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

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$1.20 recipe / $0.20 serving

by Beth - Budget Bytes

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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.

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.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

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? ›

What's the Difference Between Raita and Tzatziki? Raita is made on the base of regular yogurt while tzatziki is made using Greek yogurt. Raita is thinner in consistency, while tzatziki has a dip-like thick texture. A raita will never have olive oil, while tzatziki is flavored with olive oil in certain recipes.

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.

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!

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.

What is the English name for raita? ›

'yogurt cucumber'), whereas in western regions of Nepal it is known as raito. Raita is also sometimes simply called dahi, or "sourmilk", after its main ingredient, particularly in South African Indian cuisine.

How do Indians eat raita? ›

Raita can be as simple as dressing up plain yogurt with salt and spices, or it can be loaded with herbs, fruits, raw or cooked vegetables, chickpeas, and even boiled potatoes. Raita can be thin and light—ideal alongside rice dishes and curries—or thick and chunky—perfect for scooping up with roti and naan.

How long does raita keep in the fridge? ›

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

What to eat with raita dip? ›

Serve a cooling raita dip as a side for barbecues and spicy curries. This Indian yogurt condiment can be flavoured with cucumber, mint, coriander and more.

What to pair with raita? ›

Raita is a yogurt-based gluten-free side dish served with Indian meals and is similar to Tzatziki, a Greek yogurt side dish. Cooling raita complements spicy Indian foods such as curries, vegetables, dals, and biryanis.

What is closest to Indian yogurt? ›

If you don't have access to traditional Indian or Greek yogurt, some alternatives include regular cow's milk yogurt, coconut yogurt, almond yogurt, soy yogurt, or goat's milk yogurt. Depending on the recipe, it is also possible to substitute other dairy products such as ricotta cheese or crème fraîche.

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

Marinating cucumbers can infuse them with a burst of flavour. Slice the cucumbers and place them in a bowl with a mixture of vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, and your choice of herbs and spices. Allow the cucumbers to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

What flavor compliments cucumber? ›

Spices: Cucumbers pair well with spices such as black pepper, cumin, and coriander. Fruits: Cucumbers pair well with fruits such as tomatoes, watermelon, and berries. Meats: Cucumbers pair well with meats such as chicken, salmon, and tuna. Seafood: Cucumbers pair well with seafood such as shrimp, crab, and oysters.

Are tzatziki and raita the same thing? ›

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.

Is raita similar to tzatziki 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.

What is the Indian sauce similar to tzatziki? ›

Indian raita is commonly made with dahi, a salted yogurt, and chopped cucumbers spiced with cumin or mustard seeds and fresh herbs. Variations abound, including those made with mango, tomato, or red onion in addition to or instead of the cucumber. Yogurt, however, is not optional.

What sauce is similar to tzatziki? ›

Tzatziki is a cucumber and yogurt-based sauce or dip commonly served in Greek cuisine. It's thought to have been inspired by a similar Indian sauce called raita. Our plant-based version is similarly cool and creamy, but made without the dairy!

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