 Grape raita by Suvir Suran, co-executive chef of Devi restaurant, New York City. Photograph from the book Indian Home Cooking by Suvir Suran and Stephanie Lyness. IndianHomeCooking.com
March 2005
Updated April 2010
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Raita & Tzatziki Recipes
Famous Yogurt Dishes Are Easy To Make
Page 2: Raita Recipe
Raita Recipe
Serving raita with grilled meats is a fresh departure from traditional condiments—and generally healthier too.
Unlike tzatziki, raita isn’t one basic recipe but a family of yogurt-based “salads”—some sweet, some savory. The recipe above is for cucumber raita with a corn raita variation; there are onion raitas, zucchini raitas, eggplant raitas, and mixed vegetable raitas.
On the sweet side there are coconut raitas, mango raitas, pineapple raitas, and the grape raita shown above. Create a raita with your own favorite ingredients. A fusion dish, e.g., would be to add chopped apples and nuts for a “Waldorf raita.”
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain yogurt, drained
- 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded
and finely chopped
- 1 tomato, seeded and chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons cumin seed*
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
*For best taste, toast cumin seed over high heat in a small pan, then crush and add to the mix. Using pre-ground cumin will do in a pinch, but, like using dried parsley, will deprive you of the burst of flavor of the freshly toasted and crushed seed.
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Photo courtesy of the National
Pork Board. |
Preparation
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the yogurt, garlic, cumin, and paprika.
- Add the chopped cucumbers and tomatoes; mix thoroughly.
- Chill several hours to let the flavors mix; adjust seasonings as necessary.
Variation
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Instead of cucumber raita, make corn raita by substituting 1 cup of corn kernels for the cucumber and adding 3 tablespoons of chopped fresh cilantro, and 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander.
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To serve with meat and poultry and other hearty fare, add heat with a hot green chile, seeded and finely chopped.
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As an hors d’oeuvre or snack, serve with crudités and/or papadums.
 Mastering The Art Of Indian Cooking
Easy-to-make raitas and exciting appetizer-to-dessert recipes. beautifully photographed by Ben Fink, can be found in Indian Home Cooking by Suvir Saran and Stephanie Lyness, IndianHomeCooking.com. Suvir Saran is executive chef of Devi restaurant at 8 East 18th Street in New York City, 1.212.691.1300.
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