Abdoogh Khiar (Chilled Buttermilk Cucumber Soup)
Published Aug. 11, 2021
- Total Time
- 15 minutes, plus chilling
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
- 1teaspoon dried edible Damask rose petals (optional; see Tip)
- 2cups buttermilk, plus more if desired
- ½cup plain yogurt
- Kosher salt (Diamond Crystal)
- 3Persian cucumbers (7 ounces), cut into ¼-inch pieces, plus more for garnish
- ⅓cup golden or black raisins, plus more for garnish
- ¼cup walnut halves, coarsely chopped, plus more for garnish
- ¼cup finely chopped fresh dill, plus sprigs for garnish
- ¼cup finely chopped chives or green onion
- 1teaspoon dried mint, plus more for garnish
- ½lavash rectangle or 1 large slice bread of choice (such as sourdough)
- 4ice cubes
- Fresh mint leaves, for garnish
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)
329 calories; 9 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 52 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 20 grams sugars; 14 grams protein; 700 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Preparation
- Step 1
If using dried rose, crumble a few petals coarsely for garnish and set aside. Place the rest on a cutting board and chop as finely as possible.
- Step 2
Place the buttermilk, yogurt and 1 teaspoon salt in a blender and blend until frothy, about 30 seconds, or whisk together in a large bowl until smooth and frothy. If you used a blender, pour the mixture into a large bowl. Add the cucumbers, raisins, walnuts, dill, chives, dried mint and ¼ teaspoon of the finely chopped rose petals. Stir well to combine and season to taste with more salt. Cover and refrigerate to chill and allow the flavors to come to life, at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
- Step 3
Just before serving, toast the lavash or bread until crisp but not burned, and break into pieces. Stir the soup to mix. It should be the consistency of a thin, runny soup. If it’s too thick, thin it out with water or more buttermilk, 1 tablespoon at a time. Keep in mind that you will be adding ice cubes, which will also thin out the soup as they melt. Divide the soup among serving bowls and add the ice cubes. Garnish the top as creatively as you like with crumbled dried rose petals, cucumber, dried mint, dill sprigs, raisins, walnuts and fresh mint leaves. Add the bread pieces right before serving or serve on the side.
- Dried edible Damask rose petals, available in Middle Eastern markets and online, are used in various Iranian dishes as a fragrant and savory spice. They’re worth seeking out, grinding to a powder (whole petals are pretty as a garnish but tough to chew) and adding to your spice cabinet. Feel free to swap out for more of the fresh herbs, as you like.
Private Notes
Comments
I've been making this for 30 years (though without the rose petals, lavash, and ice cubes). It's a unique and impressive starter on a hot summer day. Definitely make in advance so the flavors have time to meld. Enjoy!
Do you think I could use plain milk kefir instead of buttermilk?
Carole: Rose water adds an overpowering floral fragrance that would NOT substitute. There are enough flavors that the roses aren’t necessary, especially if they’re dried and packaged so long that their essence is lost. That said, if you wanted to add a floral flourish, you could try the edible flowering tips of some herbs, especially basil or chive. Whatever you find, taste one first, because some flowers are more bitter than their greens.
Such a refreshing and delicious medley of flavors and textures! I hate raisins, though, so I substituted dried currants. Yummy!
I’d also love to know if Kefir could sub for buttermilk. Any other suggestions to replace dairy cows’ milk?
Another idea is to use Borage in addition to, or to replace rose petals. Pretty blue flower, with a light cucumber taste. I've never seen it anywhere but home gardens, tho it's a very happy plant, entirely edible, self seeds abundantly. It has beautiful blue, edible, star type flowers that attract many butterflies and bees. Also nice as a pretty and tasty garnish for lemonade, cocktails, and of course, cold soups and salads.