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.

A basic raita recipe is made of salted yoghurt, chopped onion, coriander, mint and ground or whole cumin seeds. It has a salty, sour, savoury taste that is also cooling and refreshing. What is the difference between Raita and Tzatziki? Raita is an Indian yoghurt condiment whereas Tzatziki is a Greek yoghurt dip.

However if you can't find it then Greek yogurt is the best alternative. We would avoid adding coconut milk as it could make the raita a little too thin, though you could use the thick coconut cream from the top of a can of coconut milk.

Then, using your hands or a clean kitchen towel, squeeze out the excess water from the cucumber before adding it to the yoghurt. This will help prevent the raita from becoming too watery. 2. Use Thick Yogurt: For a creamy texture, it's best to use thick Greek yoghurt for your cucumber raita.

The English term for raita is mixed curd. Many foreign dishes are close to raita like curd salad, salad with curd seasoning and curd dip, but the preparation of these dishes is not even close to raita. Raita is often mixed with cucumber.

The cucumber version or raita is quite similar to tzatziki, a Greek yogurt sauce. To clarify, the big difference between the two condiments is spices and sweetness. Typically raita is spiced and often lightly sweetened by honey or fruit. The flavor is delicate, providing a mellowing counterpoint to spicy foods.

Can You Use Greek Yogurt Instead? Greek yogurt is more acidic and tarter than dahi. You can use it in place of dahi, but it can make the curry too sour. However, you can add a bit more sugar or spice to balance out the flavors if you want to use Greek yogurt.

Raita is a simple plain yogurt or curd-based sauce or dip, flavoured with vegetables or sometimes fruit. It's usually served as a cooling side dish with Indian food.

Sauces, salad dressings, sandwich spreads, dips, and any kind of deli-type salad like potato, egg, tuna, chicken, and pasta salads will all be great with mayo instead of yogurt. However, mayo is sweeter and fattier than yogurt, so you will need to adjust some of the other ingredients to balance out the taste.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Store leftover raita in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

Is cucumber raita healthy? ›

And, curd that you mix with cucumber has properties that balance cortisol production. Adding cucumber raita to your diet is great because this is a light and healthy food option that not only helps in digestion but light for your stomach and good for your cardiovascular health.

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.

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.)

Origins of Tzatziki

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!

The word “tzatziki” is a loanword from modern Greek that has come to define a very specific sauce in Greek American cuisine. It's a yogurt-based sauce that is often served as a dip, dressing, or entire side dish. However, what we know of as the tzatziki today went through a lot of evolution in many different cultures.

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.