Raita Recipes

My 28 unique raita recipes from the Indian cuisine will have you making them again and again. These can be made quick and trust me, they all have a different taste and flavor.

What is Raita

Raita is a condiment dip or sauce that is served as a side with various meals in Indian cuisine. A raita recipe has curd (yogurt) as a main ingredient to which vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices are added.

So you see there are many ways it is made and they all taste different with the kind of veggies or fruits you add to the yogurt. For vegan raita, try almond yogurt, cashew yogurt, or coconut yogurt.

Any raita perks up your meal and has a cooling effect on the palate. It is has a lightly sour taste of the yogurt and some freshness from the veggies and herbs. Thus it pairs excellently with fiery or spicy gravies or curries.

It also gives you probiotic health benefits due to the presence of gut-friendly bacteria in curd (yogurt). The spices and herbs added to it helps in digestion.

Usually, raita is served with biryani or pulao and it is a perfect match. The spicy, robust and rich flavors of biryani is calmed by the freshness, cooling, and light flavors of raita. With a pulao, it brings in more flavors and texture to the entire meal.

Raita can be served with about any Indian meal. So when you want to whip a quick side, making it won’t take you more than 5 to 10 minutes and that includes the prep work.

How to make a Basic Indian Raita

Begin first by beating or whisking 1 cup of fresh full fat curd until smooth. Then make a basic Indian savory raita recipe by adding ⅓ cup finely chopped onions and ⅓ cup finely chopped cucumber. Optionally you can add some tomatoes.

Add fresh herbs like 1 to 2 tablespoons of chopped coriander (cilantro) or mint leaves. Throw in a bit of ground spices like ½ teaspoon roasted cumin powder and ¼ to ½ teaspoon red chili powder (or cayenne pepper) and salt to season. Mix and serve with your favorite Indian meals.

For best results and a creamy smooth texture, I suggest making your own curd or yogurt. You can check my post on How to make Curd with step-wise photos and detailed instructions.

So that was a basic raita recipe for you. There are plenty of add-ins or customizations you can make. Savory versions are made with vegetables and herbs. Sweet variations are made with fruits and sometimes we have these like a dessert – so good!

Popular Raita Recipes

Find below most popular Indian raita recipes that are made in every home and also served in restaurants and hotels.

Boondi raita, cucumber raita, and onion tomato raita are savory versions and taste best with biryani, pulao, paratha, lentils, or any Indian meal. Pineapple raita is sweet-savory tasting and can be eaten as it is.