Lauki Raita | Navratri Vrat Recipes

Lauki Raita is very regular in my parents house, my mom use to make this mostly for guest as it's different from usual onion, cucumber raita. Though I don't make much of these I rather use my lauki/bottle gourd in dal, sabzi etc but once in a while for change I make this too.

Lauki Raita is best specially during this summer time due to bottle gourd high water content.  This serves itself as a side dish for paratha or any variety rice and it's also one of Navratri fasting recipe, if you don't use red chilli powder during fasting then add green chilli and rock salt/sendha namak.  But try this any day and you going to like it, it's very simple hardly takes any time.  I made this in microwave but you can cook bottle gourd on stove too.

Lauki Raita (Suraikai Pachadi)

Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 2 Minutes
Total time: 12 Minutes
Servers: 3-4

Ingredients:

Grated Bottle Gourd/Lauki - 1 Cup
Beaten Curd/Yogurt - 2 Cups
Cumin Powder - 1 tsp 
Red Chilli Powder - 1 tsp [ or use finely chopped green chilli -1]
Salt - To Taste [Use Sendha Namak during fasting]
Chopped Cilantro/Hara Dhaniya - 1 tbsp

Method:

1. Wash, peel, de-seed and grate bottle gourd.
2. In a microwave safe bowl add grated bottle gourd, salt and 2 tbsp water. Microwave 2 minutes on high or cook in stove top without later until soft.
~ If your bottlegourd doesn't becomes soft in 2 minutes then microwave for another minute or so.

3. Remove bowl from microwave and add beaten curd/dahi, red chilli powder, cumin seeds powder and mix well.

4. Chill and server with red chilli powder, cumin powder, cilantro garnish.

Have a nice day ~~