This refreshing Indian-inspired yogurt sauce is already fast to make, but Grace Parisi sometimes saves even more time by using 1/2 cup of thick Greek-style yogurt instead of draining regular whole-milk yogurt. Plus: More Appetizer Recipes and Tips
How to Make It
Spoon the yogurt into a coffee filter set in a strainer and let stand until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Transfer the yogurt to a medium bowl.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a small skillet. Add the garlic and cumin seeds and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the carrots and scallions and cook, stirring, until just heated through. Add the carrot mixture and the cilantro to the drained yogurt and season with salt and cayenne. Serve the raita warm, at room temperature or chilled.
Notes
More Saucy Ideas: Serve the raita with grilled and roasted meats and poultry, or stir it into cooked lentils, beans or grains.
Master Sauce recipe adapted from Get Saucy, by Grace Parisi, copyright ©2005, with permission from Harvard Common Press, 535 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118.