Raita Galore...

Raita is something that i can live on... Honestly during the periods when i go on serious dieting this is one major comfort food that i always count on. I am sharing few of my tried and tested ones and my favourites.

Okra Raita :

Okra - about 10 to 15 cut into small rings
curry leaves a few
green chili cut finely
mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp bengal gram 1 tsp (optional)
Yogurt - 1 cup

Salt to taste.

Method:
1. Wash and wipe the okra dry .
2. Heat oil and add mustard, curry leaves and Bengal gram .

3. Add the okra and gently fry it till it turns little crisp and the ends turn brown.

4.Add salt to taste .

5. Beat curds and mix the cooked okra into the chilled curd and top it with chili powder.

6. Serve chilled.

Verdict : The crunchy okra soaks into the yogurt and the mild spice andcrunchy curry leaves makes an interesting blend of texture and flavour. This is something that you almost want to eat on its own.


Spinach and Dill Raita :

(Taken from Anju Anand's Cook book)



spinach - 75 gms washed

10gm dill sprigs

300 ml yoghurt

salt ,to taste

freshly ground black pepper to taste

3/4th tsp roasted cumin powder



Method :



1. Place the spinach and dill in a saucepan with little water and cook until soft.

2. Drain and squeeze excess water and finely chop to shreds

3. Stir the spinach into the yogurt with salt , pepper and roasted and pounded cumin seeds

4. Serve chilled.


Verdict : Love the blend of flavours from spinach and dill. Can be served as accompaniment with both Indian dishes and even with barbecued chicken and pitta bread.

Beetroot and Mango Raita :

(Adapted from Anjum Anand's New Indian cookbook )

1 small beetroot cooked and cubed

1/2 mango peeled and cubed

200 ml yogurt

1/2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 heaped tsp sesame seeds

curry leaves few

Method :
1. Mix together the cooked and cubed beetroot , mango, yogurt, salt and chili powder.
2. Heat the oil in a sauce pan, tilt the pan and hold it in an angle so all the oil collects at the bottom.
3. Add the mustard seeds, sesame and finally curry leaves. When they pop and splutter , quickly pour them over the raita. Mix and serve chill

Verdict : I made two changes from the original recipe. I cooked the beetroot and added mango for a twist. Loved the crunchy sesame and the mildly sour mango along with the gentle sweetness from the beetroot. An amazing recipe from Anjum.

Enjoy!!!

Chocolate Beetrootcake...

This cake took a long time for me to be convinced... Been seeing this a lot in several versions but never ventured beyond curiosity. I was not too sure about having beetroot in my chocolate cake. This week i had a glut of beetroot in my fridge and thought why not !!.

It was both surprise and revelation to me. Not only the cake came out super soft and super moist i could never smell or feel any beetroot in there, which is what i was totally skeptical about. I layered and lathered it with rich chocolate ganache and served it with fresh strawberries . I think it is one of the best chocolate cakes i have ever tasted.

Though there are several recipes available i followed chef Ross Burden's version simply because his recipe suggests to cook and puree the beetroot though many other recipes add just plain grated beetroot like we do for carrot cake. I think the puree blended well with the cake mixture and gave it a sort of rich purplish brown colour and great texture.

Ingredients:
85g dark chocolate
3 medium eggs
300g sugar
240ml sunflower oil
300g cooked beetroot, peeled and pureed
30g cocoa powder
200g plain flour
1 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
250g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
250ml double cream

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease and flour a 25cm spring-release cake tin.

2. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl suspended over a pan of simmering water.

3. Meanwhile, lightly beat the eggs with the sugar and oil in a large mixing bowl, then gradually beat in the beetroot puree. Stir in the melted chocolate.

4. Sift the cocoa, flour and bicarbonate of soda over the surface and mix in thoroughly.

5. Spoon the cake mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 35 minutes or until the centre springs back when lightly pressed. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

6. While the cake is cooling make the ganache. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring the cream almost to boiling point, then pour over the chocolate. Beat together until the chocolate has melted into the cream making a ganache.

7. While the ganache is still warm use to ice the chocolate. Set aside to cool and harden. Serve the cake with ice cream and fresh strawberries.