Pumkin Raita- Yogurt based dip

Pumkin Raita, also known as Bhoplyache Bharit in Marathi, is a wonderful side dish to go with spicy curries. I like to eat it on its own too at times, as a light meal. You can serve it with chips or celery sticks too.

2 cups of Pumkin cubed image(32)

( you can use any kind of squash)

1 cup Plain yogurt

1 tsp cumin seeds

2 tsp oil

1 green chili pepper slit lengthwise, deseeded

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1 pinch of Love

Fresh cilantro for garnish

peel and cut the pumpkin into small 1 inch cubes or as convenient

Boil the cubes in water till tender

break them with a fork not mash

let it cool, add yogurt, salt and sugar and mix gently with a fork

Heat oil in a small pan, add the cumin seeds n bloom them.

Add the slit green pepper and turn the heat off.

Pour this seasoning over the dip and mix well.

Garnish with 1 pinch of love and fresh cilantro :)

To ensure that your guests do not chomp or choke on the chili pepper, remove it before serving :)

If you want to make this for vegan guests, skip yogurt, and add crushed roasted peanuts and a dash of lime juice, as a Pumpkin Salsa