Easy Raita Recipe: How to Make Cucumber Raita

Raita is a traditional yogurt-based condiment from India. Salted yogurt (dahi) is mixed with herbs and spices, like cumin. Different varieties of raita incorporate fruit or vegetables (raw or cooked). Raita is served cold and is often paired with spicy foods to counterbalance the mouth-tingling heat. Raita is sometimes served after a meal to aid in digestion, thanks to the gut-friendly bacteria in yogurt.

The creaminess of raita adds a cool contrast to many traditional Indian dishes like:

1. 1. Chicken tikka masala
2. 2. Tandoori chicken
3. 3. Butter chicken
4. 4. Chana masala
5. 5. Palak paneer
6. 6. Biryani
7. 7. Roti
8. 8. Naan
9. 9. Aloo gobi
10. 10. Samosas

Raita is often compared, and confused with, tzatziki because both are side dishes that have a yogurt base. Here are some basic differences between the two:

• Raita is a side dish from India while tzatziki is a Greek sauce. Both are eaten as dips or as an accompaniment to a main dish.
• Their consistencies are different. Raita is made with plain yogurt and tzatziki is made with thicker Greek yogurt. Raita is thinner while tzatziki has a thick consistency.
• They’re used in different ways. Raita is a more versatile dish with many different recipes. Tzatziki is most often a mixture of yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, kosher salt, oil, and lemon juice.

Raita is a gluten-free food made with the following basic ingredients:

1. 1. Greek yogurt
2. 2. Cumin
3. 3. Cucumber, grated or finely chopped
4. 4. Lemon juice

This basic recipe is often adjusted based on personal taste. Other popular flavor additives include fresh cilantro, fresh mint leaves, chaat masala (an Indian spice blend), coriander, green onions, and mustard seeds. Sometimes cayenne, chili powder, serrano pepper or green chillies are mixed into raita to create contrasting flavors within the dish itself.

Raita varies throughout the regions of India. It is often mixed with veggies or fruits, like pineapple and pomegranate. Three of the most popular types are:

1. 1. Cucumber raita: Greek yogurt is mixed with cumin, peeled and grated cucumber, and fresh mint.
2. 2. Mint raita: Packed mint leaves are blended with a green chili until finely chopped. They’re mixed with yogurt, salt to taste, and a sprinkle of sugar.
3. 3. Boondi raita: Boondi are little balls of fried chickpea flour. They’re mixed with the yogurt with salt and chaat masala.