Indian Kachumber Salad - Tomato, Cucumber, Onion Salad is a refreshing salad that is quick to make. This everyday indian salad is served in indian homes and indian restaurants all over the world, alongside many Indian curries and everyday meals such as Biryani. It makes a great side!
This salad is fresh, cooling, crunchy and consists of cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, cumin and sometime chilli too. What's more? This great salad can be easily adapted and it is an oil-free salad.
Indian Kachumber Salad - Tomato, Cucumber, Onion Salad
Today's recipe is a simple one for a refreshing indian salad.
It is the perfect side dish and one of my favourite salad recipes.
Kachumber salad pairs well with many dishes and makes a great accompaniment to indian-style meals.
What is Kachumber?
Indian Kachumber Salad is a traditional indian salad. It is a simple chopped salad that is part of Indian cuisine.
This classic indian salad recipe is served alongside indian food such as Lamb Karahi or Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani.
It has become more popular recently after Dishoom shared their recipe via their book and online.
It consists of fresh chopped salad ingredients such as cucumber, tomatoes and onions.
It sometimes includes chilli and well as other ground spices and lemon juice.
It is served alongside most Indian meals and can also be added to wraps, tacos or eaten alongside most main meals.
Kachumber Salad is also delicious served with papadums and dips and is often served that way in restaurants.
My version is made up of diced cucumber, tomato, red onions, green chilli, mint, coriander and has a dressing of salt, pepper, lemon and cumin.
That being said, this is a recipe that you can chop and change as you like.
It can be made with Yoghurt too. Here is an Onion Raita I make often.
Kachumber is similar to some well known Mediterranean and Middle Eastern such as Shirazi Salador pico de gallo.
What is the meaning of Kachumber?
Kachumber means a salad in Indian cooking - made up of chopped onion, tomatoes, cucumbers and sometimes other vegetables.
Typically this crunchy salad is seasoned with chilli and coriander and is served as a side to a a main meal such as Biryani.
Ingredients in Kachumber Recipe
Here are the few simple ingredients that you need for this Indian Cucumber Salad and possible substitutions:
Tomatoes
Ripe Tomatoes that are a little firm but yielding slightly to the touch and fragrant.
You can use baby plum tomatoes, grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes instead.
English Cucumbers
Any regular cucumbers that are firm and smooth-skinned will work best.
They must be crunchy cucumbers though!
You can also use persian cucumbers.
Red onions
Choose firm and smooth looking onions.
Top Tip: if you find that they are too acrid for you, soak/run under water for a bit. You can also use Spring Onions.
Salt
I use Himalayan Pink Salt but any fine Salt will do.
Pinch of Caster Sugar
This is optional and added only if needed. You can also use Granulated Sugar.
Cumin Powder
Ground Cumin adds a warmth. You can use roasted Cumin Seeds instead or leave it out.
Fresh Lemon Juice
You can also use Lime Juice.
Mint Leaves
A few chopped leaves add a freshness. You can use dry mint instead.
Fresh Coriander Leaves/Fresh Cilantro
1 tablespoon of chopped leaves adds a citrus flavour. You can skip this if you prefer.
Green Chilies/Serrano Pepper
This is an optional add in. You can add ½ teaspoon Red Chilli Powder instead or even Cayenne Pepper.
How to make Kachumber Salad - Tomato, Cucumber, Red Onion Salad
This is a easy salad recipe that is quick to make. Just make sure to wash the fresh raw vegetables in cold water before you make a start.
Full recipe details can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.Here is what you need to do:
Gather your ingredinets.
Cut tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions into small pieces and add to a bowl.
Add Salt, black pepper, finely sliced Mint, chopped Coriander/chopped Cilantro and Green Chilli.
The salad dressing is made up of Lemon Juice, Cumin and Sugar. Toss the chopped vegetables with them.
Top Tips for making Kachumber Salad
Serve fresh
This salad is best served fresh as it is full of fresh raw veggies that release water but it does keep well in the fridge in a covered bowl/airtight container for 2 days.
Tomato Liquid
For this Tomato Salad, you can remove some of the liquid from the tomatoes and onions by putting into a colander with a sprinkling of salt and setting aside for 10 minutes.
Onion Taste
You can wash the onions in a colander for 30 seconds to remove some of the acrid taste if it is too strong for you.
Slice finely
Slice ingredients finely to get the best flavour.
FAQS for Kachumber Salad Recipe
How do you keep cucumber salad/kachumber from getting soggy?
The best way to stop the salad from getting soggy is to pre salt the cucumbers and tomatoes.
This draws out the moisture beforehand and you can drain them before adding them to the salad.
However Kachumber is usually served immediately so I skip this step.
How to pronounce Kachumber Salad?
There are 2 ways to say Kachumber.
It can be pronounced Kach-u-mar. Without the B.
Or Kach-um-bar.
Can you make Kachumber without Tomatoes or Onions?
Kachumber is very adaptable.
I have added some suggestions below. For it to be a true Kachumber though, it does need at least one or the other - Tomatoes or Cucumber.
What goes in this healthy Kachumber Salad?
Cucumber, Tomatoes, Coriander, Red Onion, Mint, Cumin, Lemon and Salt.
You can also add Cumin, Chilli and a pinch of Caster Sugar.
How long does Kachumber last in the fridge?
Kachumber Salad lasts 3 days in the fridge in a covered container.
It is best eaten fresh though.
You can prep it ahead of time by chopping the vegetables in advance and adding the remaining ingredients just before serving.
Recipe Variations
This is an easy recipe that is endlessly adaptable and is a great way to use up salad ingredients. Here is what you can add to Kachumber Salad:
Grated Carrots
Mango
Sliced Radish
Pomegranate
Cubed and Peeled Apple
Chopped Nuts
Chickpeas
Sliced Cabbage
Cubed Avocado
Sweetcorn Kernels
Pinch of Kala Namak/Black Salt
Diced Green/Red/Yellow Peppers (Bell Peppers)
Add a pinch of Black Pepper Powder
A pinch of Garam Masala
Mixed Toasted seeds like Sunflower Seeds for extra crunch!
Add Fresh Herbs such as Parsley
To the Kachumber Dressing, you can add:
Vinegar or Lime Juice in place of Lemon Juice
Plain Yogurt
Chaat Masala
Toasted Cumin Seeds
How to serve Kachumber Salad
This gorgeously vibrant salad makes the perfect accompaniment to any Indian dish/indian meal.
I love to scoop it up with tortilla chips or mini papodums.
Youy can also try it with these everyday indian meals:
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Indian Kachumber Salad - Tomato, Cucumber, Onion Salad
Ingredients
- ½ large Cucumber Diced
- 3 Tomatoes Diced - Cherry, Plum or Normal (150g)
- ½ Red Onion Sliced Finely
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- Pinch Black Pepper Optional
- 1 tablespoon Mint Leaves Sliced Finely
- 1 tablespoon Coriander Leaves Sliced Finely
- 1 Green Chilli Sliced Finely, Optional
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- ¼ teaspoon Cumin Powder
- Pinch Sugar Optional
Instructions
- Combine cucumbers, tomatoes and red onions in a bowl.
- Season with Salt and Black Pepper.
- Add Mint, Coriander and Green Chilli.
- Add lemon juice, cumin and sugar if using. Toss to combine.
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