Raita filter: what's the best way to thin a raita?

September 28, 2013 7:40 AM

Usually when I make raita, I just chuck some mint and cucumber in with some yogurt and let it sit overnight. Tasty, sure, but when I eat out, their raita is *much* thinner. Is it a different yogurt? Should I just use water? (Lemon juice, even a little bit, seems to add an undesired flavor). Something else? Thanks.
posted by colin_l to Food & Drink (10 answers total)

You probably aren't using greek yogurt, but if so change to a non-greek variety.

You could try water, or you could mix in some buttermilk or yogurt drink - I think it's called Ayran? - to thin it.
posted by bunderful at 8:09 AM on September 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Adding water would do it just fine. You could add (unflavored) carbonated water, too. That would make it a bit like doogh, which is delicious.
posted by phunniemee at 8:09 AM on September 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

Add a little almond milk bit don't fear a thick raita.
posted by Callicvol at 8:11 AM on September 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

I find that putting yogurt in the blender things it out considerably.
posted by BrashTech at 8:39 AM on September 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Do you salt the cucumber and let it sit for a little bit before adding the yogurt? If you do, the juice from the cucumber will come out and that makes a pretty thin raita. (which I don't like so I drain the juice before adding the yogurt)
posted by dawkins_7 at 9:15 AM on September 28, 2013 [5 favorites]

You could try grating half or all of the cucumber you use. I did that once and the juice from the grated cucumber made it much wetter. Probably not traditional, but hey.
posted by schmoo at 9:52 AM on September 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

Do you seed your cucumbers?
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 10:40 AM on September 28, 2013

Best answer: Water. That's all we ever used growing up in India. Also Indian yogurt tends to be thinner than Greek.
posted by peacheater at 3:18 PM on September 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions. @dawkins_7 - maybe I was impatient, but the salted cucumber didn't generate as much liquid as I was expecting. Looks like water's the way to go.
posted by colin_l at 3:58 PM on September 28, 2013

Nthing water as what Indians use to thin. By all means, grate some cucumber, or add some lime. But in India you just use water.
posted by smoke at 4:19 PM on September 28, 2013