Zoh Recipes · Yogurt
Cucumber, roasted jeera and plain yogurt make an easy side for pulao, khichdi or a roti-sabzi meal. This version keeps the seasoning simple and mixes the cucumber just before serving for a fresher crunch.
Ingredients · Method · Tips
Ingredients
- 300 g plain yogurt, chilled
- 150 g prepared cucumber, finely diced; weight after peeling if needed and removing a watery seed core
- 5 g fresh coriander leaves, washed, dried and finely chopped
- 1 g roasted cumin powder (bhuna jeera)
- 1 g fine salt
Make it in four steps
- Prepare the cucumber. Wash the cucumber before cutting. Peel if the skin is tough, and remove a very watery seed core. Finely dice, blot away surface moisture, then weigh 150 g of prepared cucumber.
- Smooth the yogurt. Whisk 300 g chilled plain yogurt gently until smooth. Stir in 1 g roasted cumin powder and 1 g salt.
- Fold in the vegetables. Add the prepared cucumber and 5 g chopped coriander. Fold gently so the cucumber stays distinct.
- Serve with your meal. Divide into four side portions and serve promptly. If preparing ahead, keep the cucumber and seasoned yogurt separately covered in the refrigerator and combine close to serving.
Make the texture work for you
No long draining step
This formulation uses prepared cucumber and a quick blot. It does not require salted cucumber to sit on the counter for hours.
If it turns watery
Use firmer yogurt next time and keep vegetable preparation consistent. Stirring in extra salt will not make a watery bowl thick.
Coriander or mint
For a separate flavour trial, replace the 5 g coriander with 3 g washed, dried, finely chopped mint.
Serve it with
Serve beside vegetable pulao, moong-dal khichdi or a dry sabzi and roti. Keep the raita bowl chilled until the meal is ready.
Questions before you make it
Do I need hung dahi?
No. Start with a spoonable plain yogurt. Straining is a separate texture choice, not a required step for this formulation.
Can I use the long cucumber sold overseas?
Yes; use the same prepared weight and assess its watery core. The name and size of the whole cucumber do not replace the weight.
Keep it fresh
Use clean utensils, safe drinking water and washed produce. Keep prepared portions covered and refrigerated; make a manageable amount for the meal. Adding fruit or vegetables does not reset the age of the yogurt.
If you plan to reculture, reserve plain yogurt before making this recipe. Do not use the finished flavoured dish as your next starter.
Choose your yogurt base
Use successfully set, chilled plain yogurt. Explore Zoh Greek yogurt starter or Zoh Bulgarian yogurt starter if you make your own. Follow the starter’s complete directions before using the finished yogurt here.
Flavour and texture guide
Choose the right consistency before adding fruit or vegetables.
Yogurt storage guide
Keep plain yogurt and prepared dishes correctly chilled.
More yogurt serving ideas · Help with a yogurt batch
Food handling reference: FSSAI clean, separate and chill guidance. Cover is an editorial illustration.