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Persian Cucumber Salad

Serves 4 to 6 Salad vegetarian, Salads

Persian Cucumber Salad

Persian Cucumber Salad is a staple at home tables throughout Iran, capturing the essence of casual, comforting gatherings. Unlike elaborate dishes reserved for special occasions, this salad is a simple, everyday accompaniment, effortlessly prepared and savored across the country. It's the kind of dish where measurements are guided by intuition, with salt pinched to taste and yogurt spooned generously, reflecting the relaxed nature of family meals.

The salad offers a refreshing crunch from cucumbers, complemented by the creamy tang of yogurt and a whisper of garlic. Dill weaves through each bite, adding a hint of herbal brightness. This dish is meant to be shared, inviting everyone to partake in its cooling, vibrant simplicity, embodying the essence of home cooking.

Ingredients

  • 2cucumbers
  • 200 gyogurt
  • 1 clovegarlic
  • dill — chopped
  • to tastefine sea salt

Method

  1. Start by washing the 2 cucumbers thoroughly under cold running water to remove any dirt. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel. Slice the cucumbers into thin rounds, about 1/4 inch thick, and place them in a large mixing bowl. This thickness ensures they retain a slight crunch, which is key to the salad's texture.
  2. Peel the garlic clove and mince it finely. Add the minced garlic to the bowl with the cucumbers. The garlic will infuse the salad with its aromatic flavor, enhancing the overall taste.
  3. Add 200 g of yogurt to the bowl. Use a spoon to gently fold the yogurt into the cucumbers and garlic, ensuring each cucumber slice is coated evenly. The yogurt acts as a creamy dressing that balances the crispness of the cucumbers.
  4. Finely chop a handful of fresh dill and sprinkle it over the salad. The dill adds a fresh, herbaceous note that complements the yogurt and cucumbers beautifully.
  5. Season the salad with fine sea salt to taste. Start with a small pinch, mix, and taste, adjusting as needed. The salt should enhance the flavors without overpowering them.
  6. Gently toss the salad using two large spoons, lifting from the bottom to ensure the ingredients are well combined but the cucumber slices remain intact. This gentle handling preserves the salad's texture.
  7. Transfer the Persian Cucumber Salad to a serving dish. Serve immediately with fresh bread, allowing the flavors to be enjoyed at their peak freshness. The salad should be cool and refreshing, perfect for sharing at the table.
Cover of Authentic Persian Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Persian Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Persian Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Persian volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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