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

Easy Indian Cucumber Raita Recipe? ›

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 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? ›

That said, it's always made with yogurt—typically plain, full-fat yogurt—spices, and some kind of fruit or vegetable that will add heft and texture to the creamy spiced yogurt. Some people finish the raita with a handful of fresh herbs or even fresh, hot chilies.

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.

What is raita called in English? ›

Raita is also sometimes simply called dahi, or "sourmilk", after its main ingredient, particularly in South African Indian cuisine.

How long can you keep raita in the fridge? ›

Add chilled water, a little at a time while mixing gently until you get the consistency you desire. Your raita should be thick and creamy. Chill the raita in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours before serving. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days.

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.

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.

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? ›

Take Full Fat Milk for the best results, boil the milk and cool it down to normal room temperature and after that add a spoon (1 spoon to a normal bowl, you can increase the quantity as per you measurements) of curd/buttermilk to bowl of milk mix it well and keep it aside for 7–8 hours, for best results like if you ...

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.

Is cucumber curd good or bad for you? ›

Cucumber and curd are two opposite foods in terms of their properties and combining them in any way will damage your system from within and the ill effects can be seen in the form of fevers and skin diseases. As boondi is deep fried in ghee or oil, it is incompatible with curd and it also makes you put on fat.

What is the Indian cucumber looking vegetable? ›

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 does raita taste like? ›

At its core, raita is yogurt that's been mixed with a little bit of sugar, spices, and oftentimes vegetables and other textural components. When done right, raita has an addictive salty-sweet quality to it—it's the cooling foil to all of the hearty, warm spice-laden flavors of many Indian dishes.

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