The cooling Beetroot & Mint Raita (Salad)

Hi foodies, today I am going to share a very simple yet very appetizing recipe - The cooling Beetroot & Mint Raita (Salad). It is a quick, easy recipe and a must try for this summer! The combination of crunchiness of beets, the freshness of mint leaves and the creaminess of yogurt is simply unbeatable. I stumbled upon this dish earlier this year when I was trying to find low carb diet recipes. I have tried different versions of it but this one by far is my favorite as it has zero oil and zero sugar. 

                             

I immediately fell in love with this Raita (Salad) as it is not only healthy but also a delicious dish that can be eaten as a side or as a meal by itself. I plan to gobble this dish as my meal at least once a week, especially in summer. 

For a long time, I was consuming beets as a simple salad. I would boil, peel and slice them out on a plate. Though I always knew there are abundant health benefits attributed to this amazing root vegetable, I always struggled about finding ways to consume them until recently. In last few years, I have tried and tested different recipes using beets and trust me this vegetable has never failed to impress me. Beetroots are gifted with natural sweetness and are low in calories, low in fat and a great source of fiber, vitamins as well as minerals such as folate, potassium, iron and Vitamin C. They also help improve blood flow and lower blood pressure. These are just few of their numerous health benefits. 

On the other hand, mint leaves apart from giving cooling sensation, help improve digestion, provide anti-inflammatory and anti bacterial benefits. 

Lastly, yogurt is a great way to consume the much needed nutrients for our body. The active cultures (Probiotics)  in yogurt benefit our digestive system. Yogurt not only contains higher percentage of vitamins and minerals like calcium, vitamin B-12, phosphorus, potassium, etc. but it is also an excellent source of protein. 

So with all these amazing health benefits combined in one power packed dish, this recipe is a jackpot and can't be missed for any reason! This is my version of the cooling Beetroot & Mint Raita and I am sure you and your family will enjoy it as much as we do. Let's get started...

Ingredients -

2 Small or 1 Medium beetroot  

Handful of mint leaves

1/2 Cup whole milk yogurt or Greek yogurt   

1/2 tsp black salt

1 tsp cumin powder

Salt to taste 

      

Let's prepare it...

Peel the beetroots and coarsely grate or shred them using a grater. Transfer the shredded beetroots in a bowl.

                             

Roughly chop the mint leaves and add them to the shredded beetroots.

Now add salt, black salt and roasted cumin powder to the mixture. Please keep in mind to add little less salt than you normally desire as we are also adding black salt to the Raita. You can always add more salt later if you like.

           

Next add whole milk yogurt or Greek yogurt. Mix everything well coating the beetroots with yogurt and spices.

   

Garnish with a spring of mint leaves and voila... the cooling Beetroot & Mint Raita (salad) is ready!

                                 

At this point you can either put the Raita in the fridge for an hour or two before serving, or you can serve it right away (you can use cold yogurt if you plan on serving it immediately.)

Additional note -

I have not used any oil to make this Raita but if you wish you may also add some tempering to it. 

To temper, heat up some oil and add some mustard seeds. When crackled, fry some curry leaves and pour temper evenly over the Raita.