Cucumber Raita / Cucumber Yogurt Salad

          Raita is a cucumber-yogurt salad used in Indian cuisine as a cooling balance to the spicy dishes like biryani. This is so simple and easy to make dish. I really love this raita because of its cooling properties. Best accompaniment for raita is biryani. Also you can use it as dip for pita chips  or potato chips.


     Ingredients

           1 Medium Sized Cucumber, Diced
           2 Cups of Yogurt / Thick Curd
           1/4 Cup of Red Onion, Finely Chopped
           1/4 Tsp of Roasted Cumin Powder
           Pinch of Kala Namak / Black Salt
           1 Green Chilly, Finely Chopped
           2 Tbsp of Coriander Leaves, Chopped
           Salt to Taste


     To Temper

           2 Tsp of Oil
           1 Tsp of Mustard Seeds
           1 Sprig of Curry Leaves
         


     Method

• Wash and peel the cucumber skin. Chop them into pieces. Keep them aside.
• Roast the cumin seeds in a medium heat for a few seconds until nice aroma comes. Powder it in a mortar and pestle.
• In a bowl, using whisk, whip the curd/yogurt until smooth and creamy.
• To the yogurt bowl, add chopped onion, cucumber, green chilly, roasted cumin powder, black salt, coriander leaves and salt. Mix well with a spoon.
• Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and curry leaves, after it splutter, transfer this to the yogurt bowl. Mix well.
• Serve immediately with biryani or cover and refrigerate it for 15 mins to allow flavors to blend.

    Tips

• You can add red chilly powder or pepper powder instead of green chilly.
• Adding mint leaves gives you great flavor.
• You can also make raita without adding the tempering.
• Greek yogurt tastes great for raita.
• You can add grated or diced cucumber for making raita.

    Health Benefits of Cucumber

• Keeps the body hydrated.
• Rich in vitamin A and B
• Good for skin, joints and teeth.
• Aids in digestion and weight loss.
• Stimulates hair growth.
• Fight against cancer.