Tarator - Cold Cucumber, Yogurt, and Garlic Soup

Ingredients

• 750 g cucumbers (fresh, washed, peeled, and cut into large pieces)
• 1 bunch fresh dill (coarsely chopped)
• 2 garlic (cloves, chopped)
• 1 lemon (juiced)
• salt (to taste)
• black pepper (to taste)
• 30 ml olive oil (plus extra for drizzling)
• 750 ml Greek yogurt (can add more for thickness)
• 3 leaves fresh mint (for freshness)
• 3 slices bread (large slices for croutons)
• 0.5 garlic (clove, for rubbing the bread)
• aromatic herbs (for seasoning croutons)
• chili flakes (optional garnish for spice)

Steps

1. 1

   Wash, clean, and peel 750 grams of fresh cucumbers. Cut them into large pieces and place them in a large pot or bowl suitable for blending.

2. 2

   Add one bunch of coarsely chopped dill, 2 chopped garlic cloves, and 3 fresh mint leaves to the pot with the cucumbers.

3. 3

   Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the pot. Add 30 ml of olive oil, 750 ml of Greek yogurt, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. 4

   Using an immersion blender, start at the minimum speed and blend until the soup reaches a homogeneous texture with no whole pieces of cucumber remaining.

5. 5

   Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with more salt or lemon if needed. If you prefer a thinner consistency, add a little cold water; for a thicker soup, add more Greek yogurt. Place the soup in the refrigerator to chill.

6. 6

   Preheat the oven to 170°C (340°F) with heat from both top and bottom.

7. 7

   Prepare the croutons by rubbing three large slices of bread with half a clove of garlic to infuse them with flavor.

8. 8

   Drizzle the bread with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and your favorite aromatic herbs on both sides.

9. 9

   Cut the seasoned bread into cubes of approximately 1-1.5 cm.

10. 10

    Spread the bread cubes on a baking tray and bake for 10-15 minutes until they are golden brown and crispy.

11. 11

    To serve, pour the chilled soup into a large bowl. Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil, the warm croutons, and thin strips of fresh cucumber. Add chili flakes if you prefer a spicy kick.

Notes

For the best experience, serve the soup very cold directly from the fridge. Leftover croutons can be stored in an airtight container.

Nutrition per serving

• soup
• appetizer
• vegetarian
• cold soup
• summer
• no-cook
• healthy