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Raita | Traditional Side Dish From India | TasteAtlas

Raita

(Pachadi, रायता, রাইতা)

Raita is a popular Indian side dish or a condiment made by combining thick yogurt with different fruits, vegetables, and spices, so it can be either sweet or savory and spicy. The color of raita also depends on the ingredients used, but most commonly it is either white, green, or yellow.


The name of the dish comes from two Sanskrit words: rajika, meaning black mustard, and tiktaka, meaning spicy. Raita's origins can be traced back to the 19th century. Some of the most common types of raita today are pineapple raita, aloo raita (made with potatoes), cucumber raita, and mixed vegetable raita.


Raita is often served with main dishes such as biryani, pilaf, and kebab, when it is consumed both as a cooling agent and its spicy, contradictory counterpart.