Cucumber raita recipe - How to make cucumber raita

Cucumber raita recipe - Keep your system as cool as cucumber by eating refreshing chilled cucumber raita. I often make raita and salad with cucumber and other vegetables since summer has started.  The goodness of yogurt with the cucumber makes this raita refreshing and healthy. It also cools our system. Cucumber is low in calories, therefore persons who wish to reduce weight, eat raw cucumber. Note that to keep the nutrition intact,  peel and chop the washed cucumber just before the use.

Cucumber Raita Recipe

Prep time : 10 mins
Cook time : 2 mins
Total time : 12 mins
Recipe type : Side Dish-Raita
Cuisine : North Indian
Yield : Serves 2
Author : Vidya Chandrahas

Ingredients

• 1 + 1/4 cups curd / yogurt
• 2 medium sized cucumber
• 1 tbsp ground nut powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

For the tempering

• 1 tsp ghee
• ½  tsp cumin seeds / jeera
• 1 small green chilli, finely chopped

Method

1. Wash, pat dry  and keep the cucumber in the refrigerator.
2. To make the raita curd, strain the curd  for about 10 minutes using a stainless steel strainer. 
3. Transfer this raita curd to a bowl  and keep it  in the fridge for about an hour. Allow it to chill.
4. While making raita, peel the cucumber and chop them finely.
5. Take a large bowl and combine together the curd, sugar and salt. Whip it  well. 
6. Then add the ground nut powder, chopped cucumber and coriander leaves. Mix gently.
7. Heat ghee in a small pan and add the cumin seeds to it. When they crackle nicely, add the chopped green chillies and saute for a while. 
8. Pour this tempering over the raita and mix well.
9. Serve the cucumber raita in a serving bowl. Goes well with spicy rice, biryani or pulao.

Cucumber raita - step by step pictures

1.  Wash the cucumber thoroughly and pat dry.  Keep it in the  refrigerator and chill it.

2.  Peel the cucumber as shown below.

3.  Cut it into small pieces and set aside.

4.  Take the raita yogurt in a bowl. Add the cucumber pieces, cilantro, ground nut powder and salt.

5.  Make a tempering of ghee, jeera and green chillies. Pour this tempering over raita. Mix well.

6.  Serve the cucumber raita in a serving bowl. Goes well with spicy rice, biryani or pulao.