Ingredients needed 🧾
How to make it 🔪
Recipe 📖
This side condiment has a mildly sweet, spicy and sour flavor. This recipe of raita is either made with yogurt and spices or sometimes veggies and fruits are also added.
However, there are also some types that go perfectly with any meal. Boondi raita, Koshimbir, Burani raita, Beetroot raita, and cucumber raita are a regular in our home.
Raita is also served at Indian restaurants along with any biryani or pulao as an accompaniment. My recipe today is a mix of two popular raitas - Boondi and Burani.
Raita is very often compared to Tzatziki, the Greek yogurt sauce. They are similar yet different.
It is easily available at any Indian grocery store. You get plain boondi as well as spicy boondi. Both taste great. We also make it at home especially during Diwali.
This boondi is mixed into the raita and the flavors are a BOMB! The slight crunch from the boondi makes this mildly spiced condiment very delicious.
BTW, the word boondi comes from the Hindi word “boond” which means water droplets.
It’s a little different from the other raita recipes because it’s got garlic. Garlic makes this spiced yogurt sauce even more flavorful.
The traditional Burani raita calls for raw garlic. But I like the flavor of fried garlic more in this recipe because it mellows its pungent flavor.
This raita is considered the perfect pairing for biryani or pulao. I created a recipe by mixing both these raitas and now this is how we prefer to make it.
Use yogurt or curd that’s fresh and has not turned sour. Read notes below to see how you can make this recipe of raita vegan.
Spices and herbs - mustard seeds, garlic, chilly powder, roasted cumin powder, black salt, green chillies, curry leaves and cilantro are added to enhance the flavor.
Just ensure they are fresh and do not have a stale smell. They should be crispy.
Serve this Indian yogurt dip or raita as a side for Biryani/Pulao/Soya Chunks Pulao/Paratha/Curries/Kebabs. Looking for dishes to serve this raita with? Here are some ideas:
Soya Chunks Pulao Tendli Bhath Mint & Pistachio Vegetable RiceTomato RiceLahsuni Palak Rice | Spinach & Garlic RiceBell Pepper RiceInstant Pot Beetroot Rasam RiceMint Potato RiceGreen Peas Pulao
Pair it with your everyday or elaborate holiday menu. Adding this Indian yogurt dip to your dining table will surely attract all eyes to it and it will all be gone within minutes. If you don’t have black salt, use regular salt. Chaat masala can also be added. If you feel the yogurt is a bit sour, add some sugar to balance it. Don’t add too much boondi to the raita. It will soak, expand and make the raita thicker. Store the boondi in the refrigerator after opening the packet to increase its shelf life. You can either keep the consistency of raita thick and creamy or add water/milk to make it thinner. It will also thicken with time as the boondi absorbs the liquid. Like this recipe? Please show your love by leaving a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to see more delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes and what I’m getting up to.
