Easy Indian Cucumber Raita Recipe (2024)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Homemade Cucumber raita recipe below