Tarator (Bulgarian Cold Cucumber Soup)

Creamy cold cucumber soup with fresh dill sprigs and cucumber slices on top and a hand holding a spoon.

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Tarator (Bulgarian Cold Cucumber Soup)

Tarator is a cold cucumber soup from Bulgaria made with yogurt, garlic, fresh dill, and walnuts! This chilled soup is light, tangy, and perfect for hot summer days. Best of all? It’s ready in just 10 minutes—no cooking required.

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Balkans, Bulgarian, Mediterranean

Diet: Gluten Free, , Vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 160kcal

Author: Ruth Grindeland

Equipment

1 Blender
1 sharp knive
1 cutting board

Ingredients

2 cups plain yogurt Greek, Bulgarian-style, or vegan
1 cup cold water
2 Persian cucumbers or one large English cucumber
2 garlic cloves minced
2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped
¼ cup chopped walnuts optional, but traditional
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 lemon add a fresh squeeze to each bowl
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Prep the Cucumbers: Rough-chop 1 large English or 2 Persian cucumbers. If using a standard cucumber, peel it, scoop out the seeds, and then chop.
Blend: Add all ingredients to a blender: 2 cups yogurt, 1 cup cold water, 2 chopped garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons dill, ¼ cup walnuts, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Blend until smooth and pourable. Adjust flavor with more salt, water, or lemon if needed.
Chill and Serve: Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to develop. Serve chilled in bowls. Garnish with a squeeze of lemon, swirl of olive oil, extra dill, chopped walnuts, or cucumber pieces.

Notes

How To Store - Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. If the soup has separated give it a good stir. If you are using vegan yogurt, you might need to put it in the blender to reincorporate the ingredients.

Yogurt Tips - I recommend using plain unsweetened yogurt or vegan yogurt. If you use Greek yogurt, know that it will make the soup slightly thicker and you will need to add more water to get the right consistency.

Nutrition