This Indian Cucumber Salad, or Indian Koshimbir, is perfect for summer and requires almost no cooking. A refreshing combination of cucumbers and peanuts with a few additional spices complete this perfect summer salad!
What Is Indian Cucumber Salad?
Now this Indian Cucumber Salad, or Kakadi chi Koshimbir, you won't get outside of an Indian home--well, unless you make it, then you could have it in your home!
This Indian Cucumber Salad recipe has to be the best cucumber salad recipe (in my opinion). Cucumber, cilantro, peanuts, a few seasonings, and 10 minutes later you're ready to chow down. This dish is typically Maharashtrian, and it is something that I very much look forward to at mealtimes.
This Indian Cucumber Salad is the perfect dish for hot summer days where you want something simple and fresh. It's full of fresh, bright flavors that won't weigh you down or leave you feeling icky. Not to mention it's gluten free, vegetarian and vegan friendly!
Is This Cucumber Salad Recipe Easy?
I think calling it easy is an understatement.
The only thing that gets cooked at all is the dressing with hot oil and mustard seeds (or cumin seeds). If you want to mix up a few things, you could try mixing it with some Matki Ussal as the two go really well together.
This dish makes a great appetizer, a side to a full meal or even a quick lunch when you need something in a hurry.
How to Make Indian Cucumber Salad
- Chop up the cucumbers, cilantro, and peanuts into a very fine dice. I use my trusty Kuhn Rikon pull chop which I love and it works on all of these equally well.
- Place into a bowl and season with salt and sugar.
- In the smallest little heat proof bowl you have, heat the oil until it is hot and shimmering.
- Place the mustard and/or cumin seeds and allow them to sputter like popcorn about 30 seconds.
- Add in the turmeric and stir quickly.
- Pour this hot, flavored oil over the cucumbers and mix well.
- Squeeze lemon juice and mix once again and serve.
Can Cucumber Salad Be Made Ahead?
- This simple cucumber salad recipe tastes great the first day but it is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING the next day!
- You can sub 1/4 cup of lemon juice instead of yogurt if you prefer. This is good if you're planning to use it for a picnic or leave it out with no refrigeration for hours.
- Use this slap chopper for smashing up the peanuts.
- I like to use Red Spanish peanuts but if you can't find those, just use regular roasted peanuts.
- If you're not sure how to do the hot oil technique watch this video to see how I did it for the cabbage slaw.
Like Cucumber? Here Are Some More Great Dishes!
- This Sichuan Smashed Cucumber Salad borrows from a Xi'an sauce I once had. Cucumbers, garlic, and a secret chili ingredient was what I used to recreate this crisp, cool, tangy, spicy marvel!
- Tabouli Recipe with Hemp Hearts uses hemp hearts instead of bulgur for a delicious, vegetarian keto side dish. It's also has cucumber, cherry tomatoes, green onions and some seasonings making this a delightfully low carb dish.
- This easy, refreshing Korean Cucumber Salad is a wonderful vegan, keto Korean easy cucumber salad recipe that's ready to eat within 15 minutes. If you're looking for a delicious, spicy pickle recipe, this is the one.
- Tzatziki- a fresh sauce that is a perfect topping for my Gyro meat.
- Stuffed Cucumber Bites- a delicious Keto summer salad recipe.
This Indian Cucumber Salad is super simple, but don't let that lead you to believe that it isn't super delicious. Now go try it for yourself and find out! Let me know if you enjoyed it in the comments!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 (2 ) cucumbers, peeled
- 1/4 cup (4 g) Cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) Spanish peanuts, chopped
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon ) Kosher Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Sugar Or Other Sweetener Equivalent, Optional
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) Oil
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) Black Mustard Seeds, or sub cumin seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Turmeric
- 1 (1 ) Lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Chop up the cucumbers, cilantro, and peanuts into a very fine dice. I use my trusty Kuhn Rikon pull chop which I love and it works on all of these equally well.
- Place into a bowl and season with salt and sugar.
- In the smallest little heat proof bowl you have, heat the oil until it is hot and shimmering.
- Place the mustard and/or cumin seeds and allow them to sputter like popcorn about 30 seconds.
- Add in the turmeric and stir quickly.
- Pour this hot, flavored oil over the cucumbers and mix well.
- Squeeze lemon juice and mix once again and serve.
- This salad tastes great the first day but it is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING the next day!
- You can sub 1/4 cup of lemon juice instead of yogurt if you prefer. This is good if you're planning to use it for a picnic or leave it out with no refrigeration for hours.
- Use this slap chopper for smashing up the peanuts.
- I like to use Red Spanish peanuts but if you can't find those, just use regular roasted peanuts.
- If you're not sure how to do the hot oil technique watch this video to see how I did it for the cabbage slaw.
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Nutrition
Originally Published May 7, 2018
Want More Salad Recipes?
- Tomato Raita- a tangy and spicy greek yogurt salad.
- Big Mac Salad- Your favorite fast food flavors in a bowl.
- Beet Salad- A quick and easy Vegan Indian side dish.
Don't forget to check out my Instant Pot Fast & Easy Cookbook or my Instant Pot Vegetarian Cookbook for more delicious recipes!
Rain Dusome
I’m confused. The recipe says nothing about yogurt then later it says substitute yogurt for lemon juice if you want. Am I reading it wrong?
Julie
I had the same question.
Heather
We made this for dinner last night and my husband loved it so much he's sharing the recipe with all his foodie coworkers today. 🙂 Thank you!