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Kachumber Salad is a fresh, simple, and healthy Indian salad made from a mixture of fresh vegetables, herbs, and spices.
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It perfectly goes with numerous dishes and one gets to accompany foods like biryani and curries or even grilled meats this is the favourite accompaniment many at the Indian table love so much because of the burst of spices mixed with the fresh cool greens of vegetables and seasoned with juices of lemon.
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Here is how to make this delicious salad step by step.
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Let's start by preparing the vegetables.
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Very finely chop 1/2 a cup of onions, which is almost one small or medium onion, and make sure the pieces are uniform.
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Onions give that fabulous crunch and a raw taste that is sharp for the salad.
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So if you want a more gentle taste in your salad then soak the chopped onions in water for several minutes before using.
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Then chop 1/2 cup of tomatoes or one medium-sized tomato.
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Tomatoes are juicy and tangy, and balance the pungency of onions in the salad.
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Choose a fairly ripe yet firm tomatoes, as soft tomatoes can make the salad soggy.
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The second most crucial ingredient is 1/2 cup of cucumber, peeled and cut.
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The cucumbers bring a cooling refreshing feel to the salad, especially on long hot days of summer.
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Besides this, they will add a nice crunch to it, thereby complementing the other vegetables.
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You can use either the English variety of cucumber or the regular Indian version -provided that you peel them for the right texture.
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Finally, use some fresh herbs that would complement this flavoursome salad.
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Chop 1 tablespoon of fresh mint leaves and ¼ cup of coriander leaves, also known as cilantro.
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Mint adds a kind of refreshingly sweet taste while coriander adds some citrus with herbaceous notes.
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The herbs add freshness and fragrance to the salad.
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For an added kick of heat, throw in 1/2 to 1 teaspoon chopped green chillies or serrano peppers, if you like.
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If you don't like the heat or want less of it, you can decrease or omit the chillies. It is just really a lovely heat that contrasts well with cooling vegetables and herbs. It is time now to add seasoning to the salad.
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Add ¼ teaspoon of red chilli powder or cayenne pepper according to your preference for heat.
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It will give the salad a mild kick of heat while improving flavour.
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Sprinkle 1/2 Tsp of roasted cumin powder over the salad. It adds a hot, earthy flavour with a subtle smokiness, bringing the flavours into good harmony.
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To bring out all the flavours, squeeze in 1 to 2 Tsp of fresh lemon juice (adjust to taste).
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Lemon juice gives a bright, tangy flavour that just complements spices and vegetables amazingly well.
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You can serve this salad with 2 to 3 lemon wedges on the side and so have those who eat it squeeze the additional amount of juice that they want.
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Season with salt to taste, using only as much as you'd like, and then periodically use black salt or rock salt to add a distinctive flavour, though regular salt would work, too.
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Once all the ingredients are mixed, mix the salad gently until everything is well combined.
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Ensure you do not overmix it; you want to keep intact the texture of the vegetables.
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For a zing of freshness, garnish the salad with 4 to 5 sprigs of fresh mint leaves before serving.
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The best thing about Kachumber Salad is that is most enjoyed fresh; thus, served immediately. It's an extremely versatile dish, excellent to go with Indian meals, grill the kebabs over any main dish, or just for a light and healthy treat. Then there's the crunch of the vegetables, the tartness of the lemon, and the aromatic spices all coming together in each little bite as refreshing and flavourful.