About this Dish
A chilled cucumber and yogurt soup with walnuts, dill, and garlic.
History & Origin
Tarator is Bulgaria's answer to summer heat, a cold soup eaten as a refreshing starter that also appears across the Balkans and Turkey in similar forms.
IngredientsServes 4
🥒Cucumber, 1 large (about 300g), peeled and finely diced or grated
🫙Bulgarian or Greek full-fat plain yogurt, 500g
🧄Garlic, 2 cloves, minced or crushed
🌿Fresh dill, a small bunch (about 3 tablespoons), finely chopped
🫒Sunflower or olive oil, 2 tablespoons
🧂Salt, 1 teaspoon or to taste
🥜Walnuts, 50g, roughly chopped
💧Cold water, 200–300ml, to thin the soup
Method
1
Peel the cucumber and either finely dice it or grate it on a coarse grater. If it releases a lot of water, give it a gentle squeeze but keep the liquid — it adds flavor to the soup.2
Place the yogurt in a large bowl and whisk it until smooth. Add the crushed garlic, chopped dill, and oil, then stir everything together well.3
Add the prepared cucumber to the yogurt mixture and stir to combine. Season generously with salt — tarator needs a good amount of salt to taste balanced when cold.4
Gradually pour in cold water, stirring as you go, until the soup reaches your preferred consistency. Some people like it thick, others prefer it more liquid — aim for a pourable but creamy texture.5
Taste and adjust the salt or garlic if needed. Stir in most of the chopped walnuts, saving a few for garnishing on top.6
Transfer the soup to the fridge and chill for at least 30 minutes before serving — this is important as the cold temperature is what makes tarator so refreshing. Serve in bowls with a sprinkle of walnuts and a drizzle of oil on top.User Reviews
No reviews yet — be the first!
Sign in to leave a review
Members can create lists, save favourites and get recommendations.
Find the Best Tarator Near Me
AI-powered — Google, TripAdvisor and food blogs
🌍 Food Vlogs
Food vloggers eating and cooking it at the source
🌍
No videos yet
What To Eat
The World's Food Guide
© 2025 What To Eat · hello@whattoeat.world