Cachoombar

I first tasted this simple chopped salad in Varanasi. It was very refreshing in the heat. Cachoombar is one version of a salad that is found all the way from the Mediterranean through West and Central Asia, combining ripe tomatoes and crisp cucumber. But while it’s simple and straightforward to prepare, what it brings to a meal is hugely important. Flavors in the Subcontinent are often complex and intense; when a highly spiced curry or marinated grilled meat is served, it’s a fresh s