• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Recipe52.com

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Browse Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Browse Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
×

Home » Recipes » Salad & Chutney

Posted by Mariam Sodawater on Feb 25, 2020 (Updated Oct 17, 2022)

Kachumber (Pakistani Biryani Salad )

Jump to Recipe
5 from 1 vote

This post may contain affiliate links.

kachumber salad pin it image
kachumber served in a plate with cucumber flower and beetroot semi circle decorating the plate.

Kachumber Salad is a crunchy, juicy fresh salad that is part of South Asian Cuisine (Indian, Pakistani). It pairs easily with a variety of curries, biryani, pulao, grilled tandoori chicken, Chicken Karahi and so on.

Jump to:
  • What to serve with Biryani and Pulao?
  • How to make it?
  • Tips
  • 📖 Recipe

Kachumber is South Asian fresh salad made with onion, cucumber, tomato, and basic lemon and pepper dressing. It is also called Indian Cucumber salad.

What to serve with Biryani and Pulao?

The kachumber salad is the best salad to match with any biryani or pulao. This recipe is using lemon-based dressing. However, instead of lemon, you can add ¾ cup yogurt and 1 teaspoon sugar too. This addition also tastes delicious. This chilled yogurt kachumber (AKA Kachumbar raita) is a refreshing summer salad served with dal and chawal, biryani or pulao.

You can also serve a separate zeera or cumin raita or mint raita to go with this salad.

How to make it?

Ingredient to make salad.

Mix all vegetables and lemon juice in a bowl. ( I'm using more onions here as Indians love onions in a salad. But you can reduce onions and add more tomato and cucumber. Similarly, raw tomato is not a favorite with many so I'm adding less of it.)

Steps to make Kachumber.


Add salt and pepper right before serving as salt will make the vegetable release all the water making it soggy. Store salad covered in a fridge. Serve chilled.

Kachumber salad served in a plate.

Tips

  • For any fresh salad always use the freshest veggies available to you.
  • Add chopped green chilies to the salad only if like a spicy salad. If you don't just add pepper which is good enough.
  • Deep purple onions are more pungent in flavor than light purple ones. So try to use light purple onions in a salad.
  • To reduce the pungent flavor of onions, you can wash onion slices with cold water. Put onion slices in a strainer to remove any excess water.
  • Serve chilled for extra crunch.
  • You can also prepare kachumber 2-3 hours ahead. Store it in the fridge in an airtight container (onions can make other food in the fridge smell like onions). Just add salt in the end as it will make the salad release its water content making it soggy.
  • You can also add mint leaves to this salad.
  • Pair kachumber salad along with other veggies for more health benefits. Like I have added cooked beetroot in the plate on the sides. So it doesn't meddle with the actual flavor of salad and you enjoy fresh veggies on the side.
  • If you wish to turn kachumber salad into a summer salad bowl, add 1 less onion and 1 extra cucumber. Also, add about ½ to ¾ cup whipped yogurt and 1 teaspoon sugar. Mix all together and enjoy this salad alone or pair with almost any Indian or Mediterranean food.

Hungry for more salad? Check these

  • Tang Fruit Salad
  • Spinach Corn Salad
  • Cucumber Yogurt Salad
  • Corn Pasta Salad

If you try this recipe, I'd LOVE to hear your feedback in the comments. Your 5-ratings motivate me to do my best. Stay connected for more recipes and videos on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube.

📖 Recipe

kachumber served in a plate with cucumber flower and beetroot semi circle decorating the plate.

Kachumber (Pakistani Biryani Salad )

Kachumbar has endless possibilities of variations. I have shared the basic and best version of this salad in the recipe card. Do check notes for more suggestions.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep: 8 minutes minutes
Cook: 0 minutes minutes
Total Time: 8 minutes minutes
Servings : 4 servings
Calories: 36kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 medium onions, finely sliced or chopped
  • 1   medium cucumber, chopped
  • 1   medium tomato, chopped
  • ½   medium green chili, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoon chopped coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  • In a large bowl mix all ingredients except salt and pepper.
  • Add salt and pepper just before serving, so the salad stays fresh and crunchy.

Notes

More optional veggies: (any these veggies can be served on the side of salad.)
Radish, sliced or chopped
Turnip, sliced or cut in julliene
Beetroot, sliced or cut in julienne
Carrot, sliced or cut in julienne
More optional seasoning: 
cumin powder
chat masala
kala namak
Kachumber salad with yogurt:
Just add ¾ cup yogurt along with seasoning before serving.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.5cup ,Calories: 36kcal ,Carbohydrates: 8g ,Protein: 1g ,Fat: 1g ,Saturated Fat: 1g ,Sodium: 169mg ,Potassium: 228mg ,Fiber: 2g ,Sugar: 4g ,Vitamin A: 308IU ,Vitamin C: 12mg ,Calcium: 24mg ,Iron: 1mg
Author : Mariam Sodawater

Latest

  • Homemade Tomato Ketchup from Fresh Tomatoes
  • Green Chutney
  • Tomato Jam Recipe
  • Aloo Chana Chaat recipe
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Reader Interactions

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave A comment and Rate this recipe Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

If you enjoy this recipe, please consider leaving a star rating along with your comment. Not only your reviews motivate me to do my best, but they also help others find me online. Thank you! Mariam




Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Mariam Sodawater, a passionate home chef dedicated to sharing authentic South Asian taste with simple recipes and easy-to-find ingredients. My motto is EASY, HEALTHY, and FRUGAL food. Home cooking can be fun and therapeutic!

About Mariam

Holiday Favorites

  • Kaleji Masala | Liver Fry recipe
  • Spicy Mongolian Beef
  • Dum Ka Keema
  • Chapli Kabab Recipe
  • Nihari Recipe
  • Haleem Recipe
  • Mutton Leg Roast (Raan)
  • Karahi Gosht

Fall Recipes

  • Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream (with Condensed Milk)
  • Mango Delight Recipe
  • Green Chutney
  • Peach Juice
  • Cherry Jam (without Pectin)
  • Plum Jam Without Pectin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Footer

Desi Cooking Tips
Cook like a pro, understand you ingredients.
Featured Image
We never share your information with third parties and will protect it in accordance with our Privacy Policy

Browse

Recipe IndexNewsletter
About MeAccessibility
ContactPrivacy Policy
© 2025 RECIPE 52

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.