Thursday 3 February 2011

Pomegranate raita



For centuries, Indians have been eating the pomegranate.   I can remember eating them in Kenya as a child and being told how good they were for you.  In the UK, at one time you could only get pomegranates in specialist ethnic stores.  However, for the last few years, the Western World has caught on on the goodness of pomegranates and now selling them as a super food.   In Kenya, we used to use the rind of pomegranate as a remedy against diarrhea. The juice was considered to be good tonic for you. 


We all love pomegranates and often add them to salads, shrikands and raitas.  The sweet seeds add an unusual flavour to the dish.


Raita is a yogurt condiment flavoured with  grated or finely chopped vegetables or fruit  with herbs or mustard to enhance the flavour.  In Gujarati  mustard is called "rai".  "So a raita without mustard isn't a raita"  according to my dad and father in law!  I used the ready made  English mustard which is fairly mild. You can add as much or as little as you like.


Raitas are great to have as an accompaniment with any curries.  It's always part of the Gujarati Thali.   It can also be used as a dip for  papadams, bhajias, dhoklas etc.. There are lots of different variations of making raita. Variations of other raita recipes can be found here


Ingredients for Pomegranate raita: 



2 cups of yogurt
salt to taste
1 -2 teaspoons of English mustard ( readymade).
2-3 green chillies cut into small pieces ( use as per your taste)
5-6 strands of coriander
half to one cup of pomegranates( you can add as much as you like...depending on personal preference)

Method:


1.  Transfer yogurt to a mixing bowl.


2.  Add the salt, mustard, chillies, coriander and pomegranates to the yogurt.


3.  Mix well using a fork.


4.  The raita is ready.  Please keep it in the fridge until you are ready to serve.


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15 comments:

  1. Hi mina,

    Thanks for sharing such a delicious raita dear!they luks awesome...

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  2. yummy raita pomegranate goes well

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  3. wow meena what a delicious raita...love the flavors u used for this ..yummy
    Super Yummy Recipes

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  4. Refreshing and colourful ...nice combo

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  5. yummy raita...love the color

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  6. Raita looks pretty and yummy with pomegranate seeds !!

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  7. Refreshing and delicious raita.

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  8. pomogrenates r my hot favourite fruit.I can have it in any form and it is also a very healthy and safe fruit controls blood pressure and lowers cholestrol levels.Your raita looks really tempting and mouth watering.

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  9. Thats a nice idea to add mustard..We usually flavor it with cumin but will try it out ur way next time..Thx for sharing this simple & cooling recipe along with the write up..;)

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  10. Loved the idea of exclusively pomegranate raita, I normaly add a few to my fruit raita.Click is too good.

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  11. Hi Mina - I found your blog through the LinkedIn group The Blog Zone! I hope you will visit my blog as well (www.wordsetcwriting.com).

    I found the pomegranate story fascinating. I remember enjoying pomegranates as a special treat when I was a child. I grew up in Chicago in the 60's and this was something you could find in most grocery stores in autumn.

    I liked the yogurt recipe. I have never made Indian food, but have eaten it many times - love curry. You have inspired me to try a new type of cooking!

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