Boondi Raita | Boondi Ka Raita Recipe

Boondi Raita or Boondi Ka Raita is easy raita recipe made with crunchy boondi and spices. Boondi ka raita makes great side dish with Stuffed paratha or variety rice, pulao well. There are few ways of making this boondi raita too and this is the most simple way with minimal ingredients which not only makes great side dish but also quick snack to munch on specially on summer days. Paired specially with pulao or biryani boondi raita makes excellent combination.

Anar Ka Raita | Pomegranate Raita | Easy Raita Recipes

Anar Raita or Pomegranate Raita is easy raita recipe made with colorful pomegranate and spices. Anar ka raita makes great side dish with paratha or variety rice, pulao well. There are few ways of making this anar or pomegranate raita too and this is the most simple way with minimal ingredients which not only makes great side dish but also quick snack to munch on specially on summer days or if you are on diet then use low-fat yogurt and enjoy this delicious raita as snack.

Paneer Ka Raita | Paneer Raita Recipe | Easy Raita Recipes

Paneer Raita or Cottage Cheese Raita is easy raita recipe made with few ingredients easily available in our pantry. Paneer raita makes great side dish with paratha or variety rice, pulao well. And like most of the raita we can also customize this paneer raita suit our needs or to bring variations to routine, this raita also works great as quick snack specially during summer days or as a side for any thing, for paneer lovers will like this easy, no-cook raita for sure as we can fix this in 5 mins.

Carrot Raita | Gajar Raita | Easy Raita Recipes

Carrot Raita or Gajar Raita is easy raita recipe made with few ingredients easily available in our pantry. Carrot raita is slightly few raita with carrot crunch and it's gets paired along any paratha or variety rice, pulao well. Like most of the raitas we can also customize this carrot or gajar raita to make it more interesting like adding chopped onion, tomato, capsicum, cucumber etc which makes simple raita more crunchy and filling.

Beetroot Raita | Cukandar Raita | Easy Raita Recipes

Beetroot Raita is easy, no-cook, no-oil raita recipe which we can do in jiffy to get colorful looking raita to serve along any pulao, biryani or variety rice, paratha etc. I have already posted beetroot pachadi an Kerala style raita where beetroot is cooked and also coconut used. This raita is very simple with few ingredients a recipe which I wanted to posted for a very long time and finally it's happening now.

Capsicum Raita | Shimla Mirch Raita Recipe | Easy Raita Recipes

Capsicum Raita or Shimla Mirch raita is one of the easy raita recipe, it taste unique and different from normal cucumber raita, onion tomato raita etc. Capsicum adds good crunch and flavor to this raita and it's also very quick to prepare with minimal ingredients. We can customized this capsicum raita in various way and add along other any other vegetable of choice, tri-color capsicums to make it more interesting and fun.

Cucumber (Kheera) Raita | Vellarikka Pachadi | Easy Raita Recipes

Cucumber raita is popular raita recipe also known as kheera raita or vellarikka pachadi with little different method of preparation but the basic idea of cucumber and yogurt remains the same :) Cucumber raita I wanted to post for long time but it was not happening until I made it for lunch recently with paratha and also since now Chaitra Navratri going-on I wanted to post something fasting related recipe, this raita is versatile we can make this during fasting/vrat or even normal days with just change of salt.

Onion Tomato Raita | Easy Raita Recipes

Onion tomato raita is one of the easy raita recipe and it taste very good with sweetness and crunch from both onion and tomato. Raita is one versatile accompaniment which we can have with any paratha, variety rice, biryani, pulao etc. This onion tomato raita goes well with pulao, biryani very well and adds extra zing to the main dish.

Bhindi Raita | Vendakka Thayir Pachadi Recipe | Easy Raita Recipes

Bhindi Raita or Vendakka Thayir Pachadi or Okra Spiced Yogurt Dip is one of easy raita or accompaniment recipe perfect with Biryani, Pulao or Variety Rice. Vendakkai pachadi or bhindi raita is good variations from usual raita recipe with crispy fried okra/bhindi, chilled yogurt and with tempering or tadka it's taste wonderful. Not only rice but we can also pair this raita with roti or paratha too it goes well with everything.

Beetroot Kichadi | Beetroot Pachadi | Onam Sadya Recipe

The count down is almost going to finish for Onam and today I am presenting one of the important dish of Onam Sadya - Pachadi and beetroot pachadi (raita) is famous pachadi made during Onam perhaps to make the Sadya looks colorful I guess and if you making Onam Sadya then you should not miss beetroot pachadi as it's colorful and healthy.

Lauki Raita | Navratri Vrat Recipes

Lauki Raita is very regular in my parents house, my mom use to make this mostly for guest as it's different from usual onion, cucumber raita. Though I don't make much of these I rather use my lauki/bottle gourd in dal, sabzi etc but once in a while for change I make this too.

Fruit Salad In Yogurt Dressing | Navratri Vrat Recipes

Fruits are essential part of fasting, in most of the fast fruits are allowed.  Eating fruits just plain can be boring some times so here comes a simple fruit salad in yogurt dressing.  The recipe is very quick, easy and taste good, actually it’s so easy lot of you may wonderful why I am posting this.  This fruit salad is good not only for vrat/fasting days but also for party or get-together, you will be amaze how this simple salad will be liked by all.  If you are not making this during fasting you can add table salt instead of sendha namak and also sprinkle little of chaat masala for that extra zing. 

Ingredients:

Apple - 1
Banana - 1
Grape - 1 Cup
Pomegranate Seeds - 1/2 Cup
Yogurt/Dahi - 1 Cup
Sugar - 2 tsp
Sendha Namak/Rock Salt - 1/4 tsp
 

Method:
1. Chop all the fruits and mix in a bowl. 
2. Add hung or thick curd, sugar and salt.
3. Mix well to coat all fruits well with curd, chill and serve.


Our super easy and quick salad is ready.  Make sure to have it chilled.



Variations
~ You any fruit of your choice
~ You can add dry fruits for garnishing.
~ Add more curd to make it as fruit raita

Have nice day ~~

Broccoli Raita Recipe

What’s your favourite raita recipe or say which one you make the most?  I often make onion and/or cucumber raita followed by boondi raita cause these are most simple to make and takes less time.  But then once in a while I do little experiment here and there and this broccoli raita is one such recipe.  I get bored of making same broccoli soup, broccoli stir fry, broccoli thoran etc so I try new recipes and this broccoli raita fitted my bill for a Saturday lunch. 

Ingredients:

Broccoli - 1/2 cup chopped/grated
Yoghurt/Curd - 1 Cup
Green Chillies - 2
Minced Ginger - 1/2 tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - 3-4
Salt - to taste
Oil - 1 tsp
Chopped Carrot - 1 tsp [optional]

 

Method:

1. Wash and grate or chop broccoli.  You can use chopped, food processor what ever that fancy you. [In the picture it’s not half cup of broccoli ]

2.Finely chop green chillies and mince ginger well. Beat curd and keep side.

3. In a wok or pan heat oil add cumin seeds and allow it to splutter. Add ginger, chillies curry leaves and sauté until ginger becomes light brown.

4. Add broccoli, salt and sauté for 3-4 minutes in medium flame or until broccoli gets cooked but still crunchy.

5. Add cooked broccoli to curd and mix well.   Adjust salt if  required.  Serve as it as or chilled.

Garnish with chopped carrot if you wish, I do that to add colour and crunchiness to the raita. 

We had it with pulao, you can try this with any parata, pulav, variety rice.

If you are looking for something different either for raitha or for broccoli then this is for you, how about giving a miss to the usual raita this Diwali and try this broccoli raita for a change? Does this sounds interesting to you?

Variations ~

~ Ginger adds nice flavour to the raita so try not to skip.

~ Chopped fresh cilantro is fine too.

Have a nice day ~~

Sabudana Thalipeeth and Aloo Raita | Navratri Vrat Recipes

Sabudana Thalipeeth or say Sago(Tapioca) Potato Pancake is one of the easy recipe to make and it taste very good.   Thalipeeth is kind of savoury pancake made from different types of flours, popular in Western Indian State Maharashtra.  I started making thalipeeth for some time now and love it.



Sabudana Thalipeeth is popular during Navrathri or fasting time, it can be consumed as snack or a meal.  The recipe calls for minimal ingredients and results is delicious pancakes, we just have to take care of only few small things while making these beauties.  I have done here mini thalipeeth, it’s easy to make and cook, one can do a normal or large size using the same method.   Not only during fasting but you can make these for breakfast or for evening snacks, kids will like this as it’s not spicy at all, even DH doesn’t like Sago but to my surprise he ate this happily which I didn’t expected. 



Ingredients: [Makes 16-18 mini pancakes]

Sabudana/Sago Pearls (Tapioca) -  1 Cup
Boiled Potato - 3 [medium]
Roasted Peanuts - 1/2 Cup
Green Chillies - 3 [add more if you want to make it little spicy]
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1 tsp
Lemon Juice - 1 tbsp
Chopped Cilantro - 2 tbsp
Rock Salt (Sendha Namak) - to taste
Ghee/Oil - For brushing



Method:

1.  Rinse and soak sabudana/sago for 4-6 hours or over night.  For more details on how to soak sago you can refer to my sabudana khichdi post.  Drain the water, it should looks like this.

2.  Peel and mash boiled potato, make it without any lumps.   Coarsely grind roasted peanut.
3. In a bowl or plate add all the ingredients except ghee/oil and mix well.  Sago and potato should not have water otherwise the dough will be very sticky.  Divide in to equal portion and make into smooth balls, meanwhile heat a pan/tawa.

4. To make the thalipeeth there are two-three ways to do it
~ Method 1: Take one dough ball at a time and place it on a greased plastic sheet or zip lock bag.  You can grease the plastic sheet with oil or water, I did with water.  Dip hand in a bowl of water, gently press down ball with hand and make pancake.

~ Method 2: Take one dough ball and place it in middle of plastic sheet, cover it with another plastic sheet and roll it using a rolling pin. 
~ Method 3:  Take one dough ball and place it in middle of plastic sheet, cover it with another plastic sheet.  Place a flat bowl (katori) on top of the ball and press it slowly to make a pancake, if there is any breaks seal it with hands.   I found this method most easy and fast way to do it. 

5. Which ever method you are using carefully lift the plastic sheet flip thalipeeth in another hand and gently place it on tawa.  This has to be done with little care to avoid breaking of pancakes.
6. Let it cook on medium flame until the edges becomes light brown, flip and apply ghee or oil.  Let the other side cook until golden brown too and apply ghee and oil.  Repeat the same for rest.

~ Don’t flip the thalipeeth before the edges becomes brown ie the bottom side has to be brown, if you try to flip the thalipeeth before the edges get's brown it might break. 
Serve hot or warm with coconut chutney, curd, pickle or raita.


Variations:
~ If the dough is breaking a lot then you can add 2 tbsp of kuttu ka aata (Buckwheat flour) during fasting.  For normal days you can add 2 tbsp of wheat flour.
~ You can use table salt while making this on normal days.   You can also add 1 tsp of chilli powder to make it spicy.

   Aloo Raita (Potato in Spiced Yoghurt)
Aloo Raita or Aloo Ka Raita is again very simple raita to make and it’s quite different from usual onion or cucumber raita.
 
Ingredients:

Boiled Potato - 1 medium
Curd/Yogurt - 2 Cups
Green Chilli - 1
Red Chilli Powder- 1/2 tsp + a pinch
Cumin Powder - 1/2 tsp + a pinch
Chopped Cilantro - 1 tbsp
Rock Salt (Sendha Namak) - to taste

Method:

1. Peel and dice boiled potato, finely chopped green chilli and cilantro.

2. In a bowl beat well curd, add all the ingredients and mix well.

3. Garnish with a pinch of red chilli and cumin powder and little of cilantro.  Chill and Serve. 



This raita goes with any pulav, variety rice or paratha.

Other Sago (sabudana) Recipes you might like

• Sabudana Tikki/Vada | Sago Cutlet
• Sabudana (Sago) Khichdi
• Sabudana (Sago) Murukku
• Sabudana Kheer | Sago Pudding
• Mango Sago

Have a nice day

Cucumber and Mango Raitha

I wanted to make a raitha with Bisi Bela Bath and decide for cucumber raitha but then I change my made and wanted to add a twist with raw mango.  It turn out to be too good, tangy, refreshing and so simple to make just perfect for this summer.  

Ingredients:

Cucumber - 1/2 Cup grated

Raw Mango - 1/4 Cup grated

Green Chiles - 2

Fresh Curd/Yoghurt -2 Cups

Fresh Cumin Powder - 1/4 tsp

Salt - to taste

Method:

1. Wash, peel and grate cucumber and raw mango, finely chop green chilies.

2. In a bowl add cucumber, mango, green chilies, salt and curd.

3. Mix everything well and add cumin powder, mix again. 

Serve chill and garnish with cumin powder.  Goes well with any paratha, variety rice, we had it with Bisi Bela Bath. 

Notes:

~ You can add cilantro for garnishing.  

~ You can also sprinkle little of red chili powder for that extra touch to the raitha.

Enjoy your day ~~

Bisi Bela Bath ~ BBB

I love one pot meal, am sure most of you feel the same way and Bisi Bela Bath is one such wonder.  But the traditional way of making BBB is not really one pot meal wonder as it involves as of work ..or at least that's what I feel but then short cuts doesn't really match up to traditional taste. 

We have see many ways of making Bisi Bela Bath but for me I always hooked to Lakshmi'sBBB recipe.  Every time I try her recipe it comes out so well delicious.  Thanks LG for the wonderful recipe.  But I do make few changes to her recipe and here is my version.
 

Ingredients:

Rice - 1 cup
Pigeon Peas/ Toor Daal - 1 cup
Vegetables - 1 cup ( I used 2 cups of chopped carrot, beans, eggplant,  cauliflower, ivy gourd, peas)
Onion - 1 large
Green Chili - 3
Grated Coconut - 1/4 cup
Thick Tamarind Paste - 2 tbsp
Sambar Powder - 1 tsp [optional]
Oil - 1 tbsp
Salt - to taste
Water
Cilantro - 2 tbsp chopped for garnish


For Tempering ~ 
Clarified Butter/Ghee - 2 tbsp
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curry Leaves - few
Asafoetida - a pinch

For Bisi Bela Bath Masala ~ 
Channa Daal - 1 tbsp
Urad Daal - 1 tbsp
Coriander Seeds -  1tbsp
Poppy Seeds - 1 tbsp
Fenugreek/Methi Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Nutmeg Powder - 1/4 tsp
Red Chillies - 12-15 [ to taste]
Cloves - 4
Cinnamon - 1" piece
Cardamon - 1 [optional]

Method: 

For Masala ~

Roast all the daals until golden brown and all the other ingredients, once cooled grind into fine powder.  
~ You can add water too, but I don't so I store the powder and use later.

1.  Wash and soak dal and rice separately for 1 hour or more and pressure cook for 3 to 4 whistles separately too. 
~ You can also pressure cook the vegetables separately. 

2.  Chop onion and all the other veggies. Slit green chili.

3.  Heat oil in a pan add onion and chili, add few curry leaves too and saute until onion becomes golden brown.

4.  Add cauliflower, carrot and beans and saute for 2 -3 minutes followed by all other veggies and saute for 5 minutes in medium heat. 
~ If you boil or pressure cook the veggie then avoid this step.

 

5. Add prepared bisi bela bath masala and sambar powder (if using) stir well and cook for a minute.
~ I don't add all the BBB masala but just use 2 tbsp of it. 

6.  Add tamarind paste and bring to a boil, when masala gets cooked add salt and coconut.  Add water if required.

7.  Add dal and rice and mix well.  [if required move everything to large pot].

 8. Prepare tempering using the ingredients listed and add the tempering to rice mixture.  

 9. Check for salt, cover the pot/vessel and let it stand for 10 minutes. 

Serve with Raita & chips, pappad. 



I made onion and cucumber raita.  

Chop 1 onion, 1/2 cucumber, 1 green chili, Cilantro.

Beat 1 cup curd, add chopped onion, cucumber, chili, salt and mix everything.   Garnish with little red chili, cumin powder and cilantro .  

Enjoy hot steaming bisi bela bath :)

Have good day ~~