Mixed Raita&Vagreli Chaas

 Raita is a yoghurt dish and very good for these summer months in India. Yogurt contains health- boosting bacteria,which help the body fight infections and restores balance. It stimulates the production of anti-viral agents, which enhances the body's immune response and help prevent cancer. It is an excellent source of calcium. Its never too late to switch to a health lifestyle ,u know. Just as v in Bengal  have the "Misti Doi" and  Gujrat has the "Srikhand" its Raita in the north of India and butter milk in the south. Raita can be made of various fruits and vegetables , all used together or separately. Some vegetables like the brinjal, are fried before being added to yoghurt. Bundi  Raita is a favourite in my house. Bundi, cheakpea flour is mixed with spices and fried into very tiny balls, is available in all grocery stores all over India. For Apple Raita,` mix 2 cups yoghurt with 1 tbsp honey, 2 tsp sunflower seeds and half an apple finely chopped. Vagreli chaas is a gujrati dish which is also called Masala Chanch in other north Indian states. Here's the recipe for you.

Ingredients For Vagreli Chaas:

Salt                                                               1/4 tsp
Curry patta                                                    3-4
Rock Salt                                                      1/4 tsp
Curd                                                             1 1/2 cups
Oil                                                                1 tsp
Mustard Seeds                                              2 pinch
Cumin Seeds(roasted and powdered)            1/2 tsp
Water                                                           1 cup

Method:
Put 1 1/2 cups curd in a mixie jar. Add salt, rock salt, roasted  and powdered cumin, and 1 cup water. Churn all in  well together.
Serve in a tall glass.
In a pan, heat 1tsp white oil. Put mustard seeds, 3-4 curry leaves, green chilly chopped very fine.
tear the curry leaves and do not chop them or they loose flavour.
When it splatters, add this mix on top of the chaas.
Serve chilled.

Mixed Raita :

Ingredients :
Yoghurt,beaten                                                                   250 grams
Tomato, Finely chopped                                                     1
Cucumber,Finely chopped                                                  1
Bell Peppers(all three types)                                                1/2 each
Coriander Leaves,Finely chopped                                       2 tbsp
Onion, Finely chopped                                                        1,small
Green Chilly,Finely chopped                                               1
Cumin Seeds(Roasted and powdered)                                1
Salt                                                                                    1
Red Chilly Powder                                                             1/2tsp
Sugar                                                                                 1/4 tsp

Method :

Chop all vegetables very fine and put in a large mixing bowl. Roast and powder the cumin seeds into a fine powder.Beat yoghurt well and add to the chopped vegetables in the bowl and mixwell. Mix the cumin powder,red chilly powder,salt and a little sugar.
Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with a pinch of red chilly powder and a pinch of cumin powder on the top.Serve chilled.

Another Raita that I often make is the Beetroot and Tomato Raita.

Ingredients:

Beetroot Boiled                                                          1tbsp

Tomato,chopped                                                        1 tbsp

Curd                                                                           1 1/2 cups

Water                                                                         1/2 cup

Salt                                                                             1/4cup

Sugar                                                                          1/2 tsp

Cumin powder                                                            1/4 tsp

Coconut Powder                                                         2 tsp

Coriander leaves                                                         1tsp

Mint(pudhina )Leaves                                                  1 tsp

Peanuts                                                                       1/2 tsp 

For the tempering : 

Oil                                                                               1tsp

Hing                                                                             1 pinch

Cumin Powder                                                             1/2 tsp

Red Chilly Powder                                                        1 pinch

Method :

In a large bowl take 1-1 1/2 cups of yoghurt and beat well. Add 1/2 cups of water to it.

Also add sugar half teaspoon, one forth tea spoon roasted and powdered cumin seeds, two tea spoon coconut powder, one tea spoon of coriander leaves and one tea spoon of mint leaves,both finely chopped,one tablespoon of tomato and one table spoon of beetroot and half table spoon of roasted peanuts.

Now mix all well.

Then, heat one tea spoon of refined oil and in it add one pinch of asafitida (hing)powder, half tea spoon of cumin powder and one pinch of red chilly powder.

Immediately add this mix to the bowl.

Transfer the mix from the bowl to a serving dish . Garnish with chopped green chillies and serve.

                                                                                                                         

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