Simple 4-Ingredient Raita for Biryani
A quick and healthy raita that goes with biryanis, pulao, and almost anything else you are serving. This 4-ingredient condiment is also yummy as a sauce, dressing, dip, or even to replace mayo.
Servings 4
Calories 37kcal
Ingredients
The 4-Ingredient Basic Raita
- 1 cup plain yogurt ~ Full fat is best, but use what you like
- 2 tablespoons onion, shallot, scallion ~ Grated or finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon or lime juice ~ More to taste
- salt and pepper ~ To taste
Optional Garnishes
- 1 tablepoon fresh herbs ~ Cilantro, mint, parsley, scallions, or chives coarsely chopped
- 1 tablespoon chive blossoms ~ Torn
- sprinkling chili flakes
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients you are using. See Notes for additional options.
- Whisk the yogurt until smooth.
- Mix in the onion or scallion, lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Chill the raita in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. If you are chilling it for more than an hour, stir in the onions, vegetables, and herbs just before serving.
- Taste to see if the flavors need balancing: a bit of sugar, acid (lime juice), and salt. You can make raita a day ahead without the herbs and veggies.
Notes
Notes to create your perfect cooling raita:
- For vegan raita, use coconut yogurt.
- If the raita is too tangy or spicy for you, just add some more yogurt and/or a pinch of sugar.
- If you want to add cumin or coriander seeds, toast and coarsely crush them with a mortar and pestle, or a heavy pan.
- If the raita is too thick, add a bit of water to thin it out.
- Usually, raita is lightly salted, but salt to your taste.
- Pinch of hing (asafetida)
- Pinch of ground red chili of your choice: Kashmiri, gochugaru, Aleppo, cayenne, etc.
- 1 to 2 teaspoon finely chopped green chili, Serrano, bell pepper, or Indian chilis
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed or ground cumin seeds ~ See note above
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed or ground coriander seeds ~ See note above
- 1 tablespoon of oil for added richness and flavor: olive oil, mustard oil, avocado, etc.
- Spice blends ~ a pinch to taste: garam masala, Kerala garam masala, chaat masala, etc.
- Chopped tomato
- Chopped cucumber, seeds removed
- Chopped or raw finely grated carrot
- Roasted eggplant
- Cooked potatoes
- Cooked spinach
- Chopped mango
- Chopped papaya
- Chopped kiwi
- Chopped pomegranate
Nutrition
Calories: 37kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 95mg | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 82IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 74mg