Tarator is a refreshing cold soup made with yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, and herbs — a beloved dish in Albanian and Balkan cuisine, especially during the hot summer months. Light, creamy, and bursting with flavor, it’s the perfect starter or side to cool you down and awaken your palate. Whether served as an appetizer or a light meal, tarator brings comfort and freshness in every spoonful.
Preparation
We clean the cucumbers and grate them finely. Using a garlic press, we crush the garlic together with a little salt and pepper. We place the grated cucumber mixture into a bowl, add the crushed garlic and a portion of the oil, and mix them together.
Next, we add the yogurt, slightly thinned with water. If the yogurt isn’t sour enough, we add a bit of lemon juice. Then we add the rest of the oil and some finely chopped dill.
Cucumber tarator is now ready and is served in small bowls depending on the number of people. If desired, you can also add finely chopped fresh parsley to the tarator.
Ingredients
500 ml plain yogurt
2 medium cucumbers
4 garlic cloves
4 tablespoons olive oil
lemon juice
salt
dill
black pepper
parsley (optional)