RAITA | YOGURT DIPS – 13 WAYS

Raita or Pachadi is an Indian condiment consisting of yogurt, spices, herbs along with diced or grated vegetables or fruits. Owing to a lot of our recipes being prepared with hot spices and the weather being mostly hot and humid throughout the year in most parts of the country, Raita is a staple in every Indian Household since yogurt is known for its cooling properties. Raita is often served as an accompaniment or a side dish with the usual Dal, Rice or Roti and especially a must alongside Biryani. It has the power to make any boring meal, satisfying. Yogurt is such a versatile ingredient, yet most homes make a very basic raita everyday but today I’m going to tell you 13 easy ways you can make delicious yogurt based thick raita which you can have with your meals. I don’t know what you’d call this in English, but the closest I could think of was a dip! For your ease, I’ve created an Index below. simply click on the headings to jump to the recipe. There are no specific measurements of ingredients. So be free to adjust as per your taste.

INDEX

Vegetable Raita

Aloo Raita

Boondi Raita

Pudina Raita

Pomegranate Raita

Spiced Raita

Fruit Raita

Colourful Raita

Palak/Bathua Raita

Makhana Raita

Cool Herbs Raita

Sour Raita

Okra (Bhindi) Raita

My Grandma’s Tempered (Tadka) Raita

INGREDIENTS USED IN DIFFERENT RECIPES:
1 Cup Thick Yogurt (Dahi)
Chopped Tomato
Chopped Onion
Chopped Cucumber
Boiled Potatoes
Chopped Coriander Leaves
Chopped Mint Leaves
Chopped Green Chilli
Chopped Pineapple
Chopped Mango
Pomegranate Seeds
Grated Beetroot
Grated Carrot
Spinach Leaves (Palak)
Bathua (Lamb’s Quarter)
Dill Leaves
Okra (Bhindi)
Ginger
Garlic
Lemon Juice/ White Vinegar
Carom Seeds (Ajwain)
Cumin Powder
Red Chilli Powder
Pepper Powder
Saunf Powder (Fennel Seeds Powder)
Store Bought Boondi
Makahna (Fox Nuts)
Milk
Rock Salt as per taste

METHOD 1 – Vegetable Raita

• Beat Yogurt till it looks smooth and creamy.
• In a bowl, add chopped Tomato, Onion and Cucumber along with Coriander and/or Mint Leaves.
• Add Salt & Red Chilli Powder.
• Also add in the beaten Yogurt and mix well.
• Serve cold with your favourite recipes like – Roti-Sabji, Biryani and other Rice dishes.

METHOD 2 – Aloo Raita

• Beat Yogurt till it looks smooth and creamy.
• In a bowl, add chopped boiled Potatoes.
• Also add chopped Coriander Leaves and chopped Green Chilli.
• Add the beaten Yogurt.
• Add salt and mix well.
• Sprinkle some Red Chilli Powder and Cumin Powder.
• Serve cold with your favourite recipes like – Roti-Sabji, Biryani and other Rice dishes.
  

METHOD 3 – Boondi Raita

• Beat Yogurt till it looks smooth and creamy and add to a bowl. .
• Add store-bought Boondi.
• Add little salt since the Boondi will be a little salty.
• Add chopped Coriander and Mint Leaves.
• Add some milk, because the boondi will absorb the water from the curd and make it thick if stored. Mix well.
• Sprinkle some Red Chilli Powder and Cumin Powder.
• Serve cold with your favourite recipes like – Roti-Sabji, Biryani and other Rice dishes.

METHOD 4 – Pudina Raita

• In a mixer-grinder or blender, add washed 1/2 cup of Coriander and Mint Leaves mix.
• Add Salt, 1 Tsp Cumin Powder, 1/2 Inch Ginger and 2 Garlic Cloves, 1/2 Green Chilli.
• Add a cup on Yogurt.
• Blend everything very well.
• Serve cold with your favourite recipes like – Roti-Sabji, Biryani and other Rice dishes.

METHOD 5 – Pomegranate Raita

• Beat Yogurt till it looks smooth and creamy and add to a bowl. .
• Add Pomegranate Seeds.
• Add Chopped Mint Leaves.
• Add Salt and mix well.
• Sprinkle some Cumin Powder.
• Serve cold with your favourite recipes like – Roti-Sabji, Biryani and other Rice dishes.

METHOD 5 – Spiced Raita

• Beat Yogurt till it looks smooth and creamy and add to a bowl.
• Add Red Chilli Powder, Cumin Powder, Chaat Masala, Pepper Powder and Salt.
• Add some chopped Coriander Leaves, Mint Leaves and Green Chilli.
• Mix well and serve cold with your favourite recipes like – Roti-Sabji, Biryani and other Rice dishes.

METHOD 6 – Fruit Raita

• Beat Yogurt till it looks smooth and creamy and add to a bowl.
• Add Red Chilli Powder, Cumin Powder and Salt.
• Add some chopped Mint Leaves.
• Add chopped Pineapple/Mango Pieces. You can also add Pomegranate Seeds.
• You can add sweetener of your choice, but it’s totally optional. Mix well.
• Sprinkle some Saunf Powder.
• Serve cold with your favourite recipes like – Roti-Sabji, Biryani and other Rice dishes.

METHOD 7 – Colourful Raita

• Beat Yogurt till it looks smooth and creamy and add to a bowl.
• Add grated Beetroot and grated Carrot.
• Add chopped Green Chilli along with some Salt.
• Mix well and garnish with chopped Coriander Leaves or Mint Leaves.

METHOD 8 – Palak/Bathua Raita

• Beat Yogurt till it looks smooth and creamy and add to a bowl.
• Add washed and blanched, cooled-off and chopped Spinach (Palak) or Bathua Leaves.
• Crush some Carom (Ajwain) Seeds with your palm and add to this.
• Add salt. Mix well.
• Serve cold with your favourite recipes like – Roti-Sabji, Biryani and other Rice dishes.

METHOD 9 – Makhana Raita

• Beat Yogurt till it looks smooth and creamy and add to a bowl.
• Add roasted crunchy, crushed Makahna (Fox Nuts).
• Add Salt, Cumin Powder, chopped Coriander Leaves and Mint Leaves. Mix well.
• Sprinkle some Red Chilli Powder.
• Serve cold with your favourite recipes like – Roti-Sabji, Biryani and other Rice dishes.

METHOD 10 – Cool Herbs Raita

• Beat Yogurt till it looks smooth and creamy and add to a bowl.
• Add any one or all 3 of these leaves – Mint Leaves, Coriander Leaves, Dill Leaves.
• Also add chopped Green Chilli, Grated Ginger and Cucumber.
• Add Salt and some crushed Carom Seeds. Mix well
• Sprinkle with some Red Chilli Powder.
• Serve cold with your favourite recipes like – Roti-Sabji, Biryani and other Rice dishes.

METHOD 11 – Sour Raita

• Beat Yogurt till it looks smooth and creamy and add to a bowl.
• Add Lemon Juice or White Vinegar.
• Add Salt and Pepper Powder.
• Mix well and serve cold with your favourite recipes like – Roti-Sabji, Biryani and other Rice dishes.
• Best served with Mexican recipes like Burrito Rice Bowl and Tacos, like Sour Cream.

METHOD 12 – Okra (Bhindi) Raita

• Beat Yogurt till it looks smooth and creamy and add to a bowl.
• Add chopped and sauteed Okra.
• Add Red Chilli Powder, Cumin Powder and Salt.
• Mix well and serve cold with your favourite recipes like – Roti-Sabji, Biryani and other Rice dishes.

METHOD 13 – My Grandma’s Tempered (Tadka) Raita

• Passed on from my grandma to my mum to my brother and to me, do check the recipe here – TEMPERED CUCUMBER CREAMY YOGURT