Cucumber Raita (Budget Bytes)

Tempo

15 min

Picante

Dificuldade

Fácil

Rende

6porções

Ingredientes

1 cup

plain yogurt, full-fat ideally (iogurte natural integral, e.g. *Vigor* or *Danone*; or Greek-style for thicker)

medium cucumber (pepino japonês is best; *pepino caipira* with seeds removed works)

inch fresh ginger (gengibre fresco; about ½ tsp grated)

¼ tsp

ground coriander (coentro em pó)

¼ tsp

ground cumin (cominho em pó)

¼ tsp

salt

Small handful fresh cilantro or mint, chopped (coentro fresco ou hortelã)

Optional: pinch cayenne pepper for contrast (pimenta caiena)

Modo de preparo

01**Prep cucumber.** Peel (or leave skin on if it's tender). Grate on a coarse grater into a clean tea towel. **Squeeze hard** to remove excess water (a wet raita is a sad raita). Tip squeezed cucumber into a bowl.
02**Grate ginger** directly into bowl (use the fine side of the grater).
03**Add yogurt** + coriander + cumin + salt.
04**Stir to combine.** Taste; adjust salt.
05**Top with chopped cilantro/mint + optional cayenne pinch.**
06**Chill 15 min** if you have time — flavours meld.

Cucumber Raita (Budget Bytes)

The Indian-cousin-of-tzatziki — yogurt-based cooler with cucumber + ginger + cumin + coriander. Cools the heat of curries; goes on everything Indian; doubles as a dip with naan.

Heat: 0/5. Strictly cooling. Optional cayenne pinch for contrast (recommended).

Variations

Garlic raita: add 1 small clove, grated.
Tomato raita: add ¼ cup finely diced tomato (deseeded).
Spicier: add ½ a fresh green chile, deseeded and minced.
Indian sweet tooth: add 1 tsp sugar + extra pinch of salt — sweet-savoury version.
Onion raita: add 1 tbsp very finely chopped red onion.

Notes

Yogurt fat content: full-fat = creamy + clinging; non-fat = thinner but still works. Iogurte grego (Greek-style) makes a very thick raita — closer to tzatziki.
Squeeze cucumber! Skipping this = watery raita. Use a clean kitchen towel or muslin.
Indian-side serving: beside any curry, on top of biryani, with kebabs/samosas.
Western use: dip with carrot/cucumber sticks; spread on flatbreads; thinned with a splash of milk for salad dressing.
Make-ahead: 24 hr fridge max. Stir before serving; may need a pinch more salt as flavours bloom.
Pair with: Madhur Jaffrey's Royal Chicken (frango-inteiro_royal-chicken-jaffrey.md), Butter Chicken, Rogan Josh, Vindaloo. Anything Indian, really.