Tarator Bulgarian Cold Cucumber Soup Recipes

This cold soup is among Bulgarians favorite foods for the summer. It is served as a first course instead of a salad or between meals as refreshment. You might even see it served in a glass. Most men here say it goes great with a glass of cold rakiya (Bulgarian grape or fruit brandy) or Ouzo.

Provided by Nelka

Categories     European

Time 20m

Yield 3-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

Nutrition Facts : Calories 136.2, Fat 5.7, SaturatedFat 3.6, Cholesterol 21.7, Sodium 81.2, Carbohydrate 16, Fiber 1.1, Sugar 11.2, Protein 7.3

• Ingredients

Walnuts are used in sweet and savory dishes throughout the Mediterranean. Along the Italian Riviera, a rich ricotta and walnut sauce traditionally is served with ravioli filled with greens. In Turkey, a thick, garlicky walnut sauce called tarator is served with cooked vegetables, much as aïoli is in the South of France. In France, walnuts are added to salads, breads and many desserts, and they are eaten fresh as well as dried - a great delicacy in the fall, just after the harvest. I've never encountered creamy, fresh walnuts in American farmers' markets, but if you know a walnut farmer, perhaps you could request some the next time they're harvested. Before the weather becomes too chilly for cold soups, try this one. Bulgaria once was well known for the number of centenarians in its population, which some scientists attributed to the daily consumption of Bulgarian yogurt. Now, both the yogurt and eating culture in this mountainous country have changed for the worse, and so have local lifespans.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories     dinner, easy, quick, appetizer

Time 1h30m

Yield Serves four

Number Of Ingredients 13

• Ingredients