Mint raita is a delicious & easy to make yogurt based salad or side dish with fresh mint leaves. Raita is a common side dish served with spicy Indian foods like biryani, pulao and also with some snacks like kebabs.
There are many varieties of raita made with various vegetables, fruits and herbs. This pudina raita is super easy to make, it is ready in minutes and tastes absolutely delicious.
In this post I am sharing this easy recipe of mint raita along with some tasty variations. Enjoy!
Raitas are an integral part of Indian food. They are always served with rice recipes like Biryani, pulao, ghee rice and also as side dish in Indian meals. Raitas made of onion, cucumber, tomato are very popular.
About This Recipe
Pudina raita or mint raita is a yogurt based Indian salad or side dish. There are two ways to make pudina raita.
First method is an smooth raita where all the ingredients are blended together to a smooth paste. It is also called dahi chutney in some places. This one goes very well with snacks like kebabs, cutlets, kathi rolls etc.
In second method freshly chopped mint leaves are mixed with yogurt along with onions and spices. In this post I am sharing both the methods. This crunchy raita tastes best with rice varieties like veg pulao, roti, naan etc.
You use fresh and bright mint leaves for this recipe. Tender leaves taste good with a wonderful flavor. If the mint leaves are not fresh, they will taste a bit bitter on grinding.
Use fresh thick yogurt that is not sour. I have used homemade yogurt as I always do. You can even use plain Greek yogurt or strained yogurt for super thick raita.
Along with mint leaves we are also adding fresh ginger and green chillies. You can also add 2 garlic cloves if you like. I have seasoned the mint raita with black salt, crushed black pepper, roasted cumin powder and a dash of chaat masala powder. Rock salt and chaat masala adds a wonderful zing to this pudina raita recipe.
You can crushed black pepper as per your preference. Instead of pepper powder you can also add red chili powder or cayenne pepper.
Do try out this refreshing and healthy mint raita recipe or Indian mint sauce with step by step photos and enjoy. It is
easy & simple to make
super delicious & flavorful
healthy & light
goes well with Indian dishes
Vegetarian & gluten free
How To Make Mint Raita Recipe
Pick, rinse and wipe off excess moisture from mint leaves using kitchen towel.
Add 1 cup tightly packed mint leaves to a small mixer jar. To that add 1 inch peeled ginger and 2 slit green chilies.
Grind to a smooth paste or coarse paste.
Add 1 cup plain thick yogurt to a medium bowl. Whisk yogurt very well first. Add it to the mint paste. Now add 3/4 teaspoon rock salt, freshly cracked black pepper powder, roasted cumin powder and chaat masala powder.
Blend well again until everything is well combined.
Transfer to a serving bowl. Taste and season raita with salt or pepper as preferred. You can also sprinkle raita with a pinch of chaat masala powder or chili powder or cayenne pepper before serving. Serve mint raita immediately or you can refrigerate and serve it chilled.
Variations
With chopped mint leaves and onions.
For this method, you will need 1/2 cup tightly packed chopped mint leaves & 3/4 cup chopped onions for 2 cups yogurt.
Mix the chopped onions and mint leaves to the whisked yogurt. Add salt, chaat masala powder, red chili powder, some chopped coriander leaves and mix well.
Cucumber mint raita
For this method you can use 1 cup grated cucumber or 1 cup sliced cucumbers. Make mint raita as mentioned in the recipe and add cucumbers. Mix well. Add other ingredients like chili powder, chaat masala powder and salt. Mix well.
Expert Tips
Fresh Mint leaves
As mentioned above use fresh, tender mint leaves for best flavor. If you don’t have fresh leaves you can use dried crushed mint leaves or even mint powder. Add 1 tablespoon dried leaves or powder.
Roasted Cumin Powder
Jeera powder or roasted cumin powder adds a wonderful flavor to this raita. I have used homemade cumin power which comes handy in many Indian chaat recipes, raita recipes and snacks.
If you don’t have cumin powder you can dry roast 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds and grind along with mint leaves.
Yogurt
Use fresh yogurt for best tasting raita. If the yogurt is old or sour it will spoil the taste of raita. The curd should be thick else the raita will turn watery.
For vegan version you can use any plant based yogurt like cashew yogurt.
Storage
This mint raita tastes good only within few hours of making. You can store it for maximum a day.
Scaling Up
The recipe can be doubled or tripled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Raita and tzatziki are both yogurt based dishes. They are both yogurt sauces from different cuisines. Middle Eastern tzatziki is thicker and made of Greek yogurt, olive oil & cucumbers.
Indian raita is thinner, not necessarily made of strained yogurt, can be oil free and made with many vegetables & fruits.
Yes, this dish is naturally gluten free.
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Recipe
Mint Raita- Indian Pudina Raita
1 CUP = 250 ml
Ingredients
- 1 cup mint leaves tightly packed
- 1 cup yogurt thick, fresh, plain
- 1/2 teaspoon chaat masala powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon rock salt
- 1 inch ginger peeled
- 2 green chilies
Instructions
- Pick, rinse and wipe off excess moisture from mint leaves using kitchen towel.
- Add 1 cup tightly packed mint leaves to a small mixer jar. To that add 1 inch peeled ginger and 2 slit green chilies.
- Grind to a smooth paste or coarse paste.
- Add 1 cup plain thick yogurt to a medium bowl. Whisk yogurt very well first. Add it to the mint paste. Now add 3/4 teaspoon rock salt, freshly cracked black pepper powder, roasted cumin powder and chaat masala powder.
- Blend well again until everything is well combined.
- Transfer to a serving bowl. Taste and season raita with salt or pepper as preferred. You can also sprinkle raita with a pinch of chaat masala powder or chili powder or cayenne pepper before serving. Serve mint raita immediately or you can refrigerate and serve it chilled.
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