🌶️ Salty Masala Lassi

Green chili, fresh cilantro, ginger, black salt & thick yogurt — Ambassadors Clubhouse NYC

5 min
Savory & Spiced
Tall glass, well-chilled
Ambassadors Clubhouse
0% ABV
  • 150g thick Greek yogurt
  • 1 Indian green chili, roughly chopped (seeds removed for less heat)
  • 8 fresh cilantro sprigs
  • 1cm fresh ginger, grated
  • ½ tsp kala namak (black salt)
  • ¼ tsp roasted cumin powder
  • 80ml cold water
  • Ice
  • Cilantro sprig, cumin pinch & green chili slice to garnish

  1. 1
    BlendBlend yogurt, green chili, cilantro, ginger, kala namak, roasted cumin, and cold water until smooth and pale green.
  2. 2
    TasteTaste for salt and heat balance.
  3. 3
    StrainOptional: strain through a fine sieve for a smoother texture.
  4. 4
    ServePour over ice in a tall chilled glass. Garnish with cilantro sprig, a pinch of cumin, and a chili slice.

About This Drink

In Punjab, the homeland of lassi, the drink comes in two fundamental forms: sweet (meethi) and salty (namkeen). The salty version is far less known outside India but far more interesting to adventurous drinkers — it is yogurt seasoned like a raita (the cucumber-yogurt condiment) and blended to a pourable consistency. Ambassadors Clubhouse's version takes the namkeen lassi tradition and adds green chili and fresh ginger, giving it a heat profile that transforms it from a side drink into a serious beverage in its own right.

Kala namak (black salt) is absolutely essential here — its sulphurous quality gives the salty lassi its distinctive character. Regular salt tastes flat in comparison. The green colour should be vivid; if it fades quickly, add the cilantro last and blend briefly. This drink is remarkable with fried Indian food — it cools the palate far better than cold water.

Restaurant
Ambassadors Clubhouse, Midtown Manhattan, New York City
Origin
India — namkeen (salty) lassi tradition of Punjab
Flavour
Savory & Spiced · Easy
Restaurant
Ambassadors Clubhouse
Address
Midtown Manhattan, New York City
Style
Indian cocktail bar & lounge
Accolades
Midtown's standout Indian cocktail destination

Ambassadors Clubhouse brings an aristocratic sensibility to Indian cocktail culture — drinks that draw from the era of Indian diplomatic gatherings, colonial-era clubs, and Mughal court traditions. The menu is sophisticated without being austere, featuring regional Indian ingredients in cocktails designed to be talked about as much as drunk.

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