Author Notes: Raita is a traditional Indian recipe made in different ways from region to region. This is a spin on traditional Indian yogurt raita that my relatives in North India make. That recipe is usually made with beaten yogurt and a vegetable (very often cucumbers) and flavored with red chili powder and roasted cumin powder. In this recipe, I make a combo of a North Indian raita and tzatziki with sautéed garlicky and lemony kale in place of cucumbers. What’s really great about this recipe is that kale is available seasonally almost all year round, so you can make this recipe any time of year. You can prepare this dish as a side or an appetizer dip. —Chitra Agrawal
Serves: 4
Ingredients
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2
teaspoons vegetable oil
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1
garlic clove, minced
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4
kale leaves, stems removed and chopped well
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Salt and pepper, to taste
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1
teaspoon fresh lemon juice
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3
cups plain yogurt, whisked
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3/4
teaspoon cumin powder, plus more for garnish
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1/4
teaspoon red chili powder, plus more for garnish
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1
teaspoon cilantro, chopped, plus more for garnish
Directions
- Heat oil in a small pan under medium-high heat. When warm, add garlic.
- Sauté garlic for a few seconds, until fragrant, and throw in chopped kale. Cook kale for a few minutes, until wilted.
- Add salt and lemon juice and stir to mix in. Transfer to a bowl.
- Cool kale by putting in the refrigerator (or in the freezer if you need it faster).
- When the kale is cooled, combine with the beaten yogurt, then add in the cumin powder, chili powder, salt, and black pepper, and mix well.
- Mix in the cilantro.
- Before serving, sprinkle on a little more cumin powder and chili powder and garnish with cilantro.
/3adcbae1-d084-40cb-bea8-dd2b5c87cba7--17002051125_5af3baca39_b.jpg "Kale Yogurt Raita 2")
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Photo by Bobbi Lin
/1c8835aa-e348-46e5-84ff-56d32f1533c0--kaleraita.jpg "Kale Yogurt Raita 3")
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