Raita Anyone??

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
Raita Anyone??
9
Mon, 01-03-2005 - 1:22pm

This message is really for ummimran or anybody else who has a recipe for Raita. She posted a recipe for a dish called Chole. It sounded really good. She suggested serving with Raita which she promised to post the recipe but hasn't as yet!

Can you please post the recipe or if anyone else has a recipe they want to share, I am interested!

Thanks in advance....

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2004
In reply to: jspmommy
Mon, 01-03-2005 - 6:29pm

This is the recipe I have - I don't know how authentic is would be compared to ummimran's, but it is easy to make & yummy! ( =


HTH,


Bets


Raita
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup sour cream
3 cucumbers, seeded and chopped
1 tomato, seeded and chopped

   

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
In reply to: jspmommy
Mon, 01-03-2005 - 9:41pm

I have a much simpler version. I have never used sour cream or tomato, and when I get raita in indian restaurants it doesn't usually have tomato, though that sounds good too. I don't have a recipe, though I must have at one time. I don't have any specific measurements, just depends on the amounts:

Plain non-fat yogurt, probably half of a large container
Equal amount of grated cucumber - 1 medium size for this amount of yogurt
pinch of cayenne
2 pinches of cumin
Sometimes, if I have it, I'll add some chopped mint.

Mix all ingredients together and you are good to go.

This is easy to make and so delicious with indian food.

Ellie

Ellie


Loving mom to


Isaac and Naomi

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2004
In reply to: jspmommy
Mon, 01-03-2005 - 9:50pm

Here's the recipe I usually use.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
In reply to: jspmommy
Mon, 01-03-2005 - 10:54pm

Thanks everyone for your recipes and suggestions. I can't wait to try these.

One question for Cathy, in your opinion which tastes better? Raita with the mint or cilantro. I like both..Can't decide which would taste better?

Your opinion?

Thanks again, everyone...

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2004
In reply to: jspmommy
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 7:19am
I also like both mint and cilantro.
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Avatar for starwynde
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: jspmommy
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 2:50pm

Here's an authentic "recipe" for you. This is how my MIL taught me to make it.

Stir up some plain yogurt and thin with a little warm water. Add a little salt, a splash of white vinegar, and a pinch of sugar (I just leave the sugar out) If we have some coriander chutney (see below) we will add a little of it, just until the yogurt turns light green. Optional to add finely diced onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes. I like it best with all three veggies. Coriander chutney is made with fresh cilantro, a little lemon juice, and a little coconut all blended together.

Unfortunately, I don't have measurements for any of these ingredients, but here are some recipes from my Indian cooking websites that look good. Raita is a very flexible thing, and yogurt is really the only constant I've noticed.

Sameera

Cucumber Raita http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Woods/9843/menu.html

* Plain Yoghurt- 1 cup
* Finely chopped cucumber- 1/2 cup
* Chopped coriander- 1 tsp
* Cumin powder- 1/8 tsp
* Salt
* Pepper
* Red chili powder- a pinch

Whisk the yoghurt with little water. Add the cucumber. Season with salt, pepper & cumin powder and mix well. Sprinkle the red chili powder on top & Garnish with chopped coriander.

Onion Raita

* Plain Yoghurt- 1 cup
* Finely chopped onion- 2 tablespoons
* Finely chopped tomatoes- 3 tablespoons
* Green chilies- 1 (finely chopped)
* Chopped coriander- 1 tsp
* Cumin powder- 1/8 tsp
* Salt

Whisk the yoghurt with little water. Add onion, tomato & green chili. Season with salt and cumin powder. Garnish with chopped coriander.

Basic Raita http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/3925/
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped tomato
1/2 cup chopped cucumber
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves
2 cups thick curds(yoghurt)
Salt to taste

Method
Mix together all the above ingredients in a large bowl and chill.
Prepare about 1/2 an hour before serving.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-06-2004
In reply to: jspmommy
Tue, 01-04-2005 - 4:08pm
Hi Sorry I didn't post the recipes earlier but things came up around the house! Like Sameera said raita is very flexible. When I was in Pakistan raita was made with the seasonal veggies. Basically its just to clean & cool the mouth from the heat of other items being served. All of the recipes posted were what I was going to post. Sometimes raita is just salt & cumin. I like to dilute mine with a little milk. Thats just a personal preference though. Cilanto & mint are favorites of many people, red onion is great also w/cucumber. Sameera where is your MIL from India or Pakistan? Please share more recipes of they are adaptable to SBD. I have found INDO-PAK recipes are a great & healthy way of eating. Looking forward to sharing more info. & recipes!
Avatar for starwynde
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: jspmommy
Wed, 01-05-2005 - 11:31am

DH is Indian, and we have adapted several recipes to be SBD friendly. Our Indo/Pak grocery has brown Basmati rice and whole wheat naan, so we use them. I haven't quite gotten the art of the brown Basmati yet, but it takes 3 cups of water per cup of rice, and a much longer cooking time. I haven't made it work for pulau yet, but it is good plain.

I posted a few links here a while back to some good internet recipe sources. Search in this folder for Indian recipes and they should come up. Problem is that I cheat and use premade Shaan spice mixes for the bases in most of my recipes and then just adapt them to our tastes with corainder, turmeric, cumin, and red pepper.

Sameera

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-22-2004
In reply to: jspmommy
Wed, 01-05-2005 - 3:29pm

Thank you to everyone who posted! I got some great ideas now on Raita as well as the idea to search for other Indian recipes.

I am a plain old Midwestern girl (transplanted in Florida) but Indian food is my absolute fave!

Thanks again,

Amy