Lauki Raita Recipe | Bottle Gourd Raita Recipe

Lauki(Bottle gourd) Raita is a simple, refreshing and diet friendly recipe. Bottle gourd/Lauki is rich in fiber low in calories and the regular consumption of bottle gourd helps you to shed pounds. This raita is also taken during vrat/fasting days, especially during somvar vrat & Navarathri Vrat. During my Somvar Vrat/fast, I make this raita to have it with my Sabudana Khichdi. Lauki Raita & Sabudana Khichdi makes a great healthy and filling meal.

My mom used to take this bottle gourd regularly and lost few kilos weight and from her experience I also started including it in my diet and this raita is one easy and yummy option to try Bottle gourd. Bottle gourd is also act as a coolant like cucumber and for some people with sinus or related issues it may cause you headache or cold if you take it daily.

Too much of anything is not good, even if it a natural and healthy source, This is what happened with my mom, after noticing positive result with bottle gourd, neem flower(Vepam poo), fenugreek seeds(Vendhayam soaked in water) consumption - both her weight and sugar level was getting down, she was excited and started including it almost 2 times a day and too much consumption of these coolants resulted in fluid accumulation in her lungs, (which we don't know before) and thus resulted in weakened lungs and cause for cardiac arrest. Don't want to scare you, its just a caution..these ingredients did not work for my mom also there is another reason for her weakened lungs, she worked in garments for almost 10 years.
If anyone at your home, grandma, mom, mil or elder sister taking these natural sources on regular basis as a cure for diabetes or weight loss, just inform them and it is always good to check with the Doctor before trying by yourself. Even though it is all natural, healthy stuff too much of anything is always not good. I did not tell my mom to consult doctor before trying all these home remedies and now I am feeling so much guilty. Now off to the recipe...

Lauki(Bottle Gourd) Raita Recipe

Prep Time : 5 Minutes | Cook Time : 2-3 Minutes

Recipe Category : Condiments/Sides | Recipe Cuisine : Indian

Serves   2

---

Ingredients

1. Bottle Gourd/Lauki     1 cup(finely chopped)
2. Plain Yogurt/Curd    1 cup
3. Jeera Powder/Cumin Powder    1/2 tsp
4. Dry Mint    1/4 tsp(skip if fasting)
5. Ginger-Chilli paste   1/4 tsp
6. Salt    as needed(use rock salt if fasting)
7. Cilantro   few finely chopped

Method
Peel bottle gourd, remove the center seed portion and chop into fine pieces or you can also grate them.

Once done, transfer to a microwave safe bowl, sprinkle some water and cook for 2-3 minutes with lid covered and once done let it sit for another minute and remove from the microwave and allow to cool completely.
Now beat the curd, add dry mint, jeera powder and mix well.

To it add ground ginger-green chilli paste and mix well.
Finally add the cooked and cooled bottle gourd and stir well.
That's it...Lauki Raita ready. Enjoy with Paratha, Pulao OR with Sabudana Khichdi like I did.
Notes:
For ginger-green chilli paste - in a blender add 2-3 green chilli, 1/2" ginger pieces and pulse it finely and use this for raita.
You can also use chaat masala for extra punch, if it not prepared during fasting days.
You cal also included some sliced onions, chopped tomato and cucumber for even more filling and refreshing taste.