Lauki Raita (Bottle Gourd Raita)
Lauki raita is a healthy accompaniment to make with boiled grated bottle gourd and spiced yogurt. With minimal ingredients, this Punjabi raita is very easy to make. Serve it with paratha along with dal or curry.
Bottle gourd is known as lauki, ghiya, and doodhi. This bottle gourd raita is prepared with grated lauki & mild spicy yogurt.
In Indian, raita is an integral part of the meal planning during summer. As both, bottle gourd and yogurt has cooling properties and make a perfect combination in hot summer.
What is raita
Raita is a curd or yogurt based dish where the main ingredient such as fruit or vegetable is added in beaten yogurt.
Slightly spiced using roasted cumin powder, salt, black salt and garnished with coriander leaves. Raita is always named after the main ingredient used in whisked curd.
What is lauki
In english lauki means “bottle gourd”. It is also known as ghiya or doodhi or opo squash in Indian.
Healthy benefits of lauki ka raita
Bottle gourd or lauki is considered a healthy vegetable and very light on stomach.
- It is full of essential nutrients.
- Mostly water content.
- helps in digestion and often given to sick people.
- have a cooling properly.
- helps in weightloss.
- High fiber content
In India during summer when the temperature is high, this lauki raita becomes a part of meal planning. It not only helps in cooling the body from inside but also easily digestible.
Lauki raita for weighloss
It helps in weight loss due to its water content. Since it is low in calories and fiber-rich, it promotes digestion and weight loss.
Ingredients of lauki raita
- Main ingredients: 2.5 cups yogurt or curd, 2 cups tightly packed bottle gourd
- Dry spices: 1/2 tsp roasted cumin seeds, 2 tbsp crushed roasted peanut
- Green chili: 1 tsp finely chopped green chili
- Ginger: 1 tsp grated ginger
- Garnishing: 3 tbsp chopped green coriander
- Tadka(completely optional): 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1 dry red chili, 1 tsp oil, few curry leaves
How long to boil lauki for raita
Variations of lauki raita/doodhi raita
Tips to make tasty lauki raita
How to make the best lauki raita
Method: Beat curd to make it smooth keep it aside till we boil bottle gourd/lauki.
Boil lauki/gourd in salted water for five minutes. Squeeze all the water and you can use this in kneading flour. We will only use boiled bottle gourd.
Add this to the curd and mix well. Add dry roasted cumin seeds, chopped green chilies, ginger,crushedd peanut and chopped coriander leaves. Adjust salt as per taste. Place in a serving bowl and garnish with fresh coriander and/or mint leaves. Serve chilled with Indian meal.
You can adjust chili as per your taste.
Tip: You can temper it with little oil, curry leaves, red chilli and mustard seeds. I usually eat it raita without tempering.
