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!
