Radish Raita ( Radish in yogurt sauce)

With the temperatures warming up, we look for food that is more cooling in nature. Raitas are one such food group. Raitsa are akin to chutneys and dips. They are accompaniments to meals but are not a side-dish. Raita immediately implies that it is something that has been mixed in yogurt and served, not heated or needs to be refrigerated and is served cold. Most often there is no cooking involved in the making of raita which means the vegetable is served raw. It is usually served with dishes like Biryani, pulao, khichidi and kebabs. Today I bring to you radish raita. This dish again was shared with me by my good friend Arvind Mallya. This like most of my dishes is super-simple and super-easy to make and delicious to eat.I have used the small red radishes as they were lying in the fridge but any radish can be used.

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

Red radish: 6-8, grated. ( if you are using the white ones, one medium sized should be good).
Green chilli: 1, chopped fine. ( you can adjust based on the desired spice level)
Yogurt: 2 cups
Salt: to taste
Cilantro, chopped: 1 tbsp for garnishing

For tempering:
Oil: 1 tsp, I used coconut oil
Mustard seeds: 1/2 tsp 
Dry red chilli: 1 small
Curry leaves: 1 sprig
Hing( asofoetida): a pinch

Method:

Grate radish and keep aside in a bowl.

In another bowl, take the yogurt and whip it. 
Add this to the grated radish. 

Add the chopped onion, salt and pepper.

Heat oil in a small pan. Add mustard seeds. Once the mustard seeds temper,add the red chilli, turn off the flame . Add curry leaves and hing.
Add this to the above bowl.

Garnish with chopped cilantro.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serve chilled. I am bringing this to Fiesta Friday #66! Yay! How quickly days go by!

Cooking made easy:

This raita can be made using several other veggies like cucumber, carrot etc. If intending to serve the next day or after several hours, it is best to add salt only just before serving. The addition of salt makes he veggies leave water making the salad runny.

Tip for healthy living:

Yogurt is a natural probiotic and therefore great for the gut. The probiotics helps keep the gastrointestinal system regular and prevents constipation. One serving of yogurt daily can go a long way. Avoid sugary yogurts. Plain yogurt is the best. Yogurt is also had a cooling effect on the body.

Food for thought:

What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other? George Eliot