Easy cucumber raita recipe

This cucumber raita is a wonderful concoction to have in your refrigerator at any given time. That is to say, after you scoop up to your heart's content with your Erbology Crackers, you could enjoy over stews and soups.

Alternatively, use as a spread in sandwiches. Moreover, plate with some scrambled harissa tofu for a lovely brunch. Top roasted aubergine or roasted vegetables of your choice. Spoon over a baked sweet potato. Or add to a plate of raw crudites and salads for a light lunch or supper. We particularly enjoy the raisins in this raita recipe. Their pleasing chewiness and sweetness brings a voluptuous touch to the cooler ingredients. And sumac, garlic, mint, citrus... that combination will bring a spring to your step and a spark to your eye, all right.

Super sumac

It was only after becoming deeply infatuated with the vital flavour of sumac that we became aware of its stellar health benefits. That is to say, it is wonderful when strong, original taste hints at the capabilities of food to heal. Further, this does seem to be the case with many so-called superfoods. In Middle Eastern cooking, sumac is typically viewed in the same way as lemon zest, lemon juice, or vinegar. To clarify, sumac is as versatile and effective an ingredient as citrus juices. It is made from the sumac berry, which shares the same deep, rich colour as the ground powder. This spice is extremely high in antioxidants. In other words, it may help balance harmful free radicals which attack our cells, weakening our bodies.(1) There has also been extremely interesting research into how sumac may act on Type 2 diabetes. Researchers have suggested that ingesting sumac every day for three months can help prevent cardiovascular disease in people with this type of diabetes.(2)

Marvellous mint

Mint and sumac make for beautiful bedfellows. For example, they are paired often in Middle Eastern cuisine, especially in two typical and extremely delicious salads. To clarify, these would be the Arabic fattoush and the Iranian shirazi. And in this raita recipe! Although both bring a lively, refreshing quality, mint brings a sweet, gentle balance to the bold strength of sumac. That is not to say that mint is lacking in energetic benefits to health. A third of a cup of fresh spearmint leaves contains 12% of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) of Vitamin A; 9% of the RDI of iron; and 8% of the RDI of manganese.(3) To clarify, this recipe contains less than this amount and the nutritional qualities of fresh herbs slightly differs to that of dried herbs. However, garnishing your healthful dip with dried mint will do no ill favours to your health at all, and certainly not to your taste buds!