Tarator

Article by Heath Goldman

What Is Tarator?

Tarator is a cold, creamy, refreshing Bulgarian soup made from yogurt, cucumber and dill. Typically served in a bowl or glass as an appetizer or between courses, tarator is the perfect make-ahead soup: its flavor improves with time. It’s worth mentioning that the word “tarator,” can refer to types of nut- or tahini-based sauces, but for the purposes of this recipe, we’re referring to the soup.

Ingredients In Tarator

• Cucumber: While some versions of Bulgarian tarator use shredded cucumber, we found that peeled, diced cucumber elevates the texture and overall experience of this classic cold soup. Diced pieces offer satisfying crunch in every spoonful, providing a pleasant contrast to the creamy yogurt base. They also hold their shape better than shredded cucumber, keeping the soup fresh and vibrant rather than watery or mushy. We called for English cucumber, which has fewer seeds than traditional slicing cucumber.

• Full-fat Greek yogurt: While other soups lean on cream, tarator relies on full-fat, high-protein yogurt for its creaminess. You will thin it out with ice cold water, ultimately, so we don’t recommend starting with a thinner, lower fat yogurt.

• Fresh dill: Select a vibrant, perky bunch of dill; dill is an important flavor in the soup and doubles as a garnish.

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper: This is the only seasoning that tarator calls for.

• Ice-cold water and ice cubes: Water thins the full-fat Greek yogurt into a soup consistency. And to serve, you’ll place an ice cube in the bottom of each bowl, which will infuse the soup with extra chill.
• Garlic, walnuts and lemon: All versions of the soup don’t include these ingredients, but we like the extra texture and flavor that these ingredients provide.

How to Store Tarator

Preparing tarator a few hours or even a day in advance allows the garlic, dill, and cucumber to fully infuse the creamy yogurt base, creating a deeper, more balanced taste. Simply store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days and give it a quick stir before serving.