Importance of the ingredients used in raita recipe

 

 

Raita Recipe | Image Resource : quora.com

 

Yogurt is the main ingredient used in making raita. People may use homemade yogurt or dahi for this purpose, which can be made by the application of a simple fermentation process on the full-cream milk. However, readymade yogurt is also available now in the market, which is made by following the same process and sold in cans or packets. The healthy bacteria produced during the fermentation helps in easy digestion of all types of foods. Moreover, yogurt is the storehouse of a large amount of energy and various healthy nutrients. The amounts of protein, Calcium, Potassium, and Folic acid in yogurt are higher than that present in milk.

 

Different vegetables are added in the raw or boiled form in the yogurt, to make tasty and healthy raita. Cucumber is the most popular vegetable that is peeled and finely chopped for making raita, as it is rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water content that keep the body healthy and hydrated. It fulfils the appetite while adding the least number of calories to the body, making raita a perfect dish in the diet of overweight people. Moreover, the fibres present in cucumber help in easing the bowel movements. 

 

People also prefer to add sliced boiled potatoes, carrots, beets, green peas, chopped onions, and green chillies to bring better flavour to the raita, as per their tastes. Raw tomatoes, coriander leaves, and mint leaves may also be chopped and added to the yogurt. All these vegetables are rich in different healthy nutrients that are essential for a human body. Hence, the raita can be considered as one of the healthiest traditional recipes in India. 

 

Children often prefer sweeter raita and thus, their parents opt to add different sweet fruits instead of vegetables. Banana, mango, pineapple, pomegranate, ripe papaya, grapes, and pear are the popular choices for fruity raita preparation. All these juicy fruits contain huge amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which can guarantee a healthier growth for kids. These varieties of raita are also useful for restoring the health of patients and aged people, apart from diabetics. 

 

Some Indian spices, like cardamom, nutmeg, cumin seeds, black mustard seeds, cinnamon, and cloves are added to raita for improving its taste. Some people also prefer to add black pepper or red chilli powder, for making this dish tangier. All these spices are known to have several health benefits that can be obtained from this flavoursome raita recipe.