DUDHI RAITA - Lauki Ka Raita -bottlegourd raita | Raita varieties

Lauki (bottle gourd) Raita is good in taste and equally nutritious. This tangy curd preparation makes a wonderful summertime treat when served chilled.


Some people do not like to eat bottle gourd vegetable recipe, but i am sure they will definitely like bottle gourd raita. Raita enhances the flavor of food and helps maintains the digestion.

 Grated lauki contributes minimal calories and also blends perfectly with the 'minty' flavour of this raita. If you are fussy about milk, this raita is an ideal meal time feast to meet your protein and calcium requirements.


Ingredients

1 cup grated bottle gourd (doodhi / lauki)
1 cup low fat curds (dahi), beaten
1 tbsp chopped mint leaves (pudina)
2 tblspn chopped fresh cilantro(dhania patti)
1/4 tsp roasted cumin seeds (jeera) powder
1/4 tsp black salt (sanchal) or  normal salt
1/4 tsp chat masala
1/4 tsp black  pepper powder
1 green chilli chopped finely  or 1 tsp red chilli powder
1/4 tsp black salt (sanchal)
1/2 tsp sugar

For The Tempering (tadka)
 
2 tsp oil or ghee
1/2 tsp mustard seeds ( rai / sarson)
3-4 curry leaves (kadi patta)
pinch hing (asafoetida)



Method:
1.Peel the gourd and wash it thoroughly under the running water. Peel it and grate or cut into small pieces.

2.Place grated lauki in a pan  filled with water and keep on flame for boiling (while boiling lauki add 1 tbsp water, cover it and boil on low flame).  Within 5-6 minutes the gourd will become soft. Strain rest of the water with help of a sieve.

3 Whisk the curd  with the help of a whisker.Pour the whisked yogurt into grated dudhi, add little bit sugar ( to balance the taste), cumin powder,dry mint powder, mustard powder and mix well gently.

4.For the tempering, heat the oil in a small pan and add the mustard seeds.When the seeds crackle, add the curry leaves, hing.

5.Pour the tempering over the curds-bottle gourd mixture and mix well. refrigerate.

6.Garnish with couple of mint leaves and chopped coriander leaves & red chilli powder.

7.Serve with roti, rice or pulao.


Tips and Variations:
 1) Try this recipe with red pumpkin, gherkins or green peppers instead of bottlegourd.
 2) Add 1 tsp ground peanuts to the raita.