CUCUMBER MINT RAITA

I'm making more dips and today it's Raita. Raita is a condiment from the Indian subcontinent, made with dahi (yogurt, often referred to as curd) together with raw or cooked vegetables. The main ingredients are Yogurt, buttermilk, cucumber, and mint. Raita has a cooling effect to contrast with spicy curries and kebabs that are the main fare of some Asian cuisines. In Indian cuisine, some type of flatbread may be eaten together with raita, chutneys and pickles.The yogurt may be seasoned with coriander, roasted cumin seeds; mint, cayenne pepper, chaat masala and other herbs and spices. So you can make your Raita as spicy as you want or plain. Dips are great for snacks like Chips/Crisps, Fresh Vegetables and even Indian flat bread. This minty sauce with a creamy yogurt base is a classic Indian side. Cumin and black mustard are fried. This tempering is then mixed with minced, raw vegetables or fruits (such as cucumber, onion, carrot, pineapple, papaya) and yogurt.  Raw ginger and garlic paste, green chili paste, and sometimes mustard paste are used to enrich flavor. Raitas can be prepared with three main base ingredients: vegetables, pulses and fruits. These are mixed with yogurt and flavoured with a variety of seasonings to make different types of raita. There are various variations to the Raita. Vegetable Raitas are: Tomato onion raita, Cucumber raita, Carrot raita, Pumpkin raita, Potato raita, Mint and peanut raita, Spinach raita, Horned melon raita, Beetroot raita, Calabash raita (Bottle Gourd raita), Brinjal raita. There are also Pulse raitas which are: Sprouted green gram raita, Boondi raita, Bhujia sev raita. Finally Fruit Raitas: Banana raita, Mango raita, Guava raita, Grape raita, Pineapple raita, and Pomegranate raita. Raita is served as a side dish to be eaten with main course dishes. Some of the dishes that you can have with Raita are Biryani, Pulav (pilaf), Seekh kabab and Paratha- Indian dishes. Raita can even be enjoyed as a Sauce or dressing though it is not the original traditional way of having it. Serve this minty goodness with some Ugali Fries. Yum!

Ingredients

-250 ml plain Yogurt
-1/2 Cucumber
-1/4 Teaspoon Salt
-1 Jalapeno Pepper
-1/2 Bunch Mint Leaves

Method

-Finely chop or grate your Cucumber

-Finely chop the Mint Leaves

-De-seed the Jalapeno Pepper and finely chop

-Take the chopped Cucumber, place it in a clean paper towel and wring out all excess water
-Doing this will prevent the Raita from becoming watery from the Cucumber

-Water wringed out of the Cucumber

-Pour the Yogurt in a small bowl
-Add the Cucumber
-Add the Mint
-Add the Jalapeno Pepper
-Add the Salt
-Mix the mixture until well incorporated

-Refrigerate the Cucumber Mint Raita for a few hours until ready to serve

-The Raita is delicious enough to be eaten on it's own

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CUCUMBER MINT RAITA

by Mulunga Alukwe August-9-2017

Ingredients

• 250 ml Plain Yogurt
• 1/2 Cucumber
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
• 1 Jalapeno Pepper
• 1/2 Bunch Mint Leaves

Instructions

-Finely chop or grate your Cucumber -Finely chop the Mint Leaves-De-seed the Jalapeno Pepper and finely chop-Take the chopped Cucumber, place it in a clean paper towel and wring out all excess water. Doing this will prevent the Raita from becoming watery from the Cucumber-Pour the Yogurt in a small bowl-Add the Cucumber. Add the Mint. Add the Jalapeno Pepper. Add the Salt-Mix the mixture until well incorporated-Refrigerate the Cucumber Mint Raita for a few hours until ready to serve

Details

Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: Total time: 15 mins Yield: 4 Servings