A Stray Hot Day

This year, it has been such a strange weather - some people are still picking tomatoes. And it's October and mornings are getting darker.

If there is a really hot day with lovely sunny weather, I recommend cooling down with this starter. It's another traditional Bulgarian recipe, a variety of it is known as Greek tzatziki. As usual the quantities are approximate, I've never measured them.

Tarator

Ingredients

1 l Greek style yogurt (or home made)
1 medium sized cucumber, peeled and finely diced
1 bunch of dill
2-3 tbsp olive oil
2-3 cloves garlic
salt
water
chopped walnuts (optional)

Method

1. Place the yogurt in a deep bowl and add the cucumber.
2. Use scissors to chop the dill into the bowl.
3. Add the oil, chop or press the garlic and add as well.
4. Add some water, salt and walnuts if you want.
   
5. Stir well. If it seems too thick, add more water. It should have the consistency of a soup.

If you have been to Bulgaria on Summer holiday, you have probably had this as a starter. Unfortunately, restaurants are stingy and use mostly water. They also grate the cucumber, which just makes the tarator more watery and tasteless. Diced cucumber gives something crunchy in the soup and keeps it's flavour.

If you don't like garlic, reduce the amount or completely skip it. And careful with the walnuts, they might not be to everyone's taste, better place them on the side so that whoever wants them, can just add them later.

This is a really good way to rehydrate. And in order to get the flavour out, make this a few hours in advance and keep in the fridge. Alternatively, if you don't have time, add some ice cubes when serving.

I tend to live on this and salad in the Summer.