Make this refreshing and easy lauki ka raita (bottle gourd raita) as an accompaniment for your summer meals. It is a great side dish to serve with your Indian meals.
Here are some more raita recipes, that can be served with your meals – Bathua Ka Raita, Kaddu Ka Raita, Carrot Raita, Cucumber Raita, Pahadi Kheere Ka Raita, Mix Fruit Raita, and Restaurant Style Pineapple Raita.
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About This Recipe
Lauki ka raita (doodhi raita or ghiya raita) is a savory North Indian accompaniment made using bottle gourd, yogurt, and a few spices. It is very refreshing and can be served as a side dish with biryani, pulao, or any other Indian meal.
As summers are approaching slowly and steadily, I am looking for more and more raita recipes, as they are a must in our lunch. We need a bowl full of raita along with our everyday meals. This lauki Ka raita, is one of my favorites, as it is healthy, tasty, and filling.
Lauki is one of the vegetables that are high on water content and also easily available in the local markets. As it keeps you hydrated, it is a great vegetable to combine with yogurt. Both these ingredients, yogurt, and lauki will keep your body cool and save you from the scorching heat of summer.
This Lauki Raita is,
- Delicious
- Filling
- Savory
- Nutritious
- Easy + Quick
- A summer favorite
Ingredients
Lauki – Lauki, also called doodhi or ghiya is one of my favorite summer vegetables. It is available throughout the year nowadays, but the best ones come out in the summers. It is peeled, grated, and then pressure cooked to add to the raita.
You can also add some peeled and grated cucumber along with cooked lauki in the raita.
Before cooking the lauki, taste it to check if it is bitter or sour, avoid adding it to the raita, otherwise, it will ruin the overall taste.
Yogurt – I have used full-fat yogurt here, as it adds a nice and creamy texture. If you want to make a vegan lauki raita, you can even use soy yogurt, coconut yogurt, or any dairy-free yogurt that you prefer.
Green Chillies – To add a spicy taste to the raita, add in some finely chopped green chilies. You can adjust the quantity as per your taste. If you are making this ghiya raita for your kids, you can completely skip adding it too.
Fresh Coriander – Fresh coriander adds a nice green colour and refreshing taste to the raita.
Black Salt – Add black salt to taste. You can use regular salt too in the raita.
Cumin Powder – Add in a little roasted cumin powder for an added flavor. You can also add red chili powder if you want to make it nice and spicy. Check out how to make roasted cumin powder at home here.
If you want to make raita a little watery, then add in some water or milk and adjust the consistency.
How to make Lauki Ka Raita?
Wash the lauki and peel it using a vegetable peeler. Peel it until you reach the soft flesh. Cut it into half and discard any big seeds. Grate the lauki using the middle hole of a box grater.
Add the grated lauki to a pressure cooker. Add ½ cup water and pressure cook for 2 whistles on high heat. Remove the cooker from heat and let the pressure release naturally. You can also cook the lauki in a pan over the stovetop or in an Instant Pot. Strain the lauki using a soup strainer and let it cool completely.
Note – You can use the leftover to knead the dough or to make curries.
Whisk yogurt in a medium size mixing bowl using a wire whisk until smooth and creamy.
Add the cooked lauki, 1 teaspoon finely chopped green chili, 1 tablespoon finely chopped coriander, 1 teaspoon black salt ad ½ teaspoon roasted cumin powder to the bowl and mix well.
Chill the raita for a few hours and serve.
Lauki/Bottle Gourd Health Benefits
As it has high water content, it is great for digestion and other stomach-related issues. It is also light on the stomach and therefore advised to eat if you have diarrhea or constipation.
Eating lauki in your everyday meals can also benefit your heart health.
It is said that eating bottle gourd can reduce your stress and calm your mind after a hectic schedule. It also helps with the sleeping disorder and helps you get a good night’s sleep.
Due to its water content, it is also great for weight loss. So if you are on a weight loss journey, then include bottle gourd in your everyday meals.
It is also considered really great for skin and hair.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve lauki ka raita along with your everyday meals, which comprise dal, sabzi, and phulka. You can also serve it with stuffed parathas like aloo paratha, gobi paratha, keema paratha, etc.
This doodhi raita even tastes great with biryani, matar pulao, bagara rice, or any lightly spiced pulao.
Storage Suggestions
Ghiya raita tastes great when prepared fresh. You can instead cook lauki and store it in the fridge for about 2 to 3 days in an air-tight container. Mix cooked lauki and other ingredients in the yogurt when you are planning to serve the raita.
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Recipe Card
Lauki Ka Raita Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup grated lauki (bottlegourd)
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped green chili
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped coriander
- 1 teaspoon black salt
- ½ teaspoon roasted cumin powder
Instructions
- Wash the lauki and peel it using a vegetable peeler. Peel it until you reach the soft flesh. Cut it into half and discard any big seeds. Grate the lauki using the middle hole of a box grater.
- Add the grated lauki to a pressure cooker. Add ½ cup water and pressure cook for 2 whistles on high heat. Remove the cooker from heat and add let the pressure release naturally. You can also cook the lauki in a pan over the stovetop or in an Instant Pot. Strain the lauki using a soup strainer and let it cool completely.
- Note – You can use the leftover to knead the dough or to make curries.
- Whisk yogurt in a medium size mixing bowl using a wire whisk until smooth and creamy.
- Add the cooked lauki, 1 teaspoon finely chopped green chili, 1 tablespoon finely chopped coriander, 1 teaspoon black salt ad ½ teaspoon roasted cumin powder to the bowl and mix well.
- Chill the raita for a few hours and serve.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!