Easy Indian Cucumber Raita Recipe (2024)

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This cooling Cucumber raita is the ultimate companion to any curry! Made with a blend of cucumber, yogurt, herbs, and spices, this refreshing Indian raita is quick to make and can be served with your favourite Indian curry, naan bread, or homemade poppadoms.

Easy Indian Cucumber Raita Recipe (1)

About my easy Indian cucumber raita recipe

Making Indian Raitha is quick and easy. With just 10 minutes at hand, you can whip up this cooling cucumber yogurt dip and elevate your curry to the next level.

To make this raita, I stick to a simple mantra: for every 2 cups of yogurt, I add 1 portion of vegetables, which in this case is cucumber. This 2:1 ratio gives us the ideal consistency of yogurt and added ingredients. Along with cucumber, I also use basic ingredients like spice powders and herbs to give this dip its classic Indian flavour.

Once all the ingredients are mixed together, I serve it chilled to make sure it’s the perfect temperature to balance the heat from any spicy dish.

Easy Indian Cucumber Raita Recipe (2)

Ingredients for Raita recipe, you’ll need:

  • Plain yogurt or Greek yogurt (dilute Greek yogurt with water if using)
  • English Cucumber
  • Spices – Roasted cumin powder and chilli powder
  • Fresh coriander leaves (or mint leaves for a mint and cucumber raita)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

How to make easy Cucumber raita step by step?

  1. In a bowl, place the yogurt and whisk it until smooth. If you’re using Greek yogurt, dilute it with a little water.
  2. Dice the cucumber into small pieces. Add the diced cucumber, cumin powder, chilli powder, salt and coriander leaves, reserving some for garnishing.
  3. Stir the mixture to combine. Taste and add more seasoning if needed.
  4. Chill the raita in the fridge until ready to serve.
  5. Once chilled, serve this refreshing cucumber raita with your favourite vegetarian recipes, and don’t forget to garnish with the reserved coriander leaves.
Easy Indian Cucumber Raita Recipe (3)
Easy Indian Cucumber Raita Recipe (4)

How to make Chunky Cucumber raita?

  1. To make Chunky Cucumber raita, start by grating the cucumber and then squeeze out the juice from it. You can keep the cucumber juice aside and use it later to dilute the yogurt if you prefer a thinner consistency.
  2. Next, add the grated cucumber to the yogurt along spices, herbs and salt. Mix everything together until well combined
  3. If the raita is too thick, add some of the reserved cucumber juice or water to thin it out.
  4. Cover and chill the raita in the fridge until ready to serve. This will allow the flavours to meld together and the raita to thicken up.
  5. Serve the chunky cucumber raitha alongside your favourite curry dish and enjoy the cool and refreshing flavours!

Serving Suggestions

  • This Cucumber raita is the perfect accompaniment to a variety of easy Indian meals, such as Airfryer Onion Bhaji, Takeaway – style Dal Tarka, Creamy Aubergine Curry, and Vegetable Biryani.
  • It also pairs well with stuffed parathas, such as Aloo paratha, Gobi paratha, and Rajma paratha, for a complete and satisfying meal.
  • In addition to being a flavourful side dish, this raita also makes a great dip for crispyPoppadoms.

Storing leftover raita

Store leftover cucumber raita in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.

Love this raita, you will also love these variations of easy Indian Raita

5 minutes Onion Raita

Vegetable raita

Boondi Raita,

Lauki Raita

FAQ’s

Can I use Greek Yogurt for making Raita?

Yes, you can use Greek yogurt to make raita by diluting it with water.

What is the difference between raita & Tzatziki?

Tzatziki is a Greek dip made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and herbs like dill, while raita has cumin powder, chilli powder, and coriander leaves as its key ingredients.

Can you make Vegan Indian raita?

Yes, you can make vegan Indian raita using any plant-based yogurt.

How To Make Roasted Cumin Powder / Bhuna Jeera Powder?

To make roasted cumin powder, heat cumin seeds in a pan until they turn brown and release their aroma. Then, grind them into a fine powder. I have a quick recipe for Homemade Cumin Powder for you to make and store.

Can I freeze cucumber Raita?

While it’s not recommended to freeze raita, you can still freeze spiced plain yogurt. When you’re ready to make the raita, thaw the yogurt and add cucumber and herbs. This will help to maintain the texture and flavour of the raita.

Easy Indian Cucumber Raita Recipe (5)

If you love this refreshing raita, you will also love

  • Indian Mint Yogurt Sauce
  • Boom Boom Sauce
  • 5 minutes Green Chutney
  • Tamarind Dates Chutney
  • Coconut Chutney
  • Onion Tomato Chutney
Easy Indian Cucumber Raita Recipe (6)

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Homemade Cucumber raita recipe below

Easy Indian Cucumber Raita Recipe (7)

Indian Cucumber Raita recipe

4.93 from 13 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 People

Calories: 54kcal

Author: Sandhya Hariharan

Cool and refreshing Cucumber Raita, a perfect side dish for any spicy Indian meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Yogurt
  • ½ cup Cucumber finely diced
  • ½ tsp Roasted Cumin Powder
  • ¼- ½ tsp Red Chilli Powder
  • ½ tsp Chaat Masala Powder optional
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp coriander leaves chopped

Instructions

  • Place Yogurt in a bowl and whisk it until smooth. If the yogurt is thick in consistency, add ⅛-¼ cup water and whisk again to adjust the consistency.

    1 cup Yogurt

  • Add cucumber, spice powders, salt, pepper & coriander leaves and mix until combined.

    ½ cup Cucumber, ½ tsp Roasted Cumin Powder, ¼- ½ tsp Red Chilli Powder, ½ tsp Chaat Masala Powder, Salt & Pepper to taste, 2 tbsp coriander leaves

  • Garnish with more coriander leaves and serve cucumber raita chilled.

    2 tbsp coriander leaves

Nutrition

Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.7g | Protein: 2.8g | Fat: 2.7g | Saturated Fat: 1.3g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 33mg | Potassium: 126mg | Fiber: 0.8g | Sugar: 3.1g | Calcium: 111mg

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: cucumber raita, easy indian raita, raita, yogurt side dish

Tried this recipe?Mention @Sandhyaskitchen and Hashtag #sandhyaskitchen!

Easy Indian Cucumber Raita Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is cucumber raita made of? ›

Cucumber Raita also known as Indian Cucumber Yogurt Sauce is a simple side dish made by mixing grated or chopped cucumbers with thick yogurt/Greek yogurt, salt and ground cumin. Sometimes ground black pepper, coriander leaves and mint leaves are also used.

What is the difference between tzatziki and cucumber raita? ›

Raita is made on the base of regular yogurt while tzatziki is made using Greek yogurt. Raita is thinner in consistency, while tzatziki has a dip-like thick texture.

What is Indian raita made of? ›

A basic raita recipe is made of salted yoghurt, chopped onion, coriander, mint and ground or whole cumin seeds. It has a salty, sour, savoury taste that is also cooling and refreshing. What is the difference between Raita and Tzatziki? Raita is an Indian yoghurt condiment whereas Tzatziki is a Greek yoghurt dip.

What kind of yogurt is used in Indian cooking? ›

What Type of Yogurt do We Use in Indian Cooking? Commonly, Indian people use yogurt in cooking. This type is called 'Dahi,' which uses Indian cuisine. It adds a creamy and light texture to the dishes without weighing them down.

Why do Indians rub cucumber together? ›

I grew up in India and every time we cut cucumbers we had to cut off the ends and sprinkle it with salt and rub it. It brought out a white sticky sap. You are supposed to cut that off and rinse the cucumber. Voila the bitterness is gone!

What is the English name for raita? ›

'yogurt cucumber'), whereas in western regions of Nepal it is known as raito. Raita is also sometimes simply called dahi, or "sourmilk", after its main ingredient, particularly in South African Indian cuisine.

How long will raita last in the fridge? ›

Fold in grated cucumber and cilantro. Serve right away or store in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

Can I substitute tzatziki for raita? ›

Raita and tzatziki share two similar base ingredients and some similar steps, but they are distinctly different. First, raita starts with dahi, a thinner salted yogurt, while tzatziki starts with thicker plain Greek yogurt. Tzatziki also has a heavy dose of lemon juice, making it decidedly more tangy than raita.

What is Indian curd called in USA? ›

Curd or dahi is called yogurt in the United States. Yogurt is a commercialized product that is made from milk that has been heat-treated to kill live bacteria. Dahi is a traditional yogurt that is made from cow's milk, buffalo milk, or goat milk.

How to make Indian curd in USA? ›

It is simply made with just two ingredients milk and yogurt starter. The milk is boiled at 180F and later cooled or in some cultures frothed. The milk should be between 115F to 120F when you mix in the yogurt starter. After mixing the yogurt starter, cover the dahi and let it set in a warm place for 5-8 hours.

Why is my raita runny? ›

If you do not use a firmer yogurt to start, you will end up with a watery Raita. Since you used regular yogurt and actually added water, perhaps you either used fewer cucumbers, did not let yours sit in the refrigerator to blend the flavors as long as I did, or perhaps you just like it watery.

What is the best yogurt for curry? ›

If your supermarket has a brand of dahi or Greek yogurt then use that in curries. Tangy creamy yogurt is the best in Indian cuisine.

How do you shred cucumbers for tzatziki? ›

Grate the cucumbers coarsely using a box grater. Set the cucumbers in a sieve to drain. Meanwhile, chop up some herbs and a clove of garlic. Combine Greek yogurt with the drained cucumbers, herbs, garlic, fresh lemon and salt.

Is cucumber raita good for health? ›

And, curd that you mix with cucumber has properties that balance cortisol production. Adding cucumber raita to your diet is great because this is a light and healthy food option that not only helps in digestion but light for your stomach and good for your cardiovascular health.

Is cucumber curd good or bad for you? ›

While cucumbers are refreshing and hydrating, they are also high in water content. When combined with curd, which is cooling in nature, the mixture may lead to bloating or indigestion, particularly for those with sensitive digestive systems.

What is the Indian cucumber looking vegetable? ›

So in this way they are more like cakes than zucchini. Quirky tindora looks like a cross between tiny, toy zucchini or cucumber. Indian cooks use it in the popular Urad Dal by soaking it in warm water and cooking it with lentils.

What is the main ingredient in cucumber? ›

Cucumbers consist mostly of water, and they also contain important electrolytes. They can help prevent dehydration in hot weather or after a workout. For people who do not enjoy drinking water, adding cucumber and mint can make it more attractive.

What is raita salad made of? ›

Method. Mix yogurt with cucumbers, lemon juice and fennel seeds. Season and chill until needed. Just before serving, fold in mint and olive oil.

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