Tomato Raitha is a quick, easy to make, delicious South Indian vegetarian condiment. The goodness of yogurt and simple spices makes this dish a perfect accompaniment to any meal. Learn how to make it under 15 minutes.
What is your favourite condiment recipe? Do share with me on social media. Would love to see your creation!☺️
- Tomato Raitha Recipe Ingredients
- Why this tomato raita recipe is perfect for your toddler
- Love tomatoes? Here are some more tomato recipes - Indian
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this cooked tomato raita?
- What is raita used for?
- Is raita same as tzatziki?
- Is this a South Indian recipe?
- What is Indian raita made of?
- What other spices can I add to this recipe?
- Is it ok to add onions to this tomato raitha recipe?
- Which type of yogurt should I use for this recipe?
- Can I make this raita vegan?
- Recipe Card
Tomato Raitha Recipe Ingredients
Requiring less than 10 ingredients and ready in under 15 minutes, this is one of those recipes that you should have in your cooking repertoire for when time is scarce!
The exact measurements are mentioned in the recipe card below.
Tomatoes: I use canned chopped tomatoes (1 can = 400g) for this recipe as that makes it so much easier! You can use fresh tomatoes if you have them with you. If using fresh tomatoes, you will need 4 large ones (weighing, in total, 400g approximately). Chop them up finely - this will help them cook down to a mush faster.
Yogurt: This raita will need thick yogurt to withhold the wetness of the tomatoes. Otherwise the raitha will become too watery. For this recipe I prefer to use low fat, naturally set yogurt. Full fat yogurt will work very well too.
Want to make this vegan? Just swap the yogurt with any vegan alternative of your choice.
Ghee: I love the caramel flavour that ghee adds to this recipe. Plus it is so healthy! You can use oil instead. I have tried making this recipe with coconut oil and loved it!
Asafoetida: Asafoetida adds a lovely depth of flavour to this recipe. Powdered asafoetida is available in online / Indian supermarkets.
Cumin Seeds: This spice adds a lovely aroma to the dish and is a digestive as well.
Mustard Seeds: Add a lovely nuttiness and crunch to the recipe. I use the dark brown variety for this recipe.
Paprika: Is for additional colour and flavour. If you are making this recipe for your baby or if your intolerant to spice, it is alright to skip this ingredient.
Salt: (of course!) As per your taste.
Other ingredients that will work well with this recipe:
Green chillies (chop them up or slit them lengthwise) - either cook them with the tomatoes (this will reduce their heat) or if you can take the heat and like their crunch, add them as a garnish.
Chopped fresh coriander for garnish.
Roasted cumin powder (bhuna jeera) as garnish.
How to make this Tomato Yogurt Dip Recipe
Let's make this incredibly easy recipe, shall we?!
STEP 1: Let us start with the tempering. Heat ghee in a sauce pan on medium heat. Once the ghee melts, add the cumin and mustard seeds. Wait till the cumin turn dark brown and the mustard seeds start to splutter. Add the asafoetida and green chillies (if using). Mix.
STEP 2: Now add the tomatoes from the can. Or if using fresh tomatoes, wash and chop them into small pieces. Add salt. Mix well. Bring it to boil. Turn the heat to medium low and cook the tomatoes for 4-5 minutes or until they are mushy. Add the paprika (is using). Mix well.
STEP 3: Turn off the heat and let the tomatoes cool down for a few minutes (about 5 minutes should do it). Now add in the yogurt. Mix well so that the tomatoes and yogurt combine.
Add the garnishes as per choice (totally optional): chopped coriander leaves; green chillies; roasted cumin powder.
It is important to let the tomatoes mixture cool down before adding it to the yogurt. Adding anything hot to the yogurt will split it and that will not taste good.
That's it! Done! I did tell you it is an easy recipe, did I not?!
Have you made this recipe? What garnishes have you used? Do share with me via the comments below. Would love to hear from you!
Nutrition Values
Note: The information shown is based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
| Servings: 4 | |
|---|---|
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 65 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 2.2g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat 1.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol 1mg | 0% |
| Sodium 72mg | 3% |
| Total Carbohydrate 7.9g | 3% |
| Dietary Fiber 1.3g | 5% |
| Total Sugars 6.1g | |
| Protein 4g | |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
| Calcium 16mg | 1% |
| Iron 1mg | 4% |
| Potassium 209mg | 4% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. |
Why this tomato raita recipe is perfect for your toddler
This is one of those safe recipes that you can feed to your baby from as little as 12 months old. That is, only if you have already introduced all these ingredients to your child. You can serve this recipe on its own, as a snack, or with homemade soft flatbreads or with flavoured rice. Try pairing the raitha with this healthy Indian lunch for toddlers recipe and let me know how your baby liked it!
So here are the reasons why I know your baby will love this recipe:
The tomatoes are soft cooked and can be "hidden" well in this dish. Your fussy eater will love this!
The sourness of the tomatoes balances well with the yogurt, making this an incredibly delicious dish.
While the recipe is soft and easy to eat, there is enough texture here that will challenge your toddler
Yogurt and the mild spices used in this recipe are good for your child's gut.
Here are a few more raita recipes for you
These are some of my favourite raitha recipes that I would like you to try as well:
Other popular recipes are boondi raita and onion raita.
Have you made these recipes? Do let me know in the comments below. Would love to see what you have made 😍
Love tomatoes? Here are some more tomato recipes - Indian
Aloo Matar Gravy (Potatoes and Peas in Tomato Gravy)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this cooked tomato raita?
Yes. The tomatoes are cooked to a soft mush, spices added and then mixed with the yogurt.
What is raita used for?
In India, we have raita almost always as a condiment to a meal and is usually paired with spicy biryani or a curry. Raita is also a perfect dip with roti (flatbread) or a paratha (stuffed flatbread).
Is raita same as tzatziki?
Not really! Although there are quite a few similarities between the two - both tzatziki and raita are made with yogurt and have spices added to them, there are quite a few differences as well. Tzatziki usually has garlic, oil and herbs such as oregano in it, whereas raita has spices such as cumin powder, paprika and chaat masala in it and does not have garlic and oil in it.
Is this a South Indian recipe?
Indeed! This is a popular recipe in the South Indian cuisine and had, usually, as part of a meal.
What is Indian raita made of?
Indian Raita is the simplest and easiest of all condiments that accompany a meal. The base of a raita is yogurt or homemade curd. Full of probiotics, a raita is a common part to an Indian meal - it balances the effects of a spicy curry or stew. To aid digestion, raita therefore, always has some gut healing spices such as cumin and asafoetida powders added to it. Other spices that are commonly added to a raita are paprika and chaat masala.
A raita is usually made with a vegetable or herbs such as onion raita, cucumber raita and mint raita. There are variations of raita which has fruits and other ingredients in it - pineapple raita and boondi raita are popular with pulaos and biryanis.
What other spices can I add to this recipe?
In addition to what I have mentioned here, you can add cumin powder and black pepper powder to this tomato raita. If you are looking for extra flavour, add roasted cumin powder (bhuna jeera). Here is the detailed recipe on how to make roasted cumin powder. Adding chaat masala will give the recipe more "oomph"!
Is it ok to add onions to this tomato raitha recipe?
Absolutely! You can easily make this a tomato onion raita by adding 1 (one) medium sized onion, finely chopped. If you have some more time at hand then you can fry the chopped onions. Add the chopped onions just after you have tempered the spices and fry them till they turn pinkish. Then add in the tomatoes and follow the remaining steps.
Which type of yogurt should I use for this recipe?
Traditionally, this recipe is made with homemade hung curd. The hung curd is thick and can withhold the wetness of the tomatoes. When getting homemade hung curd is not possible, I use regular, low fat, Greek yogurt.
Can I make this raita vegan?
Yes you can! To make this recipe vegan, you will have to do two things: 1) Swap the ghee for any oil of your choice - coconut oil will add a lovely flavour to this dish. 2) Swap the yogurt to a vegan yogurt of your choice. The rest of the process is the same.
Recipe Card
I hope you enjoy making this easy tomato raitha recipe as much as I have enjoyed sharing it with you. If you have made it, please take a moment to leave a comment below. This will make me super happy and motivate me to create more good content for you🙏
Thank you xx Padma
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