Cucumber Raita
Cooling yogurt with grated cucumber, cumin, and mint.
Ingredients
- 400 g Yogurt
- 1 Cucumber
- ½ tsp Ground cumin
- ½ tsp Salt
- 2 tbsp Mint (optional)
Method
- Toast the ground cumin in a small dry pan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and a shade darker, about 1 minute. Tip it out of the pan so it doesn't scorch.
- While the cumin toasts, grate the cucumber and squeeze out the excess water, then chop the mint.
- Whisk the yogurt smooth, then fold in the cucumber, toasted cumin, mint, and salt.
- Chill for at least 10 minutes, then serve alongside curry or rice.
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About Cucumber Raita
Cucumber raita is the cooling yogurt side that anchors so many Indian meals, a whisked-yogurt condiment folded through with grated cucumber and aromatics. Across the subcontinent raita exists in countless forms, but the cucumber version is the most classic and versatile: its whole job is to temper heat and add a fresh, creamy counterweight to spiced food. It is a side rather than a salad, spooned onto the plate to be eaten with everything else.
What you taste is soft, tangy yogurt made lively by two things — mint's coolness and the warm, nutty depth of cumin. The step that separates a good raita from a bland one is toasting the ground cumin in a dry pan until it darkens and turns fragrant, which wakes up its aroma far beyond what raw cumin offers; squeezing the water out of the grated cucumber keeps the yogurt thick rather than watery. Chilled for even ten minutes so the flavors settle, it is the natural partner to biryani, a fiery curry, spiced rice, or grilled kebabs, where a cool spoonful resets the palate between mouthfuls.
Cucumber Raita: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Cucumber Raita?
A serving has about 92 calories — 4.4g protein, 8.6g carbs, 4.7g fat, 0.4g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Cucumber Raita gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Cucumber Raita has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Is Cucumber Raita dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Yogurt. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
Do I need every ingredient to make Cucumber Raita?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out mint — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Cucumber Raita make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.