Homemade Cucumber Raita Sauce or Dip Recipe - Budget Bytes (2024)

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$1.20 recipe / $0.20 serving

by Beth - Budget Bytes

published

5 from 1 vote

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I had an email from a reader (sorry, can’t find the email to fetch your name!) a while back requesting that I try to make a raita similar to the one she had at Trader Joe’s. Unfortunately, I’ve never had raita and there isn’t a Trader Joe’s near by where I could get some to try. I looked into the recipe anyway and was intrigued. Raita kind of looks like the Indian version of tzatziki… and I LOVE tzatziki.

So, if you’re unfamiliar, both are a yogurt based sauce used for dipping, putting on flat breads, or whatever else you’d like. They’re creamy, cooling, and tangy. I looked up some recipes for raita and found that there are a million different versions out there. Some with cucumber, some with ginger, some with green onions, some simply with yogurt and a couple of spices . I liked the idea of having both cucumber and ginger to make it extra “cool” on the palate, so I went with that. You can definitely experiment with this and make it your own.

Full fat, strained (or Greek) yogurt is best for this recipe because it makes a nice thick, rich sauce. I happened to have some non-fat regular (not Greek) yogurt in my fridge so I used it instead of buying more. It was still delicious, although much thinner. It was still flavorful and went great with my Tandoori Chicken Bites. I also like the idea of adding a pinch of cayenne to juxtapose the cool cucumber and ginger… I might go add some now :)

Cucumber Raita

Homemade Cucumber Raita Sauce or Dip Recipe - Budget Bytes (2)

cucumber raita

5 from 1 vote

Cucumber raita is a quick, flavorful, and fresh sauce to cool spicy entrees or side dishes.

Author: Beth - Budget Bytes

Homemade Cucumber Raita Sauce or Dip Recipe - Budget Bytes (3)

Homemade Cucumber Raita Sauce or Dip Recipe - Budget Bytes (4) Servings 6

Prep 15 minutes mins

Total 15 minutes mins

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup plain yogurt ($0.54)
  • 1/2 medium cucumber ($0.30)
  • 1/2 inch fresh ginger ($0.09)
  • 1/4 tsp coriander ($0.02)
  • 1/4 tsp cumin ($0.02)
  • 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
  • handful fresh cilantro or mint ($0.21)

Instructions

  • Peel the cucmber and slice in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Grate the cucumber on a large cheese grater and place into a colander. Add a pinch of salt and allow it to sit while you prepare the rest of the sauce.

  • In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, salt, cumin, and coriander. Stir to combine. Roughly chop the cilantro and add to the bowl. Peel the ginger and grate it (using a fine cheese grater) into the bowl.

  • After the cucumber has been sitting for at least ten minutes, press it into the sides of the colander to extract as much moisture as possible. Add it to the sauce and stir to combine. Serve the sauce immediately or refrigerate to allow the flavors to combine. Adjust salt as needed.

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Notes

This sauce should keep in the refrigerator for approximately 5 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 29.23kcalCarbohydrates: 2.7gProtein: 1.58gFat: 1.4gSodium: 118.13mgFiber: 0.2g

Read our full nutrition disclaimer here.

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Step By Step Photos

Homemade Cucumber Raita Sauce or Dip Recipe - Budget Bytes (7)
Begin with the cucumber. Peel the half that you’ll be using, slice it in half lengthwise, and then scrape out the seeds with a spoon.

Homemade Cucumber Raita Sauce or Dip Recipe - Budget Bytes (8)
Grate the cucumber into a colander using a cheese grater. Add a pinch of salt and allow it to sit. The salt will help draw out the juices so that they don’t make your sauce watery.

Homemade Cucumber Raita Sauce or Dip Recipe - Budget Bytes (9)
Place the yogurt in a bowl and add the cumin, coriander, and salt. Peel the ginger and grate it into the bowl as well. Stir to combine

Homemade Cucumber Raita Sauce or Dip Recipe - Budget Bytes (10)
Take a handful of cilantro (or mint) leaves and roughly chop them.

Homemade Cucumber Raita Sauce or Dip Recipe - Budget Bytes (11)
After the cucumber has been sitting in the colander for about ten minutes, press it against the sides to extract as much water as possible. Add it to the yogurt sauce along with the chopped cilantro. Stir to combine.

Homemade Cucumber Raita Sauce or Dip Recipe - Budget Bytes (12)
Taste the sauce and add more salt if desired. I didn’t want a lot of salt in this sauce because I liked it’s light, fresh flavor. You can eat the sauce as is or refrigerate it to allow the flavors to mingle. Isn’t it pretty?

Homemade Cucumber Raita Sauce or Dip Recipe - Budget Bytes (13)
I served this as a dipping sauce for the tandoori chicken bites, but I also ended up making flatbread sandwiches with the naan, raita, tandoori chicken, leftover fresh cilantro, and a little chili garlic sauce. They were TO DIE FOR. Like little Indian tacos or shwarma wraps!

Homemade Cucumber Raita Sauce or Dip Recipe - Budget Bytes (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between tzatziki and cucumber raita? ›

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.

What is raita sauce made of? ›

Ingredients
  • 250g Greek yogurt.
  • 1 garlic clove.
  • thumb-sized piece ginger, finely grated.
  • ½ small pack coriander, chopped.
  • 0.25 small pack mint, leaves chopped.
  • juice 0.5 lime.
  • ½ tsp garam masala, plus a little extra to serve.
  • ¼ cucumber, grated and lightly squeezed.

What dip is made of cucumber? ›

Tzatziki is a refreshing and good-for-you yogurt and cucumber dip. Serve it with pita, grilled meats, gyros, or just eat it with a spoon!

Should raita be thick or thin? ›

Raita Should Be Thin

Unlike the thick yogurt-based dip that a raita is often thought to be, an Indian raita is more liquidy. It's made with fresh yogurt or curd that hasn't rested in the refrigerator for too long, or that hasn't been strained like Greek yogurt.

How do you thicken cucumber raita? ›

If you find that the raita is too thin, stir in a little more thick yoghurt. If you prefer a thinner sauce, you can always add a drop or two of milk to thin it.

Is tzatziki healthier than hummus? ›

Yes, tzatziki is considered a healthier dip than hummus and sour cream. It contains several vitamins, a good amount of protein, and fewer carbohydrates and calories. The fat content of tzatziki is low too, which is not the case with other dips.

What's the difference between raita and tzatziki sauce? ›

What is the differences between Raita and Tzatziki? Raita is a side dish from India made with plain yogurt. It has a thinner consistency than tzatziki. Tzatziki is a Greek sauce made from Greek yogurt.

What do Indians eat raita with? ›

Raita is the savory yogurt condiment that's served alongside everything—from Pakistani lamb biryani to Bengali shami kebabs and South Indian okra stir-fry. The tangy yogurt side offers a refreshing contrast and cooling reprieve from all the heavily spiced dishes.

What is raita called in English? ›

Raita is also sometimes simply called dahi, or "sourmilk", after its main ingredient, particularly in South African Indian cuisine.

What flavor compliments cucumber? ›

Herbs: Cucumbers pair well with fresh herbs such as mint, dill, basil, and cilantro. Dairy: Cucumbers pair well with dairy products such as yogurt, sour cream, and cream cheese. Vinegar: Cucumbers pair well with vinegars such as rice vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and white wine vinegar.

What can you put on cucumbers to make them taste good? ›

Enhance the taste of cucumbers by incorporating herbs and spices. Sprinkle freshly chopped mint, basil, cilantro, or dill over sliced cucumbers to add a burst of freshness. Additionally, spices like black pepper, cumin, or paprika can provide a subtle kick to the cucumbers, making them more interesting and flavorful.

Is raita bad for weight loss? ›

Raita is prepared using curd, which is high in protein and low in unhealthy fats. It makes for a perfect aid for digestion and weight loss.

How long does raita keep in the fridge? ›

Serve right away or store in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

What do you serve with raita? ›

Serve raita with biryani, pulao, kebabs or any Indian meal.

Are tzatziki and raita the same thing? ›

Tzatziki, though traditionally made with strained sheep's or goat's milk yogurt, often has thick Greek yogurt as a base, per The Mediterranean Dish. On the other hand, raita uses regular yogurt or dahi (also known as Indian yogurt or curd) — depending on the recipe – as the vehicle for aromatic vegetables and spices.

Is raita similar to tzatziki sauce? ›

Both generally involve some sort of herbaceous element: for tzatziki that means dill, mint, or parsley; cilantro often makes an appearance in raita recipes. Raita is more likely to include a spicy element. (Cumin, cayenne pepper, and ginger are common.)

What is cucumber raita made of? ›

Cucumber Raita also known as Indian Cucumber Yogurt Sauce is a simple side dish made by mixing grated or chopped cucumbers with thick yogurt/Greek yogurt, salt and ground cumin. Sometimes ground black pepper, coriander leaves and mint leaves are also used.

Does tzatziki taste like cucumber? ›

Some might think of this dip as something similar to sour cream, but if you're wondering what tzatziki tastes like, it is slightly tangy, garlicky, and cool due to the use of cucumber and fresh herbs.

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