Baigan Raita

Raita always brings a twist in our meals and also increases the taste. It is also said that raita apart from increasing the taste of the meals, it also helps in digestion purpose. Before I was not too fond of raita, but now a days I feel my meals are incomplete without any raita or any plain salad. So tried this raita recipe known as Baigan Raita or Dahi Baigan . This is the one delicious yogurt based seasoned salad made with eggplants or brinjal. This is very simple and easy to prepare if you have eggplants handy in your kitchen.

INGREDIENTS

• Small eggplant, thinly diced - 5 nos (as shown in above image)
• Thick yogurt - 1&1/4 cups
• Cilantro, chopped - 2 tbsp
• Crushed red chillies  - 1&1/2 tsp
• Tumeric powder - 1/8 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1&1/2 tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1/8 tsp
• Curry leaves - 5
• Asafoetida - a pinch
• Salt to taste
• Oil - 1 tsp +1 tsp

PREPARATION

• Wash and thinly dice the eggplants into small pieces. Microwave the pieces along with pinch of salt and 1 tsp of oil until the eggplant pieces are soft and tender.
• Beat the yogurt till you get smooth texture. Add in cooked eggplant pieces , another pinch of salt and chopped cilantro. Mix everything well.
• Heat oil in the seasoning pan and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, crushed red chillies, asafoetida, curry leaves and tumeric powder. Fry everything for 1 minute and pour it into yogurt mixture and mix well.
• Baigan raita is ready to serve