The herbs are up, and every time I look at them, I feel happy and inspired to cook. This salad came about from spending time in my ever expanding mint patch yesterday.
Persian cucumbers, if unfamiliar, are technically like all cucumbers, a fruit, but are usually treated and eaten as a vegetable. They are members of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. When it comes to cucumbers, there are three classifications: slicing, burpless and pickling. Persian cucumbers are classified as burpless cucumbers, which tend to be less bitter, milder in flavor and thought to contain less of the burp-causing compound, cucurbitacin.
Their skin is smooth and thin their flesh is crisp, sweet, succulent, and void of developed seeds. They have an amazing capacity to retain water and to remain cool. In fact, it has been found that their interior flesh may be up to twenty degrees cooler than their skin. The perfect Persian cucumber measures 4 to 6 inches in length, as this is the size when they are at their peak of sweetness. If allowed to grow bigger, bitter tasting seeds can develop which compromises the cucumber’s sweetness.
Turkish-Inspired Creamy Cucumber Salad
Creamy Turkish Cucumber Salad with fresh dill, mint, lemon and yogurt – the perfect side to Mediterranean-style grilled meats and fish.
- Prep Time: 25
- Total Time: 25
- Yield: 4-6
- Category: salad,
- Cuisine: turkish
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs Turkish cucumbers ( 7-8 small cucumbers or 2 English Cuc’s )
- ½ Cup to 1 Cup fresh dill- chopped
- ½ Cup fresh mint- chopped
- ⅓ C finely sliced red onion
- 3/4 C plain Greek yogurt
- ½ C Sour cream ( or sub yogurt)
- ⅛ C fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
- 2 garlic cloves- finely minced or grated
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- cracked pepper
- generous pinch sugar
- 1 T olive oil
- ⅛ C water
Instructions
- Rinse cucumbers under cold water. If using Persian or English cucumbers, leave peels on. Using a mandolin, or sharp knife, slice into thin uniform disks and place in large bowl. Add chopped dill, chopped mint and thinly sliced onions.
- In a small bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients -yogurt, sour cream, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt pepper, sugar, olive oil and water, and stir until smooth. Pour over cucumbers and stir to combine. Taste for salt, and lemon, adjusting if necessary. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Details
- Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: Total time: 15 mins Yield: 6
Keywords: cucumber salad, creamy cucumber salad, cucumber salad recipe, cucumber salads, turkish salad,
This used to be a regular in our home, maybe I’ll bring it back
Looks terrific. Going to try this soon!
Thanks Louise! let me know how you like it.
i love cucumber salad. this sounds great!
The print button doesn’t seem to be working for me.
Thanks for letting me know…it should work now!
Actually, in Iran cucumbers are treated as a fruit and a vegetable. Growing up we often had them in our fruit bowls right next to grapes and oranges and would snack on them like an apple! Love this recipe – it goes great with so many things.
Sounds like a great idea!
Thanks for your wonderful article….
Oh yummy! Will be making it soon with your chicken shawarma..drools.
Will the Israei salad and Turkish cucumber salad keep overnight?
Yes, it will keep, but I do like it best the first day.
Actually, I don’t think this is how we make it here, it is usually diced cucumbers, some minced garlic, yogurt mixed with some preferably cold water and dried mint, plus some salt, but this looks absolutely fantastic and I hope to try it as soon as possible, Thanks.
★★★★★
It’s definitely my take on it. Not traditional 😉
Write more, thats all I ave too say. You definitely knoww what youre talking about.
★★★★★
Very tasty, easy, complimentary to kofte!
★★★★★