There are many types of lassi in Punjab, including paira lassi, barfi lassi and now fruit-flavoured lassis. — White Star
“People want sweet lassi and a kulcha or paratha stuffed with chicken or mince for breakfast. Many people have salted lassi with all three meals during the summers,” he said.
Abdullah, who owns a shop in Saddar, said people come to his shop for a drink of lassi in the afternoon and that many people also prefer to add various sharbats to their drink.
He said though more people were asking for flavoured lassi, they still preferred the original sweet and salted versions with their meals.
Mustafa Ahmed, a resident of Purana Qila said lassi is rich enough to substitute a meal.
“We come for Multan and in the summers, we would not have lunch and would have mangoes, lassi and some bread instead,” he said.
Rana Sabir Ali, a resident of Mohanpura said lassi was also used to make one of the favourite dishes in summer that is karee.
“There is an old saying in Rajput families of Punjab that there will always been karee and saag in their homes as karee is made from lassi which has gone sour and spinach is also easily found,” he said.
A customer at Kashmiri Bazaar, Tauseef Ahmed said he likes lassi because it does not have preservatives.
“A glass of lassi is must after a breakfast of nihari and sri paya,” he said.
Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2017