
Directions
  1. Use the spices which you really like and feel free to vary the amounts to favor particular ones. For the iced option one: Combine the spices, carrot, fruit, honey, syrup, zest and juice ingredients in a blender to puree: Process. Then add the yogurt and ice cubes. Process until smooth.
  2. Pour into glasses and garnish with mint leaves and a sprinkle of all the spices you like.
  3. For option two, put the grated carrots, spices, honey, maple syrup, zest and juice in a sauce pan. Cook until the carrots are softened, about 5-8 minutes. Let cool. Then process in a blender with the yogurt and ice. Serve as in Step 2.
  4. For the warm option three, (where I suggest a bit more sweetener, maybe 1/2 tbl. more of honey) cook the carrots with sweeteners, juice and zest until soft, about 5 minutes. Then add the yogurt and simmer gently for another 5 minutes, but do not boil. Process in the blender and then pour into heat tolerant glasses. Garnish with spices and a drizzle of maple syrup.
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9 Reviews

JoanG
JoanG February 27, 2011
You create the most intriguing recipes. I am going to try this!
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen February 27, 2011
Thanks so much, JoanG! Let me know what version you make and what you think. At first I only thought this could be raw, but the cooked versions are really nice in different ways. I loved your martini recipe, too.
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen February 27, 2011
We have another snowy morning today! So I decided to make a completely warm version of this lassi. A new comfort drink! It is really smooth. I wonder if there is a carrot liqueur for spiking....afternoon, of course.
 
TheWimpyVegetarian
TheWimpyVegetarian February 26, 2011
This looks fabulous!!!
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen February 26, 2011
Thanks, CS. Can't wait to hear more about your blog! How exciting.
 
TheWimpyVegetarian
TheWimpyVegetarian February 26, 2011
Thanks!! I'm very excited about it! I've got the beginnings built but have quite a bit more to do once I get past a class I'm teaching next weekend. It came out of a 1-month experiment I did with going (mostly) vegetarian last October that ended up taking on a life of its own.
 
hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour February 26, 2011
This sounds really refreshing!
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen February 26, 2011
Thanks, hla!
 
Sagegreen
Sagegreen February 26, 2011
My camera battery just died, so I drank up the recipe already, but will make more..soon...do want to feature a photo of the finished lassi.