Cucumber Raita / Yogurt Dip

Sweta C
Feb 16, 2017
2 min read

A summer cool legendary side dish which goes well with Spicy Indian Barbecue. It can also be used as spreads on burgers or hot dogs.

Of the very few ingredient that this recipe uses - Cucumber is our star ingredient.

It is a low-calorie vegetable with numerous benefits. Vitamin K in cucumbers strengthens bones. Also, the presence of excellent amount of potassium makes it heart-friendly. Skin of the cucumber is a good source of dietary fiber and also gives a good crunch to salads. Cucumbers contain silica which is known to promote healthy skin, hair and nails. I guess these reasons are compelling enough to add this healthy veggie to our diet.

I had made this raita for my husband's lunch. So, the images here is for single serving. However, I will be giving u recipe for at least 2-3 servings so that you can enjoy more. More Food brings More Happiness ;)

Ingredients:

Fresh Produce:

Cucumber - 1 big size

Optional only for garnishing:

Mint leaves - 1 tbsp

Cilantro leaves - 1 tbsp

Dairy:

Whole-milk Greek yogurt- 2 cups

Spices:

Smoked paprika - 1/2 tsp

Dry mint leaves powder - 1 tsp

Roasted cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Chaat masala - 1/2 tsp

Black salt - 1/2 tsp

Directions:

- Wash the cucumber thoroughly. Grate it coarsely or chop it into fine pieces.

(I have kept the skin on for added health benefits. You might remove it as per your liking.)

- Finely chop mint leaves and cilantro.

- Coarsely grind the roasted cumin seeds.

- Mix all the ingredients together.

Cucumber raita is ready. Serve it as a side dish to parathas, biryanis or use it as a dip/spread.

Tips:

- You may use plain whole milk yogurt instead of Greek yogurt but make it a point to not use the water/liquid part because grated cucumber is sure to release lots of juice. As a result, you might not get a creamy consistency raita.

-It is a good practice to taste a bit of cucumber before you shred it because if you are unfortunate enough it might turn out to be bitter. The only solution here is to discard the cucumber.

This saves your dish from getting ruined.

There is also a grandma's tip to reduce the bitterness of cucumber. Find the head side of the cucumber, chop approx 1 inch of its end, place the cut portion back and rub the flat ends together until you get a white/greenish froth. Wash the cucumber. Peel of the skin (if necessary) and you should be just fine.

Watch the slideshow for the step-wise picture description.

Its super easy! Try it today!