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cucumber raita for biriyani served in bowl on board, garnished with fresh coriander/cilantro.
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5 from 1 vote

Cucumber Raita (Simple Raita Recipe for Biriyani)

No South Asian meal is complete without a delicious and cooling cucumber raita including biriyani! Serve this quick, easy and refreshing cucumber raita with biryani and other Indian dishes. 
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian, South Asian
Servings: 4 people (2-4 depending on serving size)
Calories: 83kcal
Author: Sonia

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Yogurt plain/natural (or homemade)
  • 1 cup Cucumber grated/shredded (loosely packed)
  • ¼ Carrot grated/shredded (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon Roasted cumin powder
  • ¼ Salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Coriander/cilantro finely chopped, optional to garnish
  • Pinch Paprika or red chilli powder optional to garnish

Instructions

  • Whisk and season the yogurt in a large bowl until smooth. Add the roasted cumin powder and salt and whisk again until evenly combined.
  • Add the grated cucumber (and carrot if using) and gently mix to combine. Taste and adjust salt accordingly. Optional: Garnish with coriander/cilantro and paprika or red chilli powder.
  • Serve fresh with hot biryiani and other dishes or store in an air-tight container and refrigerate for later. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. Use roasted cumin powder: for a hearty, rich, and earthy flavour in this raita. We recommend making a large quantity (so easy to blend). Store any leftover roasted cumin powder in a small air-tight container and store at room temperature to use for other recipes.
  2. Use a grater: Grate your cucumber (with or without skin) before adding to the yoghurt for a beautiful texture in the raita.
  3. Add-ons: If you are adding grated carrot (for some colour, variety and nutrition) peel, top and tail the carrot before grating. 
  4. Use fresh yogurt: this is because with time (after a week or so) yoghurt can become tangy or sour. We would recommend tasting your yoghurt before making this recipe to ensure it is fresh tasting (and not too sour/tangy).

Nutrition

Calories: 83kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 60mg | Potassium: 258mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 785IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 160mg | Folate: 14µg | Iron: 0.4mg | Zinc: 1mg