Onion Raita - with Black Salt

A lot of Indian meals come with the raita or salad as an accompaniment. The simplest raita is an onion raita which is basically sliced onions mixed with yogurt and a bit of salt to taste.

In this recipe we take the simple onion raita to an another level by adding not just salt - but black salt.  

What is black salt, you ask? It is a volcanic form of rock salt and it has a small percentage of sulphides in it.  You buy it from the Indian grocer and though it is called black salt, the colour is pink or greyish pink, it is definitely not black.

When added to salads - especially in this raita, the lime juice releases the sulphides so you can smell the black salt - but the flavour is out of this world.  Will the food smell of the black salt, you ask - no, it doesn't.  Once the sulphur compounds are released, there is no more smell.  Only the beautiful taste remains.

Try this just once and there will be no looking back!

Ingredients:

1 large red onion - sliced very finely
juice of half a lemon or lime
1/4 teaspoon black salt
5-6 tablespoons of yogurt
Normal salt to taste
1 tablespoon chopped coriander to garnish


Method:

To the sliced onion, add juice of lemon or lime and a pinch of normal salt.  After 15 minutes, add 1/4 teaspoon black salt.

Rest for 10 minutes.  Next add the yogurt and if more salt is needed, adjust to taste.  Garnish with the chopped coriander leaves.

Goes well with all Indian breads / rice as an accompaniment.  Black salt is also used for a lot of the salads and Indian Street foods - just a sprinkle on the top changes the depths of the flavours immensely.