Roasted Beetroot Raita
May 27, 2015, Updated Jan 02, 2018
Healthy and easy Roasted Beetroot Raita is the perfect accompaniment to your Indian meal.
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Such a pretty color, isn’t it? I mean the color of this raita. I’m so in love with this pretty magenta! Raita is always an integral part of Indian meals, it has to do with the fact that our food is full of spices and so we do need a cooling raita to balance off the heat. Raita is nothing but a yogurt dip to which we add little seasoning. It’s mostly made of vegetables but fruit ones are also becoming popular these days, like this pineapple raita.
In my home, raita was served at least 3-4 times a week with our lunch. It was mostly onion raita or cucumber or spinach and of course the easiest and most popular one – boondi raita. “Boondi” is chickpea puffed balls which you easily get in the market and mixing them with yogurt makes one yummy raita. I don’t think beetroot raita is all that popular back home maybe because beetroot is not readily available through out the year in India.
Anyway like most raita, this beetroot raita is also super simple to make. One could boil the beets or use them as such but I roasted them. I love roasting everything and anything and so I had to roast the beet too. Once the beetroot is roasted, puree it and whisk it with yogurt. I added little tempering of ginger, curry leaves and mustard seeds to this gorgeous raita. You can skip it but it adds so much flavor, so I highly recommend. I also added some peanuts , you can skip or you use any other nut of choice. I think roasted walnuts would also be great in this beetroot raita.
Beetroot is super healthy and this cooling raita is a great way to incorporate it in your diet this summer!
Method
– Start by roasting the beet. Preheat oven to 400 F degrees. Wash and pat dry the beet and then wrap it with a aluminium foil. Place in the baking tray and roast till it’s cooked all the way from inside. Mine was done in 40 minutes, a smaller beet might get done in 10 minutes. You know the beet is done when you are easily able to insert a knife all the way through. Once done, let the beet cool down completely and then chop into pieces.
Pulse the roasted beetroot pieces to a puree using your food processor. You might have to add little water to puree it.
Transfer the pureed beet to a bowl and add yogurt to it.
Whisk till everything is well combined. Add some water depending on how thick on thin you like your raita to be. I kept it on the thicker side. Add salt, red chili powder, cumin powder and mix. Set aside.
Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Once hot, add mustard seeds and let them pop.
Add chopped ginger, peanuts and curry leaves [not in picture] and saute for just few seconds. We don’t want to brown the ginger, just fry a little.
Transfer the tempering to the raita and serve.
It’s best to chill the beetroot raita before serving. Enjoy as a accompaniment with any Indian meal.
* You can also boil the beetroot till it’s done if you don’t want to roast it.
* I used 1 large beetroot for this recipe. The puree was around 2/3 cup.
* Adjust the consistency of raita according to taste and preference. Add more water for a thin consistency raita.
* Use thick yogurt for best results.
Roasted Beetroot Raita
Ingredients
- 1 beetroot large, pureed
- 1.25 cups yogurt
- ¼ teaspoon cumin powder
- salt to taste
- pinch of red chili powder
- water as required
To temper
- 1.5 teaspoons oil
- 1 tablespoon peanuts
- 1 teaspoon chopped ginger
- ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds
- 3-4 curry leaves
Instructions
- Start by roasting the beet. Preheat oven to 400 F degrees.
- Wash and pat dry the beet and then wrap it with a aluminium foil. Place in the baking tray and roast till it's cooked all the way from inside.
- Mine was done in 40 minutes, a smaller beet might get done in 10 minutes. You know the beet is done when you are easily able to insert a knife all the way through.
- Once done, let the beet cool down completely and then chop into pieces.
- Pulse the roasted beetroot pieces to a puree using your food processor. You might have to add little water to puree it.
- Transfer the pureed beet to a bowl and add yogurt to it.
- Whisk till everything is well combined. Add some water depending on how thick on thin you like your raita to be. I kept it on the thicker side.
- Add salt, red chili powder, cumin powder and mix. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Once hot, add mustard seeds and let them pop.
- Add chopped ginger, peanuts and curry leaves [not in picture] and saute for just few seconds. We don't want to brown the ginger, just fry a little.
- Transfer the tempering to the raita.
- Chill the beetroot raita before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Roasted Beetroot Raita
Can I steam the beetroot instead of roasting- will it taste the same?
you can but I prefer the taste of roasted beets a lot more
Hi,
I didn’t find curry leaf. What can I add instead of curry leaves?
skip it!
What a gorgeous looking raitha!!…Can’t get better..Superb!!
I have never had raita, but I am sure I would love it! And Oh. My. Goodness. That color is beyond gorgeous! Thanks for sharing this stunning dish, my friend!
OBSESSED with this! What an amazing colour (nature is so clever!). Love this twist on traditional raita, yummy!
I am in love with this magenta colour too! What a gorgeous raita, so mouthwatering. What dish do you recommend to eat with this beetroot one? Manali?
We eat raita as a side dish Georgina! like with lentils, curry and roti (our wholewheat flatbread)
Gorgeous color. Love raita.. I’ve just never tried a beetroot raita. I love adding south indian spices to my raita.. makes such a difference.
Thanks Nisha! I love South Indian flavors too!
This looks amazing! And I can’t stop looking at it! GORGEOUS COLOR! Pinned!
Thanks Mira! Me too! 🙂
ok…so…before i even read your post i was—omg the colour…and then the 1st line read the same!
I love beetroot raita a lot, but this sounds nicer and more cooler 🙂 How are you BTW? Is your mom with you now?
Thanks Shweta! 🙂 Mom Dad will be here tomorrow, so excited! can hardly wait! I will drop you an email sometime! xoxo
I love this raita! That colour is so beautiful and vibrant! 😀 Beetroot is one of my favourites, so I definitely need to give the recipe a go!
Thanks Jess!
I always love the colour of beetroot. This looks so beautiful, Manali.
Thanks Angie!
I am just SWOONING over the color of this!! Beets are one of my favorite things on the planet, so this is right up my alley!
Thanks Sarah, the color is wonderful!
Wow, this raita looks so beautiful I am feeling to have this with eyes. So nice and vibrant colors are. Will surely try it whenever I would buy beetroot next time:-)
Thanks Rachna! 🙂
Oh my goodness! Look at that stunning pink color. I love beet roatedt or not! 🙂 Beetroot is always in my pantry — and I am making this for lunch! Super YUM!
Thanks Anu! Hope you like it!
The color of this dish is sooooo incredible and gorgeous! I’ve never had roasted beetroot before, but I think I need to add it to my list and soon!
The color is a showstopper! Thanks Danielle! 🙂
Wow, Manali, that color is amazing! I would want to eat this meal even if I didn’t know what was in it because it looks so good. I love beets too so I am sure that I would love this raita!
Thanks Ashley! I know the color is totally gorgeous!
Whoa! Ok. First of all thank you so much for taking my favorite food and making this absolutely gorgeous raita! I had it Pinned before I even knew what it was! I love love love beets and I agree with you that roasting them is totally the way to go!
Wow I didn’t know you were such a beets fan Rachelle! Glad you like!
I love the gorgeous color of this raita, Manali! I’ve never had it before but I am a fan of beets and the flavors sound amazing!
Thanks Kelly! You will love it!
Simple, healthy and tasty raita dear . Love the color 🙂
Thanks Kushi!
I love love the gorgeous color of this raita Manali and I can imagine eating this hot pulao!! Ahh need now!
Thanks Ami! Ah, now that would be perfect!
raita is the best! this looks so gorgeous — beets add such a pretty color! Will have to try this version some time 🙂
Thanks Karishma! Love raita too!
This is such a beautiful color. I have never heard of raita before. Can’t wait to try. Love your pineapple version too!
Thanks Kelley! I love raita, my meal is kind of always incomplete without it!
Wow! What a beautiful color! Looking so stunning…You are soooooo good in photography and presenting it.. Excellent share..
Thank you Deepa, you are so kind! 🙂
Hi Manali, I can’t get over how pretty this raita is. It looks so stunning! I’ve actually never heard of raita before though…Do you eat like a soup or more of a dip? Either way it looks pretty tasty and beautiful 🙂
Thanks Vanessa! 🙂 We eat it as a side dish with the roti, dal and sabzi. It’s not a soup!
Wow! What a gorgeous color, Manali! I’ve heard of raita, and I’ve even made my own version before…but I had no idea there are so many different types of raita. I’m super intrigued by this awesome recipe…beets are incredible!
Oh yes, we make raita of almost anything and everything haha! Thanks David, I love beets too!
Wow – that color is GORGEOUS!! It’s super vibrant, and it looks delicious too!! 🙂
Thanks Christina!
Gorgeous Manali!! Just simply gorgeous! The color is so pretty. And this raita sounds amazing!! Love your recipes! 🙂 Pinned!!
Thank you Cyndi! I know the color is just so pretty!
Manali, I love learning about new foods!!! I never have heard of raita. . but now I know! I love beets and yogurt so I know I would love this!!! and gorgeous color!!!
Thanks Alice! Raita is great as a side dish with curries and naan 🙂
This looks so beautiful, Manali! It’s such a beautiful colour! I love raita, but I’ve never made it with beetroot before! This sounds so delicious, I can’t wait to try it!
Thanks Harriet! You need to try this!
This raita looks so vibrant, Manali! Perfect for any day of summer! love the pink color! beautiful pictures!
Thanks Savita! I can’t get enough of the color!
Such beautiful photography Manali! Loving that bright hot pink colour…so inspiring!
Thanks Nishu! 🙂 I love it too!
The color of this dish is just stunning! I love it! I’ve never had roasted beetroot before, but it sounds delicious. Adding it to my list of things to try!
Thanks Gayle! I love roasted beetroot, you will love it!
What a beautiful colour. I love making raita, but I haven’t made it with beetroot before. Yum!
Then you need to! Thanks Dannii!
I love the earthiness of beetroot and the color is a showstopper!!!!
Thanks Medha! I love the color too!
Beautiful colors there! Roasting the beets just does wonders and I know how good this must have tasted.
Thank you so much Taruna! I love roasting everything!