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Kheera raita
Cucumber yogurt dip
Kheere ka raita (खीरे का रायता): grated cucumber in whisked yogurt with roasted cumin and mint
From Lucknow dinner tables to the biryani counters of Old Delhi, a bowl of cucumber raita is the cooling answer to anything spicy, and in summer it is eaten on its own with a paratha. Grated cucumber is folded into smooth, whisked yogurt with freshly roasted cumin, mint and a pinch of black salt. A portion is about 70 kcal. The common mistake is using yogurt straight from the pot without whisking, which gives a lumpy raita; whisk it smooth first and thin it with a spoon of cold water if needed. Chef's tip: roast whole cumin seeds in a dry pan and crush them yourself just before serving; the smoky smell is what makes a raita sing.
- Total time
- 11 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 14 oz plain yogurtchilled
- 1 cucumberabout 300 g, coarsely grated
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 6 fresh mintleaves, finely chopped
- ¼ tsp black salt (kala namak)
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 pinch Kashmiri chilli powder (optional)
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What you'll need
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Squeeze 1 cucumber lightly in your hands to remove some of the liquid, but don't wring it dry.
Step 2: Toast 1 tsp cumin seeds in a small dry pan over a medium heat for 1 minute, until a shade darker and fragrant. Crush coarsely in a mortar.
1 minStep 3: Whisk 14 oz plain yogurt in a bowl until completely smooth. Add 2–3 tablespoons of cold water if it is very thick.
Step 4: Fold in the cucumber, 6 fresh mint, ¼ tsp black salt (kala namak), ¼ tsp salt and most of the cumin. Sprinkle the rest of the cumin and 1 pinch Kashmiri chilli powder on top and serve cold.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 70 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 6 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kheera raita take?
- About 11 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 1 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of plain yogurt?
- Sour cream or buttermilk, same amount.
- What can I use instead of cucumber?
- Courgette, same weight (in salads, use young ones).
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Perfect for:Summer coolers