This easy vegan raita recipe calls for just a few ingredients, and you only need a few minutes to throw together this gorgeous dairy-free raita. It’s perfect as a dip or slathered on sandwiches or wraps. What is raita? Read on to find out!
What is raita?
Raita is a classic side dish in Indian cuisine made of dahi, raw or cooked vegetables, and seasonings. You may occasionally find fruit in it, but vegetables are most common. Dahi, while similar to yogurt, is not precisely the same. Dahi is made by curdling milk with an edible acidic ingredient, like lemon juice or vinegar. Yogurt, on the other hand, is created by bacterial fermentation.
Take a crack at preparing vegan dahi for this raita recipe, or use your favorite dairy-free yogurt. I crafted this homemade raita for my Forager Project cashewmilk yogurt review. So far, so good! I highly recommend Forager Project’s yogurt for this recipe. Feel free to use your favorite vegan yogurt, though!
What do you need to make this easy vegan raita?
You only need a few ingredients, including:
- 10 ounces vegan Greek yogurt or vegan dahi
- 1/2 English cucumber, grated
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 lime, juiced
- Minced cilantro
- Minced mint
- Salt
First, prepare all your ingredients and transfer the minced or grated ingredients to a bowl. Next, add the vegan Greek yogurt and mix well to combine. Finally, season it with salt to taste, and that’s it!
Grated garlic will have a very strong bite to it. The lime juice will soften the bite and spice of the garlic, so give this dairy-free raita a good 30 minutes in the refrigerator before digging in.
That’s all there is to it! Slather this tangy, creamy sauce on just about anything or serve it with your next crudité platter.
Easy Vegan Raita Recipe
Equipment
- Microplane
Ingredients
- 1/2 English cucumber, grated
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 lime, juiced
- .25 ounces cilantro, minced, plus a few cilantro leaves for garnish
- .25 ounces mint, minced
- 10 ounces vegan Greek yogurt or vegan dahi
- Salt, to taste
- Extra virgin olive oil, optional, for finishing
Instructions
Prepare the raita base:
- Place the grated cucumber and garlic in a bowl. Add the garam masala, lime juice, cilantro, and mint and mix to combine.
Finish the raita:
- Add the vegan Greek yogurt and mix well to combine. Season to taste with salt. The grated garlic will have a very strong bite!
Refrigerate the raita:
- Transfer the raita to the refrigerator for 30 minutes to mellow the flavors. Remove and season to taste once more before serving. Garnish with a few cilantro leaves and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Enjoy!
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