Palak Raita or Spinach Raita is a quick to make and soothing Dish for fasting or add to summer meal plans
Raitha (or veggies / ingredients) in plain / tempered yogurt is a regular at our mealtime. Sometime for fasting on Ekadasi / other religious days, I make this simple Palak Raita / Spinach raita that is a filling meal by itself. SOmetimes I pair this with Sabudana Kichdi , Farali Samo Khichdi or Farali Dosa for a complete meal. With homemade yogurt always available, Raitas are a quick add-on to summer meals or fasting days.
Quick FAQs / Tips to make delicious Palak Raita:
- Can I make this raita with other greens ? Mint & Baby Spinach works best, but it also works well with Bathua (Chenopodium Album / Lambs foot green). If you try with any other greens and like it, drop a comment here
- Can I add garlic / red chillies / mustard to the tempering ? Yes surely. As I usually make this for fasting, I skip all 3, but go ahead if you like / prefer them.
- I am vegan. What curd can I use ? I would reckon Cashew curd / Peanut curd could work . If you try a vegan alternative (store bought / homemade), use unsweetened versions and drop a line on what worked best.
- Can I skip the sugar? Sometimes greens when sautéed can leave a bitter aftertaste. A dash of sugar is added to balance that out
Other Raitas you would love on the blog include:
Apple Raita | Easy Raita recipes
Apple Raita is an easy Raita or side dish with Apples in a mildly spiced yogurt sauce. Makes for an excellent side for Pulav/Biryani or as a meal by itself.
Check out this recipe
Adraki Rathaloo Raita
Adraki Rathaloo Raita refers to Sweet Potatoes stewed in a spiced ginger-yogurt sauce. Eaten as a meal by itself or served with Pulav or Biryani
Check out this recipe
Vellarikai Inji Thayir Pachadi | Cucumber and Ginger Raita
Vellarikai Inji Pachadi is a quick and tasty Cucumber and Ginger raita made with yogurt and a spicy coconut base. Perfect as a meal or accompaniment to Rice or Parathas.
Check out this recipe
Aloo Anardana Raita
Aloo Anardana Raita is a easy and delicious side dish or Gluten Free Raita made with Potato and Pomegranate pearls.
Check out this recipe
Ashgourd Raita | Safed Bhopla Raita | Pusanikai Pachadi
This dish is ashgourd in a tempered yoghurt sauce. Served with Indian Rice Dishes
Check out this recipe
We include Raithas almost thrice a week with any ingredient like Mint / Bell Pepper/ Eggplant / Pusanikai (Ashgourd) Pineapple/ Snakegourd (Podalangai)/ Radish (Mooli) / Potato and the kids like them a lot.
Apart from providing calcium through yoghurt, palak in this dish adds a dimension of folic acid and was very yummy. For spinach lovers, this is a treat.
Other Farali / Fasting dishes you would love on the blog:
Farali Samo Khichdi | Moraiyo Khichdi | Bhagar Khichdi
Farali Samo Khichdi or Moraiyo Khichdi is a quick, Gluten Free savory pudding made with Barnyard Millet for fasts during festivals in India
Check out this recipe
Farali Dosa | Rajgira Dosa | Amaranth Flour Crepes
An Instant Gluten Free Indian Crepe (Dosa) made with mixed flours. Served as breakfast / snack especially for Indian Fasting Days with peanut Chutney.
Check out this recipe
Uppu Sajjige | Ekadasi Special | Satvik Breakfast ideas
Uppu Sajjige is a no-onion no garlic dish made in South Karnataka for Ekadasi fasting. It can be served for breakfast /snack or even brunch.
Check out this recipe
Sabudana Khichdi – 2 ways | Gluten Free | Vegan
Sabudana Khichdi or sago pearls savoury pudding is a popular Indian dish made during fasting or certain Hindu festivals. Let us see two ways to make this.
Check out this recipe
Sabudana Tikki | Sago Tikki
Shallow fried Sago Pearl patties / Sabudana patties – a Gluten Free and Vegan Snack
Check out this recipe
Verkadalai Sundal வேர்க்கடலை சுண்டல் | How to make Peanut Sundal | Vegan and GF
Verkadalai Sundal or Peanut Sundal is a sundal variety made during Navratri for Naivedyam. Can also be had as a high protein snack.
Check out this recipe
Konda Kadalai Sundal ~ Black Channa Sundal
Konda Kadalai Sundal or Chickpeas Sundal is a South Indian offering for Navratri festival made with black chickpeas and basic pantry spices.
Check out this recipe
Prep time : 10 mins, cook time : 5-7 mins, serves : 4
You would need for Palak Raita
- 1/2 cup Spinach (Palak leaves – cleaned, sorted and washed,packed)
- 1 cup Homemade Curd / yoghurt (preferably fresh, not even slightly sour)
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 1 tsp Jeera (Cumin seeds)
- 1/2 tsp Asafoetida (optional, skip for any dietary / fasting restrictions)
- 2 green chillies
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp oil
How to make Palak Raita:
- Chop the cleaned and drained spinach into fine shreds.
- In a pan, heat oil. Splutter the cumin, once it settles down and the jeera turns slightly brown, add the chillies & shredded spinach and lightly saute.
- Add a pinch of sugar and and close immediately.
- Let it cook in the steam for 3-5 minutes. Let all the water evaporate from the shrivelled Spinach / Palak
- Cool thoroughly.
- Now whisk the yoghurt with requisite salt and a dash of sugar (you can add salt later if you are not serving this immediately).
- Add the sauteed spinach and mix well. Serve immediately.
Palak Raita | Spinach Raita | Quick meals for Fasting and Summers
Palak Raita or Spinach Raita is a quick to make and soothing Dish for fasting or add to summer meal plans
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Spinach Palak leaves – cleaned, sorted and washed,packed
- 1 cup Homemade Curd / yoghurt preferably fresh, not even slightly sour
- 1 tsp Salt or to taste
- 1 tsp Jeera Cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp Asafoetida optional, skip for any dietary / fasting restrictions
- 2 green chillies
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp oil
Instructions
- Chop the cleaned and drained spinach into fine shreds.
- In a pan, heat oil. Splutter the cumin, once it settles down and the jeera turns slightly brown, add the chillies & shredded spinach and lightly saute.
- Add a pinch of sugar and and close immediately.
- Let it cook in the steam for 3-5 minutes. Let all the water evaporate from the shrivelled Spinach / Palak
- Cool thoroughly.
- Now whisk the yoghurt with requisite salt and a dash of sugar (you can add salt later if you are not serving this immediately).
- Add the sauteed spinach and mix well. Serve immediately.
Notes
Quick FAQs / Tips to make delicious Palak Raita:
- Can I make this raita with other greens ? Mint & Baby Spinach works best, but it also works well with Bathua (Chenopodium Album / Lambs foot green). If you try with any other greens and like it, drop a comment here
- Can I add garlic / red chillies / mustard to the tempering ? Yes surely. As I usually make this for fasting, I skip all 3, but go ahead if you like / prefer them.
- I am vegan. What curd can I use ? I would reckon Cashew curd / Peanut curd could work . If you try a vegan alternative (store bought / homemade), use unsweetened versions and drop a line on what worked best.
- Can I skip the sugar? Sometimes greens when sautéed can leave a bitter aftertaste. A dash of sugar is added to balance that out
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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This features on our menu regularly and is very delicious , though I have not posted the recipe as yet.
This Raitha sounds so healthy as well..very nice..
Looks yum. I make it raw and no curd. Thats yummy too.
I had a friend who would buy readymade yogurt(yogurt doesn't set properly in cold countries) and season them with spinach, onion-tomato or whatever veggie is available in her pantry. She would then transfer the yogurt back to the container and that's what they use for their meals. Its yumm and more nutritious.
I too make raita two times a week this one sound cool nice choice..
spinach raita sounds new and delicious..looks yum..
Spinach raita looks yummy. It must have tasted great.
Simple yet nutritious raita. This gets made in my home for my lonely lunches. 🙂
Simple and tasty raita
We love this raita as well in our house and make it quite often. Thanks for trying out the recipe 🙂
Very creamy. Must make a great side or dip.
That's a break from the usual palak recipes….cool and tasty.
I made this palak raitha from Sandhya's blog couple of times and absolutely loved it. Will have to make it sometime soon again.
Very healthy and fingerlicking goodness raitha..
so cooling and refreshing especially in hot summer
Love the simple and nutritious raitha.
Refreshing and healthy raitha.
very nutritious raitha
Healthy and delicious raita.
Such a healthy way to enjoy both spinach and yogurt. I've never had palak raita.
Wow! this palak raita recipe shall add to my raita collection. I guess it will pair well with paratha or rice and make a nice light meal during summer.
It surely does, as much as a fasting dish too