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Tarator with lemon juice, yogurt cucumber soup in a bowl, garnished with walnuts and dill
Cooling Bulgarian yogurt soup with lemon flavor

Chilled Cucumber & Walnut Soup (Tarator)

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Vegetarian & Vegan Dishes Soups
A Bulgarian summer is unimaginable without Tarator. It's not just a cucumber salad, but a hydrating, probiotic 'soup.' In this version, lemon juice takes center stage; its acidity amplifies the yogurt's refreshing quality, while the walnuts add body and richness. It's the perfect heatwave meal: cooling, nourishing, and mineral-replenishing.
🕒 Prep Time 15 mins
⌛ Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
🍽️ Servings 4 servings
🔥 Calories 180 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Bulgarian

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Box grater

Allergen Information

⚠️ Milk
⚠️ Tree Nuts

Instructions

1 ✓

Grate the cucumber (skin on), salt it, and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then squeeze the juice into a bowl – don't throw it away, it's full of flavor!

Tip: Salting breaks down cell walls (osmosis), keeping the cucumber crunchy in the soup rather than watery.
2 ✓

Whisk the yogurt until smooth with lemon juice, olive oil, crushed garlic, and the cucumber juice. Dilute with cold water to desired soup consistency.

Tip: Oil creates an emulsion with the yogurt, giving a creamy mouthfeel and mellowing the raw garlic bite.
3 ✓

Fold in the squeezed cucumber flesh, chopped dill, and walnuts.

Tip: The tannins in walnuts add an exciting contrast to the milky flavor profile.
4 ✓

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Drizzle with a few drops of olive oil before serving.

Tip: Cold suppresses flavor perception, so taste before serving—you might need a touch more salt or lemon.

Recipe FAQ

It's too thin, is that bad?
No! Tarator is meant to be a soup, not a dip like Tzatziki. We eat it with a spoon or drink it from a glass.

Ingredients

  • 1 whole English Cucumber
  • 2 cups Greek Yogurt
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 2 tbsp Walnuts (chopped)
  • 1 bunch Fresh Dill
  • 2 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 0.5 tsp Salt
  • 0.75 cup Ice Cold Water