Boondi Raita - Satvik recipe

 Raita is an accompaniment made using whisked yogurt /dahi with some added spices like cumin powder, red chilli powder , salt  and finely chopped or grated vegetables like onions, cucumbers, tomato, radish, carrot or boondi as in this recipe today .

What is Boondi ?

Boondis are tiny deep fried balls made using chick peas flour/ besan/ kadalai maav .

Can we make Boondi at home ? 

Yes . Boondi can be made at home easily but it needs a little practice to get perfect small balls . If you would like to make boondis at home, check the boondi recipe on my blog here .

Where can I get boondi to make this raita ?

Boondis are available in most shops which sell Indian snacks. You can use the plain boondi or the khara boondi (spicy variety) to prepare the raita .

With what can I serve boondi raita ?

Boondi raita is a perfect accompaniment for any type of pulao, biryanis and spicy stuffed parathas. 

What are the other types of raita ?

Raita Varieties on my blog which you can try

Mix veg raita 

Kumaoni Raita 

Sweet potato pachadi /raita

Preparation Time - 5 mins
Cooking Time - Nil 
Complexity - easy 

Ingredients 

200gms thick yogurt /dahi 
50gms (2 fist fulls) boondi - plain or khara boondi 
1/2 tsp red chilli powder (skip if using khara boondi) 
1/2 tsp jeera/cumin powder 
1/2 tsp kala namak (black salt) /chat masala 
1/2 tsp sugar
Pinch of salt 
Finely chopped fresh corriander 

Method

• Whisk the yogurt well until it is creamy .The yogurt should not be sour.So pls ensure you are using fresh and chilled yogurt .
• Soak the boondi in warm water to remove the stale smell of oil if using store bought boondi.  For home made boondi you can skip this step .
• Add the salt, sugar , cumin powder , red chilli  powder and black salt to the yogurt and mix it well.
• Squeeze out the water from the boondis and add it to the yogurt mixture. 
• If using home made boondis, add the crisp boondis directly to the yogurt and mix it . 
• The boondi will absorb the yogurt and swell up by absorbing all the flavors.  Keep it chilled until serving.  
• Garnish with some fresh corriander and a few crisp and crunchy boondis just before serving. 

Notes

1. I have used home made khara boondis and hence did not add red chilli powder. 
2. Boondis already have salt in them, so adjust the quantity of salt accordingly else it will be too salty.
3. You can use either home made yogurt or store bought but it should not be sour or old . Use fresh dahi always.