Raita Recipe

An authentic Raita Recipe– an Indian yogurt sauce with cucumber, mint and cilantro. Cooling and refreshing, serve this with spicy Indian dishes to help cool the palate. Video!

Our work (career) is the excuse by which we get to love people. We are put in exactly the place we need to be, to love the people we are around. ~Panache Desai

Here’s a very simple Indian sauce or condiment called Raita that pairs deliciously well with spicy Indian dishes to help refresh and cool the palate. It comes together in about 5-10 minutes – very quick and easy!

I know many of you won’t need the recipe, the experienced cooks out there can probably make this in your sleep! But thought I share this Raita Recipe with the new chefs out there, or those of you who are new to Indian cooking. It’s a basic Indian staple that I find often comes in handy and can be paired with many dishes! Another easy sauce to add to your growing repertoire.

Raita was the one condiment I was so thankful for in India, to help balance out all the incredible heat and spice! It allowed me to keep eating… ahaha! Like a cool breeze on the palate.

This version of Raita is made with plain yogurt, fresh cucumber, fresh mint and cilantro and spices. There are many variations in India and many other kinds of Raita, not just Cucumber Raita, but here is a basic recipe that most are familiar with.

Prep the ingredients (cut the onion, cucumber & herbs) and place in a bowl with the yogurt and spices. Stir!

Raita is delicious served alongside most spicy Indian dishes, cooling the palate. We also love it with:

Raita Recipe- an Indian yogurt sauce with cucumber, mint and cilantro. Cooling and refreshing, serve this with spicy Indian dishes to cool the palate.

Using toasted whole seeds (cumin and coriander) really elevates this!

Keywords: Raita, raita recipe, raita sauce, indian yogurt sauce, what is raita?, how to make raita

Raita Recipe

Raita is a quick side dish made with curd, veggies, spices & herbs. It is usually eaten as a side with pulao, biryani, kebabs or snacks.

Prep: 5min

Total: 6min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 108 kcal, Carbohydrate 13 g, Protein 5 g, Fat 4 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Sodium 280 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 9 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1 cup curd ((fresh plain yogurt, more if required))
• 1 medium onion (chopped (2 to 4 tbsps))
• ½ cup cucumbers ((peeled & chopped))
• ¼ teaspoon salt ((adjust to taste))
• 1 to 2 green chilies (deseeded & chopped)
• 1 to 2 tablespoons coriander leaves ((chopped finely cilantro))
• ½ teaspoon cumin powder (or roasted jeera (optional))

Instruction:

1. Optional – Roast 1 tsp cumin seeds on a low flame until it smells good. Cool this and crush them to fine powder in a spice jar.
2. Garnish with cumin powder on top. Serve raita with biryani, pulao, kebabs or paratha.

Raita Recipe

Raita Recipe- an Indian yogurt sauce with cucumber, mint and cilantro. Cooling and refreshing, serve this with spicy Indian dishes to cool the palate.

Prep: 15min

Total: 15min

Yield: 6

Nutrition Facts: servingSize None, calories 43 calories, Sugar 3.8 g, Sodium 85.9 mg, Fat 2.6 g, Saturated Fat 0.7 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Carbohydrate 4.9 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 0.9 g, Cholesterol 3 mg

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup whole milk plain yogurt ( or sub coconut yogurt)
• ½ cup finely diced or grated cucumber (removed seeds first)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped red onion (optional, sub chives or green onion)
• 2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice, more to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted, crushed ( or use ground)
• ½ teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted, crushed ( or use ground)
• 2-3 tablespoons chopped mint
• 2-3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• ¼ teaspoon salt, more to taste
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• for heat, add 1-2 teaspoons finely minced serrano peppers- optional
• garnish with fresh herbs, chive blossoms or chili flakes

Instruction:

1. Place all ingredients in a bowl and stir.
2. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Traditional Indian Raita

Can’t take the heat? Then eat some raita. In India, the condiment is used to cool the palate.

Prep: 10 minutes

Total: 10 minutes

Yield: Makes 1 cup

Ingredients:

• ½ cup plain yogurt
• ½ cup chopped seeded English hothouse cucumber
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 teaspoons chopped green onions
• ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin

Instruction:

1. Mix all ingredients in medium bowl. Season to taste with salt. Chill raita, covered, until ready to serve.

Cucumber Raita

Creamy, Refreshing, cooling, and comforting to the palate, this Cucumber Raita is a perfect side dish to go with Biryani, Pulao, or any Indian Meal!

Prep: 10min

Total: 10min

Yield: 5

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 serving, calories 109 kcal, Carbohydrate 4 g, Protein 9 g, Fat 6 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Trans Fat 0.01 g, Sodium 530 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 1 g, unSaturated Fat 5 g

Ingredients:

• 1 Big Cucumber
• 2 cups curd (also known as dahi or plain yogurt)
• 1 tsp Black Salt or to taste
• 1 tsp Roasted cumin powder
• Mint leaves (finely chopped)
• 2 tsp Oil
• 1/2 tsp Urad dal
• 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
• 1/8 tsp hing
• 2 green chilies (split into half)
• 7 curry leaves

Instruction:

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2. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Take the cucumber and peel the skin. Now take a grater and grate the cucumber.Note – Check the taste of the cucumber before grating. If it has a bitter or sour taste, then do not use it.’, ‘name’: ‘Take the cucumber and peel the skin. Now take a grater and grate the cucumber.Note – Check the taste of the cucumber before grating. If it has a bitter or sour taste, then do not use it.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.cookingcarnival.com/cucumber-raita/#wprm-recipe-5796-step-0-1’}
3. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Squeeze out excess moisture from grated cucumbers and keep it aside.Notes – 1. The grated cucumber should be one cup, after removing excess water.2. Dont through cucumber water. Use it to make dal, curry, dough or simply drink with salt added.’, ‘name’: ‘Squeeze out excess moisture from grated cucumbers and keep it aside.Notes – 1. The grated cucumber should be one cup, after removing excess water.2. Dont through cucumber water. Use it to make dal, curry, dough or simply drink with salt added.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.cookingcarnival.com/cucumber-raita/#wprm-recipe-5796-step-0-2’}
4. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘In another bowl, take yogurt, grated cucumber, mint, black salt, and roasted cumin powder. Mix them very well. Keep it aside.’, ‘name’: ‘In another bowl, take yogurt, grated cucumber, mint, black salt, and roasted cumin powder. Mix them very well. Keep it aside.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.cookingcarnival.com/cucumber-raita/#wprm-recipe-5796-step-0-3’}
5. {‘@type’: ‘HowToSection’, ‘name’: ‘Tempering (Optional)’, ‘itemListElement’: [{‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Heat oil in a pan. Add urad dal. Saute it until light golden brown.’, ‘name’: ‘Heat oil in a pan. Add urad dal. Saute it until light golden brown.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.cookingcarnival.com/cucumber-raita/#wprm-recipe-5796-step-1-0’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Now add cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Let it splutter. Add hing, curry leaves, and green chilies.’, ‘name’: ‘Now add cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Let it splutter. Add hing, curry leaves, and green chilies.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.cookingcarnival.com/cucumber-raita/#wprm-recipe-5796-step-1-1’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Stir it and switch off the flame. Add this tempering into Raita. Mix well.’, ‘name’: ‘Stir it and switch off the flame. Add this tempering into Raita. Mix well.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.cookingcarnival.com/cucumber-raita/#wprm-recipe-5796-step-1-2’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Cucumber Raita is ready. Serve this with Biryani, Pulao, or with Roti-Sabzi.’, ‘name’: ‘Cucumber Raita is ready. Serve this with Biryani, Pulao, or with Roti-Sabzi.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.cookingcarnival.com/cucumber-raita/#wprm-recipe-5796-step-1-3’}]}

How to Make Cucumber Raita (Indian Cuisine Video)

FAQ

What is raita sauce made of?

What is the difference between raita and tzatziki?

How to make the perfect raita?

1. Add curd and salt to a mixing bowl. Whisk them until smooth with a fork or a whisk.
2. Next add chopped cucumbers, onions, cumin powder, coriander leaves and green chilies.
3. Stir gently. If required add more yogurt. …
4. Garnish with cumin powder on top. Serve raita with biryani, pulao, kebabs or paratha.

How do Indians eat raita?