Tarator Recipe
Yogurt and cucumber salad.
Reprinted with permission from Sephardic Flavors: Jewish Cooking of the Mediterranean (Chronicle Books).
Recipe names can be confusing. Cooks acquainted with the Arabic table know tarator as a tahini-thickened nut sauce. Cooks familiar with Greek and Turkish cuisines see this salad as a cousin to tzatziki and cacik, with the addition of chopped walnuts.
Ingredients
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh dill or mint, or a mixture
3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2-3 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/3 cup chopped toasted walnuts
1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
5-6 cloves garlic, green sprouts removed and finely minced
1-2 cucumbers
Pita bread, cut into quarters if large, halves if small, and war
2 cups Plain yogurt
Directions
Spoon the yogurt into a sieve placed over a bowl and place in the refrigerator to drain for four hours.
Peel and seed the cucumber(s). If using the large cucumber, grate it; if using the small cucumbers, cut into tiny dice. Place the grated or diced cucumber in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Allow to drain for 30 minutes, then squeeze dry in a kitchen towel. Refrigerate until needed.
In a bowl, stir together the garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and vinegar. Add the nuts and olive oil, and fold in the drained yogurt and cucumber(s). Stir in the herbs. Spoon into a shallow bowl and surround with warmed pita. Serve at once.
