Cold Yogurt Cucumber Soup – Tarator
This cold yogurt cucumber soup – Tarator is light, fresh and delicious. Perfect for summer. Healthy, easy to make and delicious.
Cold Cucumber Yogurt Soup
You can probably tell by the name that this is another Eastern European recipe I’m sharing with you today.
I’m always a little hesitant to share Bulgarian recipes on the blog, because I’m pretty sure some people will not like them.
But I kind of felt like this is a good one, especially now, when weather is warming up and most of us are trying to get in shape for summer.
It is very light and refreshing, made with just a few ingredients, you most likely have on hand.
What I also like about this soup is that it is perfect for low calorie diet.
It contains just a little bit of olive oil, which is optional, cucumbers have almost no calories and yogurt is a great source of calcium and probiotic.
The fresh dill flavor it the perfect addition to this dish.
Tarator
Tarator is traditional Bulgarian cold soup. Or, almost a soup!
It is basically a dish made with plain yogurt, fresh cucumbers, dill, garlic and water.
It is a no cook soup, very simple to make.
It is usually served as first course, but I also like it as a snack.
Some recipes call for chopped nuts, like walnuts.
I personally prefer the soup without nuts.
Plus a side note: – I’ve been very careful with walnuts lately, because of my dog.
He got an allergy after consuming a piece of walnut, which he found on the floor. Anyway, nuts aren’t good for dogs…
So I try to keep him away from the kitchen, when cooking with nuts or I simply skip them at times.
I also prefer to dice the cucumbers, but you might find recipes for grated cucumbers.
I’m not a huge fan of grating vegetables, I feel like dishes with nicely chopped vegetables look more classy…
Some people might find it similar to Greek Tzatziki.
Yeah, a lot of recipes from the region contain yogurt, cucumbers and dill, so you’ll definitely find a Greek version of this dish.
Each place (region/country) has its own way of making it and of course their own name.
Today I’m sharing my personal favorite way of making it.
Feel free to add your own personal touch, if you get to try it.
This is not a strict recipe, so I hope no one gets upset.
If for some reason I’m not making this dish the right way.
Cold Cucumber Yogurt Soup Tarator
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Cold Yogurt Cucumber Soup - Tarator
Ingredients
- 1 large English cucumber — (peeled and finely diced)
- 1 garlic clove — , pressed
- 1/2 tsp salt — (or more to taste)
- 2 Tbsp olive or sunflower oil — (optional)
- 2-3 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
- 2 cups plain Greek yogurt — (I use Greek yogurt, which is a lot easier to find in the US, than Bulgarian)
- 2 cups cold water
- 2 Tbsp chopped walnuts — (optional, I prefer not to add them)
Instructions
-
In a large deep bowl combine cucumber, garlic, salt, oil and dill.
-
Add yogurt and stir to combine. Dilute with cold water, mixing well, making sure there are no lumps from the yogurt. Add more salt if needed. Top with chopped walnuts (optional)
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Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, this way the soup is even more refreshing.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 163, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 328mg, Potassium: 265mg, Carbohydrates: 6g, Sugar: 4g, Protein: 11g, Vitamin A: 70%, Vitamin C: 2.6%, Calcium: 125%, Iron: 0.4%
What a gorgeous soup, Mira! This looks so creamy and delicious. I love the idea of a cold soup! I’ve never tried one like this before but I love the looks of it. Pinned!
Thanks Gayle!
I remember eating a cold soup at my MIL’s house. It was a cold soup called “Okroshka”. This one looks very simple and refreshing.
Thanks girl!
Mira, I say share ALL the Bulgarian recipes you have!!! I personally love learning about different cultures and foods and recipes .. you know what? I don’t know any other food blog out there sharing Bulgarian recipes! And cold-yogurt-cucumber-soup?!! Yes, please! love this!
So glad you like them Alice!
I think this is definitely a great soup recipe to post, especially now that it’s starting to warm up! This looks so refreshing and delicious too.
Glad you like it Danielle!
I love cold soups especially this time of year when it’s starting to get nice and warm outside! This looks so smooth and refreshing, Mira! Can’t get enough cucumber!
Thanks girl!
This soup must be so cooling and refreshing, perfect for warm days.
Thanks Janette!
I would eat this soup in a heartbeat. It’s delicious. Since I grew up eating Eastern European dishes a lot I can relate to being hesitant about sharing some of them although I feel they should be shared. There are so many delicious ones, its a shame not to.
Thanks Kathy! Totally agree, some of them should be shared, and this is one of the easiest!!!
Oh Mira, please, please, please… I would LOVE to see more Bulgarian recipes! I love cucumber soup, especially in the summer – it’s so light and refreshing! Perfect!
Thanks Kathleen! Will be posting some more Bulgarian recipes 🙂
I love this soup, Mira. Beautiful refreshing flavours! This is my idea of perfect summer food! 😀
This soup looks so refreshing!! It looks like the yogurt dip I make for my Pakistani hubby. It’s called raita. I love that its a cold soup so when it’s 115 outside this will definitely cool you down. Gorgeous photos too Mira! Pinned!!
Oh wow! What an incredible looking refreshing and delicious soup. Perfect summer treat! 😀
I love that you are sharing Bulgarian recipes and would love to see more! Cold yogurt cucumber soup sounds incredibly refreshing and delicious especially during the warmer months! Simply gorgeous!
I’d love to see more Bulgarian recipes in your blog!! This soup looks and sounds fabulous. I love yogurt so this is a must try for me.
Hi Mira! You should share more Bulgarian recipes, I’m fascinated with food from other cultures, and I’m sure the rest of your readers are too.
I can only imagine how fresh this must smell with the cucumbers and dill. So perfect for a hot summer day.
Mira, this sounds like such a refreshing soup with the cucumber, dill and yogurt! It also sounds very much like “raita” – a dish my mom makes to “cool the palate” .
This soup looks delicious and refreshing – it’s just the kind of thing I love to eat when the weather is hot out!
I love the cultural influence of this recipe! This soup sounds delicious and looks beautiful! Keep ’em coming, Mira!! PS) Glad your puppy’s okay!
The soup looks so refreshing Mira! And share more Bulgarian recipes, it’s always awesome to learn more about different cuisines! 🙂 Pinned!
My boyfriend and his family are from Bulgaria, and his mother actually made this for me! It was actually pretty good, I’ll definitely point this recipe out to her! Pinned 🙂
I didn’t know his family was from Bulgaria 🙂 Glad you liked “tarator” 🙂
I love that this soup is so easy and no cook! I’ve never heard of it before now and look forward to trying it!
Hope you like it Kelley!
This soup looks SO refreshing and perfect for summer!! It reminds me of a similar soup I’ve had in Turkey! Gosh, I love Mediterranean food!! Pinned 🙂
thanks Ceara!
Mira! Please don’t ever be hesitant to share Bulgarian recipes, they are the best! I adore the uniqueness of them. It’s what makes your blog different!
I have never tried this before but I’m going to try it now. I’ve got everything I need except yoghurt and I’ve just popped that on my shopping list. 🙂
I know you enjoy Middle Eastern Cuisine, so I really hope you like it Nagi!
It looks beautiful, Mira! Don’t be afraid to share the Bulgarian recipes. I love it every time you do!
Thanks Mir!
Hi, Mira! Marinate the garlic by stiring it together with the salt and the sunflower oil. This was my grandma’s secter in making the tarator more aromatic and tasty. Gheers from Bulgaria!
Will try it Tony 🙂
This is like a cross between tzatziki and gazpacho, I reckon! I’ve never actually tried anything like this in soup form in Greece, Mira, so you might be able to safely say this one is uniquely Bulgarian.
It sounds wonderfully refreshing – it’s a lovely nice warm day here in the UK today so it’s definitely making me hungry!
Glad you like it Helen! Yeah, I don’t think there is something like that in Greece, it is in the form of Tzatziki there 🙂
Oh, and (hint hint) I LOVE that tomato chutney-type thing that you make in Bulgaria. My friend’s mum used to make it for me in Greece. Maybe you could give us a recipe for that some day on the blog? (hint hint hint)
You are the best Helen! Thanks for reminding me! I think you are talking about “lutenitza” ? Will be sharing the recipe for sure 🙂
What a beautiful soup, Mira! Please share more Bulgarian recipes! I love learning about other cultures and cuisines!
I always loved cold soups of all kinds, but never had the courage to try making one myself. Your recipe changed me, this sounds so delicious, I will try it. Thanks for sharing.
It is currently approximately a GAZILLION degrees in my apartment (managers haven’t turned off heat yet!!) so cold soups sound AWESOME to me. So refreshing!
I’m with everyone else. I wanna see allllll the Bulgarian recipes you have to offer. Learning about other peoples cultures through food is one of the main reasons I got into blogging and where else am I to find yummy recipes like this. This soup looks so refreshing and perfect for these warm days. Get in my bellllly.
I don’t get why some people don’t like a recipe like that! Looks so refreshing and light, beautiful and sophisticated! Always stick to the food you love Mira!
About how many ounces are there per serving?
between 8-12 oz, a regular soup bowl
Why would you be hesitant to share Bulgarian recipes? Are they any less than Spanish or Thai? Truly creative chiefs find a way to incorporate international food and market it well so their audience is impressed!
Thank you! <3
Very good on a hot day in summertime Phoenix. I grated a large clove of garlic rather than pressed it, added a full teaspoon of salt (the cucumber needs the extra seasoning), a good shake of ground white pepper, and a little less than the full 2 cups of water, as I didn’t want it to be too thin. I also went to the specialty market for Bulgarian yoghurt but Greek would be adequate. It has that certain tanginess that compliments well with everything else. I also tried adding a little lemon juice to my bowl, which was OK but got lost in the tang from the yoghurt. A bit of Dijon mustard mixed in might be a nice twist, too. Serving this with some buttered rye bread and a forced meat sausage (like paté, braunschweiger, or even jellied sulze) would make an OUTSTANDING meal without having to heat up the kitchen during the summer. Thank you for providing the recipe! Also, be sure to allow time to chill adequately and let the flavours blend and do NOT skip the walnuts—they’re essential! (Although toasted chopped hazelnuts would be good, too.)
I made this today using cucumber and dill from our local farmer’s market. I double the garlic and only used one cup water. So good. Wonderful for Memorial Day weekend