Pistachio Lassi with Lemon & Cinnamon (Baklava Lassi)
Lassi meet Baklava! This creamy, sweet yet refreshing baklava inspired lassi with pistachios, lemon, cinnamon and dairy-free yogurt is the perfect drink for cooling you down on a warm day. Think of it as an Indian milkshake with a Middle Eastern twist.
Calling all lassi lovers: Here’s a fresh, summery spin on one of my all-time favorite desserts: Baklava! Have you ever tried it? It is a sweet dessert made of layers of flaky phyllo pastry filled with crushed pistachios and/or walnuts and sweetened with syrup.
I took the flavors of this delicious Middle Eastern dessert – lemon, cinnamon and of course pistachios – and combined them into a delicious refreshing Indian lassi that is perfect for a hot day.
What’s a lassi?
Lassis are a refreshing blended drink originating from the Punjab region. It is usually made with dahi (yogurt), water, spices, and sometimes mint or fruit to add some flavor. It is basically a yogurt-based milkshake or smoothie.
Lassis come in all kinds of flavors, some are salty, while some are sweet. You might have tried the most popular variety – mango lassi – at Indian restaurants. This lemon pistachio lassi is my new favorite flavor! You’ve got to try it!
If you ask me anytime is a good time for a Lassi but it’s especially soothing after a spicy curry. So next time you’re looking for a light dessert drink to finish a spicy meal, Lassi could be the drink you are looking for.
More refreshing drinks:

Print Recipe
Baklava Pistachio Lassi
Lassi meet baklava! This creamy, sweet yet refreshing baklava inspired lassi with pistachios, lemon, cinnamon and dairy-free yogurt is the perfect drink for cooling you down on a warm day. Think of it as an Indian milkshake with a Middle Eastern twist.
Servings: 1
Calories: 523kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240 ml) non dairy milk
- 2 tablespoons pistachio plus more for garnish
- 2 tablespoons almond flour optional
- 6-7 dates
- Zest of ½ lemon
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup (245 g) non-dairy yogurt
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or sugar optional as needed
Instructions
Add the milk, nuts, almond flour and dates to a blender and blend for a minute then let it sit for 5 minutes and then repeat 3 or 4 times until all the nuts are well blended in.
Then add yogurt, lemon zest and cinnamon and blend again.
Taste and adjust flavor, add more maple syrup or sugar if you want it sweeter.
Then pour it over in glasses at least ½ filled with ice cubes and serve.
This makes a really thick lassi. You can add ice cubes to the mixture when you add yogurt to blend some in so that it becomes a little lighter.
Notes
Variation flavor: add some vanilla.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Baklava Pistachio Lassi
Amount Per Serving
Calories 523
Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Sodium 357mg16%
Potassium 479mg14%
Carbohydrates 76g25%
Fiber 9g38%
Sugar 53g59%
Protein 14g28%
Vitamin A 69IU1%
Vitamin C 31mg38%
Calcium 693mg69%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Ingredients:
- nondairy milk – use your favorite kind, I like almond or oat
- I like using pistachio nuts for my baklava so I also picked them for making my lassi but walnuts or a blend of walnuts and pistachios would also work
- almond flour adds some more nutty flavor. I use it instead of walnuts as those can add a strong flavor
- I add some dates for sweetness – Medjool dates blend up the easiest
- lemon and cinnamon are quintessential to that typical baklava taste
- use your favorite non-dairy yogurt for this recipe – plain allows for the flavors to stand out the most but if you prefer vanilla, use that
- for some extra sweetness, I add a small amount of maple syrup in the end but depending on your taste you might not need it. Taste the lassi as you blend it
Tips:
- If you want a more milkshake-like consistency and it’s a hot day, either blend in some ice as well or serve over ice cubes.
- For a frothy consistency, add some sparkling water when blending
- I like to add some vanilla here but cardamom is also a great addition and goes so well with the pistachios
- If you don’t have any pistachios, use raw walnuts instead
How to make Baklava Lassi
Add the milk, nuts, almond flour and dates to a blender and blend for a minute then let it sit for 5 minutes, then repeat 3 or 4 times until all the nuts are well blended in.
Then add yogurt, lemon zest and cinnamon and blend again.
Taste and adjust flavor, add more maple syrup or sugar if you want it sweeter.
This pistachio lassi recipe makes a really thick and rich lassi. If you want to lighten things up, add ice cubes to the mixture when you add the yogurt to blend some in so that it becomes a little lighter.