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💭 Why you’ll love this recipe
This boondi raita recipe is a great variation of a traditional Indian raita!Crunchy, creamy, and salty - all the perfect flavor combinations you’d want alongside a delicious Indian meal (try pairing this with a homemade naan and some chana masala - you won’t regret it!)Comes together in five minutes, great as a healthy dip!
📋 Ingredients and notes
You’ll need Indian yogurt (dahi), black salt (or regular kosher salt), cumin powder, chopped onions, chopped green chilis, fresh cilantro / coriander leaves and boondi (i.e., chickpea flour balls). You can also add garam masala or chaat masala for additional flavor.
Notes and Variations
Indian yogurt versus American or Greek yogurt: Indian yogurt is made with a slightly different process, has slightly higher fat content, and is a bit more sour than your traditional American yogurt. Greek yogurt is closer in consistency (since it is yogurt that has been strained to remove water content). Since you’re whipping the yogurt to make raita, I recommend picking up Indian yogurt from a local Indian store or using a low-fat regular American yogurt. Salt versus black salt: Black salt (aka kala namak) is a type of salt found in India (and many of your local grocery stores) that provides an almost sulfuric, egg-like taste to the dishes it’s added to. Regular or Himalayan pink salt will work in this recipe in a pinch, but black salt elevates it! Boondi: Boondi are deep fried chickpea flour balls that can either be salty or sweet. I like Haldiram’s brand boondi (likely available at your local Indian grocery store). You’ll see it in vacuum sealed packets (great snack on it’s own)! If you can’t find boondi, you can also fry chickpeas (check out this roasted chana recipe if you want to go this route!) Cumin powder, and other warming spices: I typically use just cumin powder but depending on your taste, you can also add other spice powders (like garam masala or chaat masala), or even a pinch of cayenne or red chili powder!
📖 How to make boondi raita
Add Indian yogurt to a mixing bowl.Add black salt and ground cumin to the mixing bowl.Use a balloon whisk to get the yogurt smooth and creamy.Add chopped onions, green chili peppers, and cilantro and fold it into the yogurt. Add the boondi to whipped yogurt directly if you like your boondi crispy. If you want it soft, soak the boondi in warm water (not hot water!), wring out excess water and then add to the yogurt. Using hot water can make the boondi too soggy. Garnish with coriander leaves and curry leaves (or even mint leaves!)
Check out a few other raita recipes to mix things up a bit below!
🍴 Serving and storage suggestions
I typically like making this dish fresh and serving it chilled - placing it in the fridge softens the boondi considerably so it becomes soggy. So I don’t recommend storing it. This easy boondi raita is a healthy side that can be served with Indian cuisine to make a hearty meal! If you like this recipe, check out my other Indian recipes: If you tried this recipe, don’t forget to comment and rate! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖 Recipe
