Vellarikka Pachadi | Kerala Cucumber Pachadi

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If you are looking for some different types of Raita Recipes, look no further. This recipe of Vellarikka Pachadi is going to be just the apt one for you. Also known as Cucumber Pachadi, this preparation is a Kerala style raita which is super simple, yet supremely delicious and quite nutritious too. This gluten free dish is made with cucumber, curd, coconut and some typical South Indian spices. It is mildly spiced and is also quite cooling for the body because of both the yogurt and cucumber in it. Give it a try!

vellarikka pachadi served in a bowl on a banana leaf with text layovers.

The taste is very different from the North Indian version of Cucumber raita and goes extremely well as a side dish with sambar-rice or parippu-rice.

Kichadi and pachadi recipes are made for the onam sadya. Veggies and fruits are used to make kichadi or pachadi. I usually make cucumber raita as a side dish to go with the meals at times, but preparing cucumber pachadi had a surprise element as far as the taste is concerned.

For the recipe method, I referred to some cookbooks I have and used the ingredients as per my own sense of proportions.

In this cucumber pachadi recipe, I have used regular cucumber, but you can even use the yellow cucumber (madras cucumber). Remove the seeds if using yellow cucumber.

The recipe of Vellarikka Pachadi is easy and quick one. Apart from the cucumber and curd, other ingredients too that go into making this dish are really basic and available in most of Indian home kitchens. So, whether a South Indian household or no, you will find it quite hassle-free to prepare this dish.

You can also refrigerate and then serve. Leftover cucumber pachadi can be refrigerated.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Vellarikka Pachadi

Preparing coconut-mustard seeds paste

1. In a grinder jar take ¼ cup coconut, ¼ teaspoon cumin seeds, ½ teaspoon mustard seeds and 1 green chili (chopped).

making cucumber pachadi recipe

2. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water and grind till smooth. Keep the coconut paste aside.

making cucumber pachadi recipe

Cooking cucumber

3. Rinse, peel and chop 1 medium to large cucumber. You will need 1 cup of chopped cucumber. Add the cucumber to a pan with ¼ cup water.

cucumber to make cucumber pachadi recipe

4. Keep the pan on stovetop and on a low-medium heat cook the cucumber for 5 to 6 minutes. Do stir at intervals.

cucumber to make cucumber pachadi recipe

5. Let most of the water evaporate from the pan. The cucumber will also have cooked taste.

cucumber to make cucumber pachadi recipe

Making cucumber pachadi

6. Then add the ground coconut paste.

making cucumber pachadi recipe

7. Add salt as per taste.

making cucumber pachadi recipe

8. Mix very well

making cucumber pachadi recipe

9.  And cook for 2 to 3 minutes on a low heat. Then keep the pan down and let this mixture cool down.

making cucumber pachadi recipe

10. Beat 1 cup curd with a spoon or wired whisk till smooth.

making cucumber pachadi recipe

11. Once the cucumber+coconut mixture has cooled down or become warm, then add the beaten curd.

making cucumber pachadi recipe

12. Mix very well.

making cucumber pachadi recipe

Tempering cucumber pachadi

13. Heat ½ tablespoon coconut oil in a tadka pan or a small frying pan. Add ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds.

making cucumber pachadi recipe

14. Let the mustard seeds crackle.

making cucumber pachadi recipe

15. Then add 1 dry red chili (halved and seeds removed) and 5 to 6 curry leaves.

making cucumber pachadi recipe

16. Fry for a few seconds till the curry leaves become crisp and the red chili changes color. Do not burn.

making cucumber pachadi recipe

17. Pour the tempering into the pachadi mixture.

making cucumber pachadi recipe

18. Mix very well.

cucumber pachadi recipe

19. Serve vellarikka pachadi as a side dish with sambar-rice or steamed rice. You can also refrigerate and then serve. Leftover cucumber pachadi can be refrigerated.

cucumber kichadi recipe


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vellarikka pachadi recipe, cucumber pachadi recipe

Vellarikka pachadi | Cucumber pachadi

Cucumber pachadi is a simple but very delicious Kerala style raita made with ground coconut & mustard seeds paste, fresh curd and cucumber. 
5 from 14 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Cuisine Kerala, South Indian
Course Side Dish
Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 4
Units

Ingredients

for grinding

  • ¼ cup grated fresh coconut
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 green chili, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons water or add as required

for cooking cucumber (vellarikka)

  • 1 medium to large cucumber or 1 cup chopped cucumber
  • ¼ cup water

other ingredients

  • ½ cup Curd – beaten
  • salt as required

for tempering vellarikka pachadi

  • ½ tablespoon coconut oil
  • ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 dry red chili
  • 5 to 6 curry leaves

Instructions
 

preparing coconut-mustard seeds paste

  • In a grinder jar take ¼ cup coconut, ¼ teaspoon cumin seeds, ½ teaspoon mustard seeds and 1 green chili (chopped).
  • Add 2 to 3 tablespoons water and grind till smooth. Keep the coconut paste aside.

cooking cucumber

  • Rinse, peel and chop 1 medium to large cucumber. You will need 1 cup of chopped cucumber. Add the cucumber in a pan with ¼ cup water.
  • Keep the pan on stove top and on a low-medium flame cook the cucumber for 5 to 6 minutes. Do stir at intervals.
  • Let most of the water evaporate from the pan. The cucumber will also have a cooked taste.

making vellarikka pachadi

  • Then add the ground coconut paste.
  • Add salt as per taste.
  • Mix very well and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on a low flame. Then keep the pan down and let this mixture cool down.
  • Beat 1 cup curd with a spoon or wired whisk till smooth.
  • Once the cucumber+coconut mixture has cooled down or become warm, then add the beaten curd.
  • Mix very well.

tempering vellarikka pachadi

  • Heat ½ tablespoon coconut oil in a tadka pan or a small frying pan.
  • Add ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds.
  • Let the mustard seeds crackle.
  • Then add 1 dry red chili (halved and seeds removed) and 5 to 6 curry leaves.
  • Fry for a few seconds till the curry leaves become crisp and the red chili changes color. Do not burn.
  • Pour the tempering in the pachadi mixture.
  • Mix very well.
  • Serve vellarikka pachadi as a side dish with sambar-rice or steamed rice. you can also refrigerate and then serve. Left over cucumber pachadi can be refrigerated.

Notes

  • Remove the seeds if using yellow cucumber.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Vellarikka pachadi | Cucumber pachadi
Amount Per Serving
Calories 72 Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 3mg1%
Sodium 347mg15%
Potassium 203mg6%
Carbohydrates 5g2%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 240IU5%
Vitamin C 44.9mg54%
Calcium 53mg5%
Iron 0.5mg3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This Vellarikka pachadi post from the archives, originally published in September 2017 has been updated and republished on January 2023.

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Meet Dassana

Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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