recipe for cucumber idli

Come summer and cucumber recipes are very much in demand. Ingredients like yogurt, mint, lemons, raw mangoes add freshness and cooling to the summer months. While eating sliced cucumbers with a pinch of salt or chaat masala is a given, it is nice to incorporate this summer treat of a vegetable in more recipes. In most Indian homes, cucumber raita is a staple dish round the year, and even more so in the summers. Yogurt and cucumber are quite the culinary match. You must try the Maharashtrian Khamang Kakdi, which is my all time favourite and I hail this to be the mother of all cucumber salads. And this savoury Cucumber-Mint Lassi is my saviour every summer.

Like what you see here? Stay connected with me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

While the Spanish like to add cucumber to their Gazpachos, I love it in my green smoothies. Cucumbers cut into sticks and pickled in vinegar and spices, make a crunchy accompaniment to meals, or inside sandwiches.

Cucumber idlis are popular in Konkani cuisine. They are also added to dosas in Mangalorean and Udupi cuisine, which can be both sweet and savoury. These recipes use the Mangalorean Cucumber or Southekai.

These Cucumber and Chana Dal Idlis are my attempt to incorporate extra protein, fibre and vegetables in my kid’s lunch box. It makes a hearty summer lunch with a tall glass of chilled buttermilk.

For more such healthy recipes with nutrition tips, subscribe to SaffronTrail Kitchen on Youtube.

Health Benefits of Cucumber:

You may wonder if this salad filler has any health benefits at all! It does.

At just about 20 calories per 100 g and zero fats, this fruit is a calorie counter’s best friend. The crunch while biting into a cucumber also gives the feeling of having eaten something substantial. It is also one of the vegetables a diabetic can have with without worrying about his/her blood sugar. Cucumber pulp applied on the skin relieves swollen eyes and sunburn. Two compounds in cucumbers, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and caffeic acid, prevent water retention, which may explain why cucumbers applied on the skin help in relieving puffiness. It is also a natural diuretic, thereby reducing water retention.

Get the recipe of Cucumber and chana Dal Idli below: