Lauki Raita Bottle Gourd Raita

Raita is an Indian side dish with yogurt, various vegetables or fruits, and spices. It is generally accompanied by a full-fledged meal, such as biryani, pulao, and more. This refreshing side dish helps cool down the palate and is often served during summer. Raita is not only delicious but also very healthy. It is high in protein and probiotics. Besides the spiced raita, there are several other varieties of raita. For instance, boondi raita, cucumber raita, onion tomato raita, and more. We are going to tell you the recipe for lauki raita. Ever tried this one? If not, well, now is the time. Read below.

What Is Lauki Raita?

As the name suggests, lauki raita is a refreshing curd-based side dish recipe that is made with grated bottle gourd (also known as gheeya, lauki, dudhi, sorekai, or sorakaya) and spiced up with a plethora of spices like black salt, cumin powder, and chaat masala. This healthy Lauki raita is great for weight loss and is also known as Lauki ka raita, Ghiya raita, or Dudhi raita. Typically, I use plain yogurt, but if you like raitas to be thick and creamy, use plain Greek Yogurt. If you want it thinner, mix in a little cold water till you achieve the desired consistency.

Ingredients

Lauki (Bottle Gourd): I used 1 cup of grated lauki for this recipe. Yogurt (curd): Use homemade curd or store-bought full-fat plain yogurt (a.k.a curd or dahi in India) for this raita. You can also use low-fat yogurt or Greek yogurt if that’s what you have. Spices: I used roasted cumin (jeera) powder, chaat masala, and salt (black salt). Fresh Herbs: use fresh coriander leaves (cilantro) to enhance the flavors.

How to Make Lauki Ka Raita Recipe

Peel the skin and grate lauki using a medium-sized blade.

Lauki can be cooked in 3 ways:

Boil some water in a pot, add the grated lauki, and cook for 5 minutes till tender OR
If using Instant Pot, add shredded lauki and ¼ cup of water into the inner pot. PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) for 0 minutes and Quick Release. OR
You can add grated lauki along with ¼ cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 2-3 minutes until the bottle gourd is completely tender. Strain the cooked lauki and let it cool. Whisk the yogurt or curd in a large mixing bowl. Add cooked lauki, green chilies, roasted jeera powder, chaat masala powder, and black salt. Taste at this stage to ensure the amount of salt and spices is enough. Lauki Raita Recipe is ready. Serve chilled.

Serving Suggestions

Lauki Raita pairs well with various Indian dishes like veg biryani, pulao, parathas, curries, and lentils. Pair Lauki Raita with Rice dishes like

Paneer Biryani Jeera Rice Spinach Biryani Vegetable Khichdi Peas Pulao Vegetable Pulao

Storage Suggestions

Lauki raita tastes best when served fresh. You can store the leftovers for up to a day; after that lauki starts releasing water, and raita does not taste good.

Tips & Variations

Veggies: You can also add some grated carrots, cucumber, chopped onions, and tomatoes to this recipe. Milk: Adding milk to the yogurt helps prevent it from turning sour. If you are using fresh yogurt, then skip it. Refrigerate: Refrigerate raita until serving time. Herbs: You can also add finely chopped mint (pudina) instead of coriander leaves. Consistency: If the raita becomes too thick, add more water or milk.