Enjoy this healthy and refreshing Cucumber Raita recipe: a simple Indian yogurt sauce, to enjoy with your next spicy Indian dish for the perfect cooling balance.
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⭐ What is Raita?
If you're here, you are googling "how to make raita" and already know what raita is. So this section is for those peeps who just want to learn more about what is raita! Raita is a classic cucumber Indian yogurt salad that is made with yogurt, spices, herbs, vegetables, and sometimes even fruit. It is so versatile and adaptable. I can also guarantee each Indian household makes its raita recipe differently...there are a ton of recipes for raita out there! For our household raita recipe, we keep it as basic as possible so even the kids can enjoy the raita.
📋 Ingredients
We keep things basic so the raita ingredients remain kid friendly. My raita contains yogurt, cucumber, cumin powder, salt, sugar (or maple syrup), water, and sometimes garlic (optional).
💭 Tips for Making Cucumber Raita
Traditionally, raita uses homemade yogurt. There are so many benefits in Ayurved for homemade yogurt. However, for the sake of convenience and adaptability, if you do not use homemade yogurt in your household, greek yogurt is a great alternative. I use Fage 0% for the added protein and no fat as well as the creamy texture. I like to water it down to resemble more of a raita consistency versus a tzatziki.
For the cucumber, I used English cucumbers. If these are not readily available to you, you can use any cucumbers that are. I have used whatever is available in the past and it's budget-friendly plus the raita still turns out great. I prefer the cucumbers to be a grated consistency. Cucumber releases water so, after grating, you can squeeze the additional water. When I use greek yogurt, I skip this step as I want a thinner consistency. You can also keep your raita chunky but dicing or cubing the cucumbers.
📖 Optional Add-ins to Cucumber Raita
There's a variety of ways to make cucumber raita. Here are some great additions to adjust based on your family's tastebuds:
- Sour cream for an additional creamy flavor
- Green chilis/jalapenos
- Mint
- Garlic
- Boondi
- Pomegranate -if you want a bite of sweetness to your raita.
I like to serve this with a Chana masala recipe, corn peanut curry, Vegetable Samosa Puffs, or as a side to a full Gujarati meal!
More Indian Flavor Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Cucumber Raita
Ingredients
- 1 medium cucumber grated, ~1 cup
- 1 cup yogurt, I used 0% greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon Indian black salt
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ⅓ cup cilantro finely chopped
- ¼-1/2 cup water
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together grated cucumber, yogurt, cumin, black salt, sugar, and cilantro. Slowly add water and whisk until smooth. Add more water until you reach your desired consistency.
- Adjust the salt and sugar based on your taste prefrence. Serve cold with your favorite Indian dish!
Nutrition Info
Jgovind
I love it