 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 |
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Product Reviews / Main Nibbles / Cheese-Butter-Yogurt
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| Serving raita with grilled meats is a fresh departure from traditional condiments—and generally healthier too. Photo courtesy of the National Pork Board. |
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.
Directions
- 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.
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.”
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, 212.691.1300.
© Copyright 2005-2009 Lifestyle Direct, Inc. All rights reserved. Images are the copyright of their respective owners.
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