Raita:
Raita is basically a preparation using curd or yoghurt . It is easy to make, very nutritious, versatile and goes well with rice varieties like pulav as well as with paratha or chappathi. You can prepare different types of raitas using a variety of vegetables and fruits.
You can try variations. For example, you can spice the raita with chilli powder and roasted cumin powder. You can use chopped green chillies also. It will be fun to experiment with different combinations and decide what suits you best.
Onion tomato raita :
This is one of the easy raitas to make. To make this you will need:
Plain yoghurt or curd - 2 cups
Finely chopped onions and tomatoes - 3/4 cup
Finely chopped coriander leaves - 1 tbsp.
Chopped green chillies - 1 or 2 depending upon how spicy they are.
Salt - 1/4 tsp ( adjust according to your taste)
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 1tsp.
Take the yoghurt in a bowl and whisk it till smooth. Add the chopped tomatoes, onions, coriander leaves and salt and mix well.
Heat oil in a small pan, add the mustard seeds. When it splutters add the chopped green chillies and fry a little. Add it to the yoghurt mixture and mix well. Serve the yoghurt cold with rice or chappathis.
Spinach raita :
To make spinach raita, you will need:
Plain yoghurt - 2 cups
Finely chopped blanched spinach leaves - 1/2 cup
( the spinach leaves should be washed and then blanched by immersing them in boiling water for about 20 seconds and immediately plunging them in cold water. This will soften the leaves and at the same time the green color will be retained. Squeeze out the leaves and then chop them fine.)
Finely chopped green chilly - 1
Salt - to taste
Freshly ground pepper - 1/2 tsp.
Mix all the ingredients with the well beaten yoghurt along with pinch or two of sugar. Serve chilled.
Cucumber raita:
A 'cool' raita ideal during summer. To make this you will need:
Plain yoghurt - 2 cups
Finely chopped cucumber pieces - 3/4 cup ( I prefer chopping the cucumber fine as grating will make it mushy)
Chopped coriander leaves - 1/2 tsp.
Salt - 1/2 tsp ( more or less as per taste)
Red chilli powder - 1/4 tsp.
Roasted cumin powder - 1/4 tsp.
Mix all the ingredients with well beaten yoghurt and serve chilled.
Raita is basically a preparation using curd or yoghurt . It is easy to make, very nutritious, versatile and goes well with rice varieties like pulav as well as with paratha or chappathi. You can prepare different types of raitas using a variety of vegetables and fruits.
You can try variations. For example, you can spice the raita with chilli powder and roasted cumin powder. You can use chopped green chillies also. It will be fun to experiment with different combinations and decide what suits you best.
Onion tomato raita :
This is one of the easy raitas to make. To make this you will need:
Plain yoghurt or curd - 2 cups
Finely chopped onions and tomatoes - 3/4 cup
Finely chopped coriander leaves - 1 tbsp.
Chopped green chillies - 1 or 2 depending upon how spicy they are.
Salt - 1/4 tsp ( adjust according to your taste)
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 1tsp.
Take the yoghurt in a bowl and whisk it till smooth. Add the chopped tomatoes, onions, coriander leaves and salt and mix well.
Heat oil in a small pan, add the mustard seeds. When it splutters add the chopped green chillies and fry a little. Add it to the yoghurt mixture and mix well. Serve the yoghurt cold with rice or chappathis.
Spinach raita :
To make spinach raita, you will need:
Plain yoghurt - 2 cups
Finely chopped blanched spinach leaves - 1/2 cup
( the spinach leaves should be washed and then blanched by immersing them in boiling water for about 20 seconds and immediately plunging them in cold water. This will soften the leaves and at the same time the green color will be retained. Squeeze out the leaves and then chop them fine.)
Finely chopped green chilly - 1
Salt - to taste
Freshly ground pepper - 1/2 tsp.
Mix all the ingredients with the well beaten yoghurt along with pinch or two of sugar. Serve chilled.
Cucumber raita:
A 'cool' raita ideal during summer. To make this you will need:
Plain yoghurt - 2 cups
Finely chopped cucumber pieces - 3/4 cup ( I prefer chopping the cucumber fine as grating will make it mushy)
Chopped coriander leaves - 1/2 tsp.
Salt - 1/2 tsp ( more or less as per taste)
Red chilli powder - 1/4 tsp.
Roasted cumin powder - 1/4 tsp.
Mix all the ingredients with well beaten yoghurt and serve chilled.
