Sip a Mango at Sanaa

Sometimes a sweet comes along that is beyond delicious. A backbeat of creamy yogurt with high notes of sweet mango make this an unusual and memorable end to a savory meal at Sanaa at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. (It’s on the “non-alcoholic specialties” menu, but we prefer it for dessert.)

A cross between a smoothie and a milkshake zapped with the tartness of yogurt, the vibrant drink is served in India as an aperitif or as a side with fiery cuisine. But we love it for an offbeat meal closer. Whip up a batch, then stash in the fridge (just whip it again in the blender or whisk just before sipping).

Mango Lassi is just one of the creative tastes at Sanaa (sah-NAH), where the menu showcases tastes of the islands of the Indian Ocean that are all part of Africa. And there’s a feast for the eyes, too, with a savannah with African animals just a few yards from the restaurant and tall windows for viewing. Do you have a favorite Sanaa dish?

Mango Lassi
(Chilled Mango Yogurt Drink) Serves 4
2 cups ripe mango, chopped
Pinch of salt
1 cup chilled whole milk
1 cup whole-milk plain yogurt
2 to 3 teaspoons sugar, optional

1. If mango has stringy fibers, push through a nylon sieve with the back of a spoon. The remaining mango should not contain any stringy pulp. Refrigerate until cold.
2. Combine mango, pinch of salt, milk and yogurt in a blender and puree until smooth. Taste and add sugar to taste. If you would like the lassi a bit colder, add about eight ice cubes to the blender. Can be refrigerated up to 24 hours.