Raita
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A cucumber and mint raita
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| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Alternative name(s) | रायता, রাইতা Pachadi |
| Region or state | Indian Subcontinent with regional variations |
| Details | |
| Course served | Condiment |
| Serving temperature | Cold |
| Main ingredient(s) | Yogurt, cucumber, mint |
| Variations | Dahi chutney, Pachadi |
| Approximate calories per serving |
46 |
Raita is an Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi side dish made with dahi (yogurt, often referred to as curd) together with raw or cooked vegetables, more seldom fruit, or in the case of boondi raita, with fried droplets of batter made from besan (chickpea flour, generally labelled as gram flour).
The closest approximation in western cuisine is a side dish or dip, or a cooked salad. It is often referred to as a condiment, but unlike traditional western condiments like, salt, pepper, mustard and horseradish that made dishes more spicy, a dish of dahi or raita has a cooling effect to contrast with spicy curries and kebabs that are the main fare of some Asian cuisines. In vegetarian Indian cuisine, some type of flatbread may be eaten together with raita, chutneys and pickles.
The yogurt may be seasoned with coriander, roasted cumin seeds; mint, cayenne pepper, chaat masala and other herbs and spices.
Contents
Etymology
The word raita first appeared in print around the 19th century; it comes from the Hindi language.[1] The word raita in Hindi and Urdu is a derivative of the Sanskrit word rajika, meaning black mustard, and tiktaka, meaning sharp or pungent.[2] In South India, especially Kerala and Tamil Nadu, traditional raita is called pachadi.
Raita is also sometimes simply called dahi, or "sourmilk", after its main ingredient, particularly in South African Indian cuisine.
Preparation
Cumin (zīrā ) and black mustard (rāī ) are fried. This tempering is then mixed with minced, raw vegetables or fruits (such as cucumber, onion, carrot, pineapple, papaya) and yogurt.[3]
Raw ginger and garlic paste, green chili paste, and sometimes mustard paste are used to enrich flavour.[citation needed]
A variety of raita of India varies from region to region, most notable raithas are boondi raitha—tiny balls of fried gram flour (chickpea flour), which may taste salty or tīkhā (spicy) and onion raita and vegetable raita. The mixture is served chilled. Raita may cool the palate when eating spicy Indian or Pakistani dishes.[4]
Pachadi
For the main article see Pachadi.
Pachadi is the South Indian variation of Raita.
Variants
Raitas can be prepared with three main base ingredients: vegetables, pulses and fruits. These are mixed with yogurt and flavored with a variety of seasonings to make different types of raita.[5]
Vegetable raitas
- Tomato onion raita
- Cucumber raita
- Carrot raita
- Pumpkin raita
- Potato raita
- Mint and peanut raita
- Spinach raita
- Horned melon raita
- Beet raita
- Calabash raita (Bottle Gourd raita)
- Brinjal raita
Pulse raitas
- Sprouted green gram raita
- Boondi raita
Fruit raitas
Serving methods
As a side dish
Raita is served as a side dish to be eaten with main course dishes.[5]
- Biryani
- Pulav (pilaf)
- Seekh kabab
See also
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References
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