Yogurt Soup with Crispy Bread
Persian Yogurt-Cucumber Soup (Abdoogh Khiar) – The Taste of Persian Summer
Cool, creamy, and irresistibly refreshing—Abdoogh Khiar is a traditional Persian cold yogurt soup, perfect for hot summer days. Served with fresh bread, it’s light yet filling, healthy, and full of flavor. Whether you enjoy it with cucumber, raisins, and walnuts, or keep it simple with just yogurt, cucumber, and ice, it’s the ultimate way to beat the heat and savor summer in every spoonful.
Ingredients for Persian Yogurt-Cucumber Cold Soup (Abdoogh Khiar)
- Yogurt (strained, full-fat stirred, or traditional yogurt)
- Non-carbonated doogh or water
- Cucumber (finely chopped) – 400 g
- Fresh herbs (finely chopped basil and mint) – 200 g
- Plain breakfast cream – 2 tablespoons
- Raisins and walnut kernels (finely chopped)
- Dried mint
- Yogurt seasoning
- Rosebuds
- Salt
- Esna dry bread and ice
Preparation time for Abdoogh Khiar: 15 minutes
Calories per glass of Abdoogh Khiar: about 69 kcal
Steps for Preparing a Special Abdoogh Khiar
Step 1: Mixing yogurt and cream for a smooth texture
To make a special Abdoogh Khiar, first whisk the yogurt well until it becomes smooth and creamy. It’s best to use strained yogurt or full-fat local yogurt. If you are using pre-stirred yogurt, you can skip this step. Add plain cream to the yogurt and whisk again until fully blended.
Step 2: Chopping the cucumbers
In this step, finely chop the cucumbers and add them to the yogurt and cream mixture. Whether you peel the cucumbers or keep the skin is up to your preference.
Step 3: Adding herbs and the rest of the ingredients
Now add finely chopped herbs, raisins, and walnut kernels to the mixture and stir gently. You can omit any of these ingredients if they don’t suit your taste.
Step 4: Adding water or doogh, salt, and bread
At this stage, add water or doogh (a yogurt-based drink). The amount depends on your preference—some people like Abdoogh Khiar thick and creamy, while others prefer it thinner and more watery. Once the texture is to your liking, season it with salt. Break dry bread into small pieces and add them to the mixture.
Final Step: Garnishing and serving Abdoogh Khiar
For garnish, you can use dried rosebuds and dried mint. Adding ice is optional. Abdoogh Khiar can be enjoyed as a traditional, quick-prep dish, either as an appetizer or even as a main meal.
