Cucumber Raita (Cucumber and yogurt salad)

- Serves 6

This cool, creamy condiment is a must on the dinner table in Indian homes. Whole-milk yogurt soothes the palate and is great served with spicy curries and alongside our fabulous Chicken Tikka Biryani.

Ingredients for Cucumber Raita

2 large Japanese cucumbers, peeled, deseeded and chopped into cubes
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
500g natural unsweetened yoghurt
2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves
2 tablespoons chopped mint leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon cumin powder

Recipes

Mix all the above ingredients and stir well. Serve chilled.

NOTE: Freshly ground cumin powder makes all the difference in this recipe. You can make fresh cumin powder by toasting a tablespoon of cumin seeds in a small frying pan for a few minutes until brown and fragrant, then grinding seeds to a fine powder either in a mill or in a mortar and pestle.