Onion raita is a popular South Indian condiment served along with biryani, pulav, brinji rice, paratha and tomato rice. It is a refreshing side dish made with yogurt, onion, chillies and spices. This simple and satisfying raita can be made in less than 10 minutes. It is perfect for lunch, dinner and for kids lunch boxes.
Onion Raita
Raitas make a great cooling and refreshing side dish for any spicy biryani, pulao..You can literally make raita with pretty much all veggies likes onions, carrots, beetroot, cucumber, mint or anything. Raita is not at all difficult, it is just a combination of yogurt, fruits or veggies and few spices and fresh herbs.
This is a raita which i made with onions, i added some chilli powder and cumin powder in this, to make it tasty and flavourful.
About Onion Raita
Raita is a cool and refreshing side dish that is usually served with biryani, pulav, tomato rice and stuffed parathas. Raita is a versatile recipe that you can make with any vegetables like onion, tomato, beetroot, cucumber, radish, carrot or even with fruits like apple and pomegranate.
Onion raita is also known as vengaya thayir pachadi in Tamil and Pyaaz ka raita in Hindi. Onion raita is a classic South Indian recipe and must have accompaniment for biryani, pulav, brinji, paratha and tomato rice.
The onion raita recipe is so simple and easy to make. In this raita, the pungent flavour of raw onion is perfectly balanced with the creamy yogurt, sugar, coriander leaves, cumin powder and chilli powder.
A bowl of biryani with onion raita is a deadly combination and they go perfectly together. It tastes so satisfying, comforting and compliments the flavours of biryani, pulav or any variety of rice so well.
Similar Recipes,
Beetroot Raita
Radish Raita
Onion Tomato Raita
Cherry Tomato Raita
Spicy Mango Raita
Traditionally onion raita is served as a side dish along with biryani and pulav. But I personally love it even more with parotta, kothu parotta and chilli parotta. The refreshing and cooling raita balances the spices of these dishes perfectly. The onion crunchiness with creamy curd gives a satisfying taste and texture in every bite. And you wont believe what I did with leftover onion raita, I made a raita sandwich using it.
Which Onion is Best for Raita
In South India, mostly big red onions are used for making raita. These onions have a sharp flavour with mild sweetness. And also it is easy to peel and chop.
If you want to make it too traditional and sweeter, then choose small red onions. It is quite time consuming to peel, but it will be more flavourful when mixed with curd. Also small onions are an excellent choice for making curd rice.
If you prefer mild and sweet raita, then choose white onions. It is good for kids and also for people who don't like the strong raw onion taste.
Ingredients
Onion : Onion is the star ingredient of this raita. It has a sharp taste and crunchy texture with mild sweet notes. You can either use thinly sliced onions or finely chopped onions based on your preference.
Green chilli : Use finely chopped green chillies to add spice and heat to the raita. Adjust or omit the chillies if you're serving it to kids.
Thick curd / yogurt : This is the base of the raita. Use fresh and thick homemade curd for a rich and creamy texture. You can also make raita with greek yogurt or low fat milk yogurt.
Salt : Salt is used to bring out all the flavours and balances the taste. Sugar : Add a pinch of sugar to balance the sourness of curd.
Spices : I have used spices like red chilli powder, cumin powder for mild color and extra flavour.
Coriander leaves : Finely chopped fresh coriander leaves add earthy aroma and a green color pop up to the raita.
Optional : You can add finely chopped tomatoes or pomegranate to add a pop up color and taste.
Step by Step Pictures
1)Take thick yogurt in a bowl and use a whisk or spoon to mix this really well so it is lump free.
2)Now the yogurt is smooth.
3)Peel and chop onions very finely. Take this chopped onions in a bowl.
3)Add in chopped green chillies which is optional.
4)Season the onions with salt and sugar. This helps mellow down the onion flavour.
5)Mix this well and allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
6)Now add in the whisked yogurt into the onions.
7)Add in roasted jeera powder and red chilli powder.
8)Add in lots of coriander leaves.
9)Mix well. Place this in fridge until ready to serve.
10)Enjoy.
Expert Tips
Whisk the curd : Start by whisking the homemade yogurt / curd in a bowl until it is creamy and smooth.
Odour removal : To remove the pungent flavour from onion, first soak the sliced / chopped onion in ice water with a spoon of lemon juice. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Then remove the water and dry the onions completely. Soak the chopped onions in cold water to remove the sharp odour
Curd : Use unsour and thick homemade curd for best taste and texture. Add a pinch of sugar to balance the mild tartness from curd. If the curd is too sour, add a spoon of cream or milk while beating the curd.
Storage & Serving
Onion raita can be stored in the refrigerator for a maximum of 1 day. It is advisable to prepare fresh, serve and enjoy. Leftovers make yummy onion raita sandwich.
Serve the onion raita with any variety of rice and biryani, pulav, brinji, paratha and tomato rice.
FAQ
Q. Can I make it with store bought curd ?
Yes you can use store bought curd for making raita. But make sure it is thick and not too sour. If it is watery, hung or strain using cloth, sieve to remove moisture.
Q. Can I add other vegetables and fruits ?
You can add various vegetables and fruits like tomato, cucumber, grated carrot, beetroot, apple and pomegranate for added color and texture.
Q. Why does my raita turn watery ?
This is mainly due to various reasons like using watery curd, adding salt too early. Also remember the onion releases water over time. So serve the raita immediately.
Q. How to make dairy free raita ?
For making dairy free raita, use yogurt like almond yogurt, oat yogurt, coconut yogurt and soy yogurt.
Variations
Cucumber raita : Add finely chopped or grated cucumber with curd, cumin powder, coriander leaves, salt and sugar. Mix and serve this refreshing and cooling raita with spicy biryani and pulav.
Boondi raita : Add a handful of crispy fried boondi ( chickpea ball ) to the curd and mix it with cumin powder, chaat masala powder, and coriander leaves. Serve this crunchy and creamy raita with chaat recipes like dahi vada, pani puri and stuffed parathas.
📖 Recipe Card
Onion Raita Recipe | Pyaz Ka Raita Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 large Onions peeled & chopped finely
- 1 no Green Chillies chopped finely
- 2 cups Curd | Yogurt
- 1 teaspoon Salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
- 1 teaspoon Roasted Cumin Powder
- 4 tablespoon Coriander leaves finely chopped
Instructions
- Take onions, chillies, salt and sugar in a bowl. Mix well, you can use your hands to mix well. Leave this to sit for 10 to 15 mins.
- Now whisk yogurt till smooth. Add onion mix in and add chilli and cumin powder. Add in coriander leaves and mix well.
- Serve with biryani or anything you like.
Nutrition
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