Kheera ka Raita (Cucumber-Tomato Yogurt)

Name: Kheera ka Raita (Cucumber-Tomato Yogurt)
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: makes 2 Cups
Ingredients: 1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and coarsely shredded; 1 ⁄ 2 small yellow onion, roughly chopped; 2 tsp. kosher salt; 1 tsp. cumin seeds; 1 1 ⁄ 2 cups plain, full fat yogurt; 1 ⁄ 2 cup minced mint; 2 small green Indian chiles, or 1 serrano, stemmed and minced; 1 large plum tomato, minced

Serves
makes 2 Cups

INGALLS PHOTOGRAPHY

Adapted from a recipe in Foods of the World: The Cooking of India (Time, Inc., 1969), this basic raita is a cooling counterpoint to fiery foods, thanks to its foundation of full-fat yogurt, cucumber, and mint. Plum tomatoes add a hint of acid, Thai chiles heat, and cumin a slight earthiness. This recipe first appeared in our August/September 2014 special India issue with Mari Uyehara's story Supporting Cast.

Ingredients

1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and coarsely shredded
¹⁄₂ small yellow onion, roughly chopped
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. cumin seeds
1 ¹⁄₂ cups plain, full fat yogurt
¹⁄₂ cup minced mint
2 small green Indian chiles, or 1 serrano, stemmed and minced
1 large plum tomato, minced

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Instructions

Step 1

Toss cucumber, onion, and salt in a colander set over bowl; let drain 5–10 minutes, then squeeze dry. Heat an 8" skillet over medium-high; cook cumin until seeds pop, 1–2 minutes; grind in a spice grinder into a powder. Whisk yogurt and reserved cumin in a bowl until smooth. Stir in reserved cucumber mixture, the mint, chiles, and tomato. Chill up to 4 days.

Toss cucumber, onion, and salt in a colander set over bowl; let drain 5–10 minutes, then squeeze dry. Heat an 8" skillet over medium-high; cook cumin until seeds pop, 1–2 minutes; grind in a spice grinder into a powder. Whisk yogurt and reserved cumin in a bowl until smooth. Stir in reserved cucumber mixture, the mint, chiles, and tomato. Chill up to 4 days.