A must try to give a different flavor to your plain raita! This is a unique combo and that sautéed garlic in yogurt gives great flavor. I always had loved raitas and it is perfect as a side dish or as a dipping sauce for many appetizers, salad dressing and also perfect topping for many tacos :)!
Garlic Raita is famous in Hyderabad and they make it as a side for biryani. I did this for biryani too. And it was perfect! It took my vegetable biryani to another level. Raita is an Indian side dish where the creamy yogurt is mixed with any kind of vegetable or fruit and a bit of spice. I have my raitas even plain without asking for rice 😉 It is a perfect cooling agent. And whenever I call someone who is not Indian, I make sure I prepare some raita. If they find the food spicy, they can have it with raita.
I know many might think why to take extra step of sautéing the tomatoes and garlic, instead just add the tomatoes and garlic plain! 🙂 Garlic gives strong flavor if added plain and I wanted to give that tomato color and easy for kids to have if they don’t have big chunks. I usually make cucumber raita, carrot raita, cucumber carrot raita, onion raita, onion tomato raita, okra raita J You can pretty much make raita with any fruits and veggies you fancy!
- Thick Yoghurt – 1 cups (You could use even greek yogurt)
- Oil – 2 tsp
- Tomato – 1 cup, chopped finely
- Green chilli – 1 Finely Chopped
- Ground cumin – ½ tsp
- Salt – 1 tsp
- Garlic – 2, Minced
- Garlic – 4 , sliced thin
- Red chilli flakes – ¼ tsp, garnish
- Fresh cilantro – 1 tbsp, finely Chopped
- Take a small pan; add the oil and sliced garlic and roast till golden. Keep aside.
- In the same pan, add the chopped tomatoes and minced garlic and salt and sauté well. And keep aside.
- Combine the yogurt with the sauted tomatoes and cumin powder. Mix well.
- Garnish with red chilli flakes, sliced garlic and coriander leaves.
Serve it chill with some spicy dish like pulao or biryani or with parathas or serve it as a dressing for salad or taco.!
