mast-o khiar (persian yogurt and cucumber dip)

At first glance, mast-o khiar looks an awful lot like Greek tzatziki.  There are countless versions of yogurt and cucumber based dips stretching from Greece to India.   Mast-o khiar is a very simple and straightforward dip, it means “yogurt and cucumber” in Persian.  Persian cucumbers are most commonly used for this dip.  They have thin skins and don’t require any peeling, but they may be unavailable in your area.  If you can’t find them, you can easily substitute with common cucumbers available at your local supermarket, but be sure to cut off their bitter skins and deseed them.  Serve with warm flat bread, pita chips, and vegetables.

Mast-o Khiar (Persian Yogurt & Cucumber Dip)
(adapted from Claudia Roden’s The New Book of Middle Eastern Food)
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16 oz yogurt, preferably strained or Greek
2 tablespoons dried or chopped fresh mint
salt & pepper, to taste
2 Persian cucumbers, sliced and chopped
Optional garnishes: more chopped cucumbers, ground dried rose petals, more mint (fresh or dried), olive oil

In a large bowl, beat together yogurt until smooth. Add the mint, salt, and pepper and mix thoroughly.  Fold in the cucumbers and serve with warm flat bread, pita chips, or vegetables.  Add more salt, if necessary.  Garnish with any of the following:  more cucumbers, mint, dried ground rose petals, or olive oil.

Try the recipe index for more ideas.

Related posts:

1. cucumber and radish salad
2. mint and cucumber noodles with tahini dressing
3. cilantro and avocado dip
4. pita chips
5. feta and cucumber salad

Tags: appetizers, budget, dips, easy, gluten-free, middle eastern, persian, snack, vegetarian