College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC RECIPES

Radish & Yogurt Raita


How to Make Radish & Yogurt Raita

INGREDIENTS


SKILL LEVEL: EASY
2 c
1/2 c
8 g
1 tbsp
2 c
1 tsp
1/4 tsp
1/4 tsp

PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE

Prep: Chop onions. Grate radish. Optionally strain yogurt for ten minutes, pouring off the liquid to increase thickness of this dish.

1. Sautee 1tsp mustard seed in 1 tbsp oil for thirty seconds or until mustard seeds begin to pop. Add 1 seeded, dry red chili. Add optional spice blend of 2-3 curry leaves, 1/8tsp asafoetida. Continue frying an additional 10 seconds. Add optional 1 seeded and finely chopped green chili and continue frying an additional 30 seconds. Otherwise proceed to step 2.

2. Add chopped onions and continue frying on medium heat until onions turn translucent (about 2 minutes)

3. Mix in grated radish and stir fry until raw smell disappears. Remove from heat and let cool completely.

4. Whisk the yogurt until it is free of lumps. Add radish, cilantro, and salt to taste. Mix well. Serve chilled alongside rice.

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Raita's are a simple & striking yogurt condiments from India. There are nearly infinite variations of this versatile sauce, dip, salad and side dish rolled into one. This is yogurt as its best. Raitas are creamy & delicious, often taking less than five minutes to prepare. You can take raitas in any direction you like, with Indian spices, or eastern european dill. This snappy and refreshing raita features radishes - perfect for a salad or as a healthy alternative to cole-slaw.

Negative Calories

Radishes are a negative calorie food and great addition to any weight loss program, as radishes also stimulate fat metabolism. As a member of the mustard family, radish's peppery sharpness stimulates the heart and warms your gut. Its bitterness makes it an effective cholagogue, cleansing the liver just in time for spring.

A Cleansing Treat for Your Senses

Radishes also help with water retention. That crunch you hear next time you bite into a radish is a crispy sign of a radish's dry quality. Radishes are a mild diuretic that can help purge excess water weight from your blood, perfect now that spring is approaching.

The sour tang of yogurt cues your senses into yogurt gently liver cleansing properties. If your yogurt is freshly homemade and consumed within 24 hours, this delightfully creamy fermented food also nourishes and strengthens your liver.

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Is Radish & Yogurt Raita Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Radish & Yogurt Raita' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Metabolic Nature of Radish & Yogurt Raita

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE

HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot and oily with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body. Vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

Other

Acrid

ACRID

Acrid taste is a combination of bitter and pungent tastes. Example include radish, turnip, and coffee.

SEE ALL 'ACRID' FOODS / HERBS

, Bland Negative Calorie,
Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Radish & Yogurt Raita
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Nauseating

NAUSEATING

Brings about feelings of unease and discomfort in the stomach, often accompanied with the involuntary urge to vomit.

SEE ALL 'NAUSEATING' FOODS / HERBS

,
Warms Abdomen

WARMS-ABDOMEN

Warms the muscles and organs of the abdomen, stimulating digestion and metabolism.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-ABDOMEN' FOODS / HERBS

Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Burns Toxins

BURNS-TOXINS

An herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them.

SEE ALL 'BURNS-TOXINS' FOODS / HERBS

Strengthens Resolve

STRENGTHENS-RESOLVE

Increases determination and courage by reducing stress and building strength.

SEE ALL 'STRENGTHENS-RESOLVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Stimulates Front Of Brain

STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area in the forehead. Activates the frontal lobe - the area responsible for motor function, emotional expression, thinking, and decision making.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN' FOODS / HERBS

,
Wakes You Up

WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy.

SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' FOODS / HERBS

,
Makes You Tired

MAKES-YOU-TIRED

Induces drowsiness and promotes sound sleep.

SEE ALL 'MAKES-YOU-TIRED' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Flushes Sinuses

FLUSHES-SINUSES

An herb that relieves sinus congestion by flushing out mucus.

SEE ALL 'FLUSHES-SINUSES' FOODS / HERBS

,
Warms Chest

WARMS-CHEST

Warms the chest and lungs, clearing mucus and allowing for clear breathing. Often these herbs are hot, aromatic, and pungent.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-CHEST' FOODS / HERBS

,
Irritates Throat

IRRITATES-THROAT

Creates abrasive feeling in the back of the mouth. May stimulate coughing.

SEE ALL 'IRRITATES-THROAT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Clears Sinuses

CLEARS-SINUSES

Cleanses sinuses by draining excess mucus, allowing for clear, easy breathing.

SEE ALL 'CLEARS-SINUSES' FOODS / HERBS

,
Mucolytic

MUCOLYTIC

An herb that breaks apart mucus, liquefying the mucus.

SEE ALL 'MUCOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

Cardiac Stimulant

CARDIAC-STIMULANT

Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

SEE ALL 'CARDIAC-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Warms Ears

WARMS-EARS

Stimulates peripheral circulation to warm extremities, including the ears.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-EARS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Warms Head

WARMS-HEAD

An herb that increases sensations of heat and warmth in the head.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-HEAD' FOODS / HERBS

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Cholagogue

CHOLAGOGUE

Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.

SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Relieves Tension

RELIEVES-TENSION

An herb that releases tightness, constriction, and rigidity in a muscle.

SEE ALL 'RELIEVES-TENSION' FOODS / HERBS

,
Muscle Relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-RELAXANT' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Nitric Oxide

NITRIC-OXIDE

Improves circulation by dilating blood vessels. Protects blood vessels from damage. Improves athletic performance, libido, immunity, and brain health.

SEE ALL 'NITRIC-OXIDE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Aromatase Inhibitor

AROMATASE-INHIBITOR

Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen.

SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS

, Sulfated Polysaccharides, Sulphur, Polysaccharides,
Salicylates

SALICYLATES

Salicylates relieve inflammation, are anti-cancer, and antidiabetic, but some are allergic to it.

SEE ALL 'SALICYLATES' FOODS / HERBS

,
Saponins

SAPONINS

Can be used to make soap. Saponins stimulate mucus membrane secretion, liquefying mucus for easy removal (expectorant).

SEE ALL 'SAPONINS' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Radish & Yogurt Raita

  • Mustard

    Mustard has these Actions in Common

    Clears-sinuses, Flushes-sinuses, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Warms-ears, Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Nauseating, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Warms-abdomen, Warms-head, Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic, Irritates-throat, Relieves-tension, Strengthens-resolve, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Seed

    Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Nauseating, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Warms-abdomen, Warms-head, Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic, Irritates-throat, Relieves-tension, Strengthens-resolve, Warms-chest, Clears-sinuses, Flushes-sinuses, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Warms-ears

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Powder

    Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Warms-ears, Burns-toxins, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Nauseating, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Warms-abdomen, Warms-head, Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic, Irritates-throat, Relieves-tension, Strengthens-resolve, Warms-chest, Clears-sinuses, Flushes-sinuses

    LEARN MORE

  • Wasabi

    Wasabi has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Irritates-throat, Warms-abdomen, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Mucolytic, Warms-chest, Clears-sinuses, Flushes-sinuses, Wakes-you-up

    LEARN MORE

  • Horseradish

    Horseradish has these Actions in Common

    Flushes-sinuses, Wakes-you-up, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Irritates-throat, Warms-abdomen, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Mucolytic, Warms-chest, Clears-sinuses

    LEARN MORE

  • Daikon Radish

    Daikon Radish has these Actions in Common

    Clears-sinuses, Flushes-sinuses, Warms-abdomen, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Mucolytic, Warms-chest, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Stimulates-energy, Warms-head

    LEARN MORE

  • Allspice

    Allspice has these Actions in Common

    Warms-head, Cardiac-stimulant, Irritates-throat, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Clears-sinuses, Muscle-relaxant, Warms-chest, Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Garlic (raw)

    Garlic (raw) has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, Flushes-sinuses, Warms-abdomen, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic, Mucolytic

    LEARN MORE

  • Scallions (Raw)

    Scallions (Raw) has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Diuretic, Wakes-you-up, Clears-sinuses, Internal-detoxicant, Warms-chest, Diaphoretic, Mucolytic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cloves

    Cloves has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Internal-detoxicant, Warms-ears, Cardiac-stimulant, Warms-abdomen, Warms-head, Diaphoretic, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Cinnamon

    Cinnamon has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Mucolytic, Burns-toxins, Diuretic, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Radish & Yogurt Raita

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Burns-toxins, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Cardiac-stimulant, Warms-chest, Clears-sinuses, Warms-ears, Diaphoretic, Warms-head, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Epsom Salt Bath

    Epsom Salt Bath has these Actions in Common

    Clears-sinuses, Warms-head, Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses, Internal-detoxicant, Mucolytic, Muscle-relaxant, Relieves-tension, Cardiac-stimulant, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Hot Shower

    Hot Shower has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses, Mucolytic, Muscle-relaxant, Relieves-tension, Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Warms-head, Clears-sinuses

    LEARN MORE

  • Hot Bath

    Hot Bath has these Actions in Common

    Clears-sinuses, Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses, Mucolytic, Muscle-relaxant, Relieves-tension, Warms-chest, Warms-head, Cardiac-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru)

    Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Devadaru) has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Warms-chest, Warms-ears, Warms-head, Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Wild Ginger

    Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

    Warms-chest, Warms-ears, Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Punarnava

    Punarnava has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Nauseating, Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Cardiac-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Regular exercise

    Regular exercise has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Relieves-tension, Stimulates-energy, Strengthens-resolve, Wakes-you-up, Cardiac-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Inhale Steam

    Inhale Steam has these Actions in Common

    Mucolytic, Warms-chest, Warms-head, Clears-sinuses, Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses

    LEARN MORE

  • Sit in the Sauna

    Sit in the Sauna has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant, Relieves-tension

    LEARN MORE

  • Encourage a Sweat / Sweat Therapy

    Encourage a Sweat / Sweat Therapy has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant, Relieves-tension

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

View Other Healthy Recipes for Summer

This recipe is recommended for Summer. Check out these other Summer recipes here.
VIEW ALL SUMMER RECIPES MORE VATA / KAPHA RECIPES
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About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. His wife and family of 7 kids live in Asheville, NC.

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