Cucumber Raita Recipe
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 either searching "how to make raita" or you 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 Indian cucumber yogurt 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 Indian 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 in Cucumber Raita
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).
How to Make An Easy Raita
Making raita is one of the simplest additions to Indian meals.
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 (if using) until you reach your flavor profile. Easy!
💭 Tips for Making Cucumber Raita
Traditionally, raita uses homemade yogurt. There are so many Ayurvedic benefits to 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, no fat, and the creamy texture. I like to water it down to resemble a raita consistency versus a tzatziki.
This is a grated cucumber raita. 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 Recipe
There are a variety of recipes for raita. Here are some great additions to this cucumber raita recipe to adjust based on your family tastebud preferences:
- Sour cream for an additional creamy flavor
- Green chilis/jalapenos
- Mint
- Garlic
- Boondi
- Pomegranate -if you want a bite of sweetness to your raita.
How to Serve Cucumber 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! Raita can also be served as a dip for appetizers like Paneer Pull Apart Bread Rolls or Air Fryer Masala Potatoes.
More Indian Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Cucumber Raita Recipe
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, (optional)
- 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
