Kachumber Salad Recipe Whiskaffair

on Jan 13, 2021, Updated Aug 07, 2023 If you want more easy-peasy Indian salads like this Kachumber, then you can try these too: Old Fashioned Kidney Bean Salad, Sprouts Salad, and Kakdi Chi Koshimbir. Salad is not a concept in Indian cuisine. However, all meals are served with some chopped or grated fresh vegetables. In winter, when fresh carrots, beetroot, and radishes are in season, they are grated, mixed with lime juice, salt, and chaat masala powder, and served as a salad. When fresh vegetables are limited in summer, it’s mostly this kachumber. This is not even a recipe. Just chop the veggies and mix them with lime juice, salt, pepper powder, and a refreshing salad that gives the meal a nice crunch is ready in no time!

About Kachumber Salad

Kachumber (Kachoomer) is a healthy Indian Cucumber Onion Tomato Salad. Well, you must be thinking, what does Kachumber (Pronounced kutch-oom-ber) mean? Kachumber is a Hindi word often used for a simple mixture of two or more raw vegetables, and this simple chopped salad is made using cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes, hence the name. Kachumber can also be called Indian salsa, as it is similar to the all-time favorite Mexican Pico De Gallo or Tomato Salsa. The raw veggies give it a crunchy texture, and the lime and chilies give it a citrusy and spicy flavor. This crunchy salad is served at most Indian restaurants and for everyday meals in most Indian homes. Kachumber Salad Recipe is budget-friendly, no-cook, oil-free, vegan, and gluten-free. This crunchy and colorful dish comes together in just 10 minutes. It is excellent for your clean-eating menu, too. The best part about kachumber is that it is very customizable. Add the veggies you like and skip the ones you don’t.

Variations

Some people add ground cumin and red chili powder to their kachumber. You can try it too. You can replace red chili powder with cayenne pepper or sweet paprika. Try to use English cucumbers, as they are seedless and super crunchy. My second choice is Persian cucumbers, which are also seedless but less flavorful than their English cousins. If using regular cucumbers, peel them and remove the large seeds. Add more or less green chilies to your taste. You can use Indian green chilies, serrano, jalapeno, cayenne pepper, or Thai green chilies. Remove their seeds to reduce the heat. If red onions are very pungent, soak them in cold water for 10 minutes, drain, and use them in the Indian kachumber. You can also use white onions in place of red onions. Pomegranate – This is entirely optional! I like adding it for extra crunch and a hint of sweetness. Salt and Pepper – Season it with salt and black pepper powder. That’s it! If you like it tangier, add some Chaat Masala Powder and black salt (kala namak). Lime Juice – This provides the much-needed tang in the kachoomer. You can use fresh lemon juice in place of lime juice. Add fresh herbs like mint leaves, basil, parsley, and cilantro (coriander leaves). For a lovely crunch, add roasted peanuts or other nuts like almonds, walnuts, etc. Seeds like sunflower, toasted flax, or hemp seeds are also great for adding crunch. Bean and alfa sprouts also go very well in this healthy salad. To make the kachumber even more interesting, you can add finely chopped mixed bell peppers, shredded or sliced radish, shredded cabbage, corn, shredded beetroots, and boiled potatoes. Avocado is also a great addition. When green mangoes are in season, add some to give kachumber a nice tang and crunch. Gujaratis add chopped ripe mangoes to their Kachumber. It provides a lovely sweetness to this otherwise spicy and tangy kachumber. You can also use vinegar in place of lemon or lime juice. For a change in taste, try adding different varieties of vinegar. Cooked chickpeas or red kidney beans can also be added. They are rich in protein and will add to the health benefits. Add chopped boiled eggs or grilled shredded chicken to kachumber if you eat eggs and chicken.

1 cup chopped red onions 1 cup chopped tomatoes (seeds removed) 1 cup chopped cucumber (with or without skin) 1 teaspoon chopped green chilies 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro ½ cup pomegranate seeds ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder 2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

Mix everything properly using a spoon or with your clean hands. Check for salt and pepper and add more if needed. Serve immediately.