Easy Yogurt Herb Raita (Best Samosa Sauce Recipe!)

Name: Easy Yogurt Herb Raita (Best Samosa Sauce Recipe!)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1 cup Greek yogurt; 1/2 cup English cucumber, diced or grated; 1 large garlic clove, grated; 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, diced; 6-8 fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced; Juice of 1/2 lime; 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon salt

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Yogurt raita is a staple of Indian cuisine. This easy yogurt herba raita samosa sauce recipe with cucumbers is a classic flavor combination, perfect to serve as a samosa sauce, as a topping for your favorite curry-based Indian food, or as a dip for naan or pita chips.

bowl of yogurt herb raita garnished with mint with baked samosas surrounding it

Samosa sauce recipes come in a variety of textures and flavors, from sweet tamarind chutney, green chutney (like coriander chutney), tomato chutney (also known as red chutney) and yogurt dips. My favorite dip for a crispy samosa, especially for my favorite Shrimp & Potato Samosas, is a creamy and refreshing yogurt sauce. Raita is the perfect cooling sauce for spicy Indian food, adding refreshing flavor to the deep, warm spices we love.

This sauce is ridiculously simple to make and offers many options for personalizing the flavor. It’s beautiful served in a bowl topped with fresh herbs and a drizzle of oil, and it will be the first dip to disappear at your next party!

I’m currently obsessed with topping my Indian Salmon with this rich and refreshing sauce. The warm Indian spices in the salmon are the perfect compliment to the cool, tangy dipping sauce. This sauce is a great addition to your repertoire of flavor-boosting condiments. Try it! I know you’ll love it.

Ingredients for Yogurt Samosa Dipping Sauce:

ingredients for cucumber herb raita on a table

Yogurt: I prefer Greek yogurt in this raita recipe, and with the juicy shredded cucumbers, it’s the perfect consistency.

Fresh cucumber: English cucumbers are perfect here. If using regular cucumbers, remove the watery seeds before dicing or grating.

Fresh garlic: fresh cloves are always best!

Cilantro: the perfect fresh flavor to compliment your cucumber and yogurt. Substitute chives or Italian parsley, if needed.

Mint: adds perfect complexity to the sauce.

Lime juice: substitute lemon juice, if needed.

Ground cumin: adds deep flavor and a touch of smokiness from the ground cumin seeds.

Salt: everything’s better with a touch of salt.

Full measurements and directions included in the printable recipe card below.

Step by Step instructions for Herb Yogurt Samosa Sauce Recipe:

To begin, dice or grate cucumber into your medium bowl of yogurt. If using regular yogurt (not the thicker Greek-style yogurt), take a few extra minutes to leave your cucumbers in a sieve and let them drain while you assemble the other ingredients. If using thick yogurt, I find the cucumber juice creates the perfect texture, so no need to drain.

shredded cucumber in a bowl of Greek yogurt

Add the fresh grated garlic clove, diced cilantro and mint, lime juice and cumin to the yogurt. Stir to combine. If you drained your cucumbers in a sieve, use the back of a wooden spoon to gently press on the cucumbers to extract any excess moisture. Add cucumbers to raita.

spices and herbs on a board next to the raita

squeezing lime into the bowl of raita ingredients

Taste and adjust seasoning. Keep in mind the garlic flavor will build a bit with time, but adjust lime, cumin and salt to your taste. If serving within 30 minutes, leave the sauce at room temperature. When ready to serve, top raita with a drizzle of olive oil and an additional sprinkle of fresh herbs.

Perfect as a dipping sauce for Easy Baked Indian Samosa Recipe or Indian Spiced Salmon, or even as a salad dressing or charcuterie board sauce.

FAQ’s and Serving Suggestions

Can I make this creamy samosa sauce recipe spicy?

Yogurt based raita is one of the most popular sauces to serve with Indian cuisine (including Shrimp and Vegetable Samosa, chicken samosas, tandoori chicken and Spiced Salmon) particularly because the refreshing sauce has a cooling effect on richly spiced foods. So as a rule, I don’t recommend making your cooling sauce very spicy. But if you’re serving it with a simple meal that needs a little extra kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper, or a tablespoon of finely diced green chiles to the sauce for a unique taste and texture.

What are the best samosas to serve with this samosa sauce recipe?

I’m partial to my Baked Shrimp Samosas! The spicy filling and shatteringly crisp shell of the spring roll sheets are even more delicious with the addition of the creamy raita full of fresh ingredients. But store-bought samosas today can be delicious and a quick solution when you need a samosa fix. You can also make your own samosas using wonton wrappers or flour tortillas! So many great options.

What can I substitute in place of fresh mint?

The recipe only calls for a few leaves worth of mint – it can be a strong flavor and I’m careful to keep it balanced in this recipe. It adds the loveliest flavor and cooling sensation to the yogurt sauce. if you’re sure it’s not for you, skip the mint and add a bit more cilantro or diced chives.

To store, move yogurt raita samosa sauce to an airtight container or glass jar, or cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Looking for more delicious sauce recipes? Try these next time!

Parmesan Cream Sauce

Pineapple BBQ Sauce

Chuy’s Jalapeno Ranch

Taco Truck Green Sauce