Raita

For other uses, see Raita.

A cucumber and mint raita

Description

Raita is a South Asian condiment based on yogurt. The yogurt is seasoned with cilantro, cumin, mint, cayenne pepper, and other herbs and spices. Vegetables such as cucumber and onions are mixed in. A key ingredient in raita is powdered mustard. In fact, the Hindi word for mustard is rai. The mixture is served chilled. Raita has a cooling effect on the palate which makes it a good foil for spicy Indian dishes.

Southern Indian cuisine, such as that found in the Bangalore region, often uses finely chopped or diced carrots mixed with dahi yogurt.

It could be considered similar to the Greek tzatziki.

Cucumber is not included in authentic versions of the dish, because Ayurvedic tradition considers a mixture of cucumber and yoghurt to be harmful to the body.

External links

• Raita recipe
• Raita recipes and traditional Indian salads