Raita is known to be a simple Indian side dish that is usually served at the end of the main course meal. It is also popular in many other parts of South Asia where people prefer to eat it for health reasons. Generally, raita is made of readymade yoghurt or homemade curd, with the additions of different fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Various traditional Indian spices are also added for increasing the flavours of this cuisine.
Different health benefits of raita recipe for all
Raita Recipe | Image Resource : hindi.news18.com
- Since yogurt or curd is the basic ingredient of raita, people benefit from the immense food value of this food material. In India, the curd is called Dahi in most of the places and it renders the unique sour taste to raita. Dahi has very low-fat content while rich in many useful nutrients, like Calcium and protein. Moreover, it boosts the digestive power and helps in faster digestion of even the richest and spiciest foods. The bacteria born during fermentation of milk are also good for human health and it is another reason for eating raita at regular meals.
- Chopped cucumber, green peas, tomatoes, pumpkin, green chillies, onions, coriander leaves, and mint leaves are directly added to the Dahi for making raita. Many people also add boiled carrots, beets, eggplants, potatoes, and spinach leaves to the raita preparation, to make this dish healthier and tastier. The nutrients of all these fresh vegetables help in improving the health conditions of a person.
- Many tasty fruits, like bananas, pineapples, guavas, mangoes, strawberries, pomegranates, papayas, grapes, pears, and raisins are added to make delicious raita for kids. Some people also add a few drops of lemon juice to increase the sourness of this dish and enrich it with Vitamin C. All these fruits contain high amounts of different vitamins and minerals, which are needed for the growth of children and also for retaining the good health of aged people.
- People often add black mustard seeds, ginger paste, rock salt, cardamom, nutmeg, cumin seeds, cinnamon, black pepper, cloves, and a bit of red chilli powder to make the raita more yummy for foodie people. Moreover, all these spices have different health benefits that are included in this dish. Some also add more herbs, like cilantro and dill to add a healthier touch to their raita recipe.
- Since raita contains so many vegetables and fruits, it is recommended to be included in the diet of overweight people. A plate of raita can fulfil their appetite, without adding too many calories to their bodies. Some people also add gram sprouts or fried droplets of Bengal gram called boondi, to make raita a wholesome food.
Therefore, people prefer to add a raita recipe in all their special meals, for satisfying the taste buds of their family members and guests, as it can be prepared within a few minutes.
Naren Patel 