A fresh, authentic Indian vegan Raita made with cucumbers and vegan yogurt. This is the perfect accompaniment for spicy dishes like biryanis and parathas. It is soy-free and gluten-free.
Here's a delicious accompaniment for vegetable biryani that's on our menu almost every week: a fresh, green, and traditional vegan Cucumber Raita that will blow your mind.
I make this raita with my delicious homemade cashew yogurt. It's probiotic and so economical to make. If you have an Instant Pot, you can make a foolproof Instant Pot yogurt that comes out perfect each time.
The role of raita on an Indian food plate is a bit of an oxymoron: on the one hand its mild, creamy, clean flavor brings out and highlights the spicy notes of foods like biryanis, parathas and curries. On the other hand, its gentle flavors provide a great counterpoint to all that spiciness.
But you don't need to save this recipe just for those times you cook Indian food. It can be a great dip for spicy chips, or a wonderful drizzle for vegan sweet potato skins. The yogurt base can be a great salad dressing: in fact, it rather is one, because a raita is just a very overdressed salad.
The raita you are most likely to encounter on Indian restaurant menus is a cucumber raita, although in my childhood home, the one my parents most often made was a version with finely chopped tomatoes and raw onions, like this kachumber. I sometimes throw zucchini into my vegan raita, or grated green peppers, and sometimes I add boondi, savory golden beads of chickpea flour.
More yogurt based recipes
Recipe card
Vegan Cucumber Raita
Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber (grated. Use an English cucumber preferably)
- ½ red onion (minced, optional)
- ¾ cup vegan yogurt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 green chili pepper (like jalapeno or serrano. Remove the seeds for less heat).
- ½ teaspoon ginger (grated)
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Whisk the yogurt with cumin, green chili peppers and ginger.
- Stir in the grated cucumber and onion, if using. Add salt to taste.
Nutrition Information
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Penny says
Made this with your biryani (also delicious) and we loved it.
Vaishali says
Yay! It's the perfect combo. So happy you made them!
Ida says
Absolutely delish!! Great accompaniment to a spicy Indian dish! Thank you, Vaishali, for yet another fabulous recipe!