Onion Raita Recipe | How To Make Onion Raita For Biryani/Pulao

Onion Raita is one of the best and most served accompaniment for any Biryani & Pulao. This onion raita doesn't involve cooking or partial cooking just a mixing of onion and few other ingredients with curd that's it. But it sure require some tips and tricks to make a perfect tasty onion raita without the strong onion pungent smell and taste. Hope this method of Onion Raita will help you to make a perfect tasty onion raita without any strong undesired flavor and taste and at the same time a tasty and crunchy onion slices.

How To Make Onion Raita

Prep Time : 20 Minutes | Cook Time : Nil

Recipe Category : Sides | Recipe Cuisine : Indian

Serves 5-6

---

Ingredients

1. Plain Yogurt/Curd   1and 1/4 cup
2. Milk   1/4 cup or less
3. Onion   1 medium(thinly sliced)
4. Cilantro   2-3 tbsp(finely chopped)
5. Carrot, grated   2-3 tbsp(optional)
6. Dry Mint, crushed   1/4 tsp
7. Jeera/Cumin Seeds   1/4 tsp
8. Salt   to taste

Method
Peel onion, wash and then slice into thin slices and take it in a bowl, add 1/4 tsp salt and mix it well with the onions and add warm water to it and leave the onions in water for 5 minutes.

After that, drain the onion using a colander and once rinse it in running water to remove excess salt, and leave it colander for few minutes to drain water completely.

Mean while, take curd in a bowl whisk it to smooth add milk and mix well.
And add dry mint, jeera/cumin seeds and mix to the curd and add drained sliced onion, grated carrot, finely chopped cilantro and enough salt and mix everything well with curd.

Let this sit(in room temperature) for minimum 15-20 minutes before serving. You can also serve the raita immediately after mixing the onion and other ingredients with curd but the sitting time helps the curd to get flavor and also the onion tastes best after soaking it in curd for sometime.
Notes:
Adding milk to the raita helps to minimize the sour taste and retain freshness for long time, particularly when you are making it in bulk for a party or during hot sunny days.
You can also add finely chopped de-seeded tomatoes to the onion raita.
Adding carrot is optional, I added it for picture sake.
Addition of jeera/cumin seeds gives nice flavor and enhance digestion when taken along with a rich and spicy Biryani.
I always like to add some dry mint to my raita, it give nice flavor and taste.
Rubbing the onions with salt and soaking in warm water helps to reduce the strong onion flavor n taste and also your raita will remain thick and will not turn runny after sometime.