Mast o Khiar (Persian Yogurt Dip)
An absolute staple in Persian cuisine, Mast o Khiar offers a mouthful of delight in every bite. Persian cucumbers are strained and combined with plain Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, fresh dill, and mint for a healthy snack packed with flavor.
Delicious Persian Yogurt Dip
This mast o khiar recipe is creamy, bright, and oh-so-refreshing. It’s one of my favorite things to slather on top of any kabob or protein. My mom’s version is unbeatable, but I’ve added a few of my own touches.
While this Persian dish is not traditionally loaded up, I like to add in extra olive oil, some crunchy walnuts, and sumac for a little extra flavor and texture. You can serve this yogurt-cucumber dip with your favorite protein for a delicious low-carb meal, or just grab a spoon and enjoy it straight up. It’s just that good!
Why You’ll Love It
- A delicious, low-carb way to spruce up your favorite protein.
- There are so many different ways to enjoy this versatile dip.
- It’s a classic Middle Eastern dish that tastes just like my mom’s authentic version.
- A tasty way to cool down any spicy food.
What You’ll Need
- Persian Cucumbers: Persian cucumbers work best for this recipe, as they are thinner and have less water content than regular cucumbers.
- Sea Salt: To bring out all the flavors in the delicious dip.
- Greek Yogurt: The base of this dip. I prefer using a thicker yogurt for a creamier texture.
- Garlic: Garlic gives this dip lots of flavor. Don’t skip it!
- Lemon Juice: Adds a splash of acidity to balance out all the flavors.
- Pepper: A little black pepper really rounds everything out.
- Dill: Fresh dill delivers a nice, herby twist that compliments the other ingredients nicely.
- Mint: Dried mint is the final touch, adding a bit of sweetness to the yogurt dip.
Optional Ingredients
- Roasted Walnuts: I love the buttery, nutty taste and crunch that walnuts add.
- Olive Oil: To give it an extra depth of flavor and to help everything come together.
- Sumac: Sprinkle in some Sumac for a bit of tartness and color.
Substitutions
Make It Spicy: Try adding in some chopped jalapeno for a kick of heat.
Go Vegan: Swap out the Greek yogurt for vegan yogurt, and you have a tasty vegan dip!
Fresh Herbs: Feel free to use fresh mint instead of dried. Other fresh herbs like basil and parsley are also great additions.
How to Make Mast-o Khiar
The steps are simple, and I’m outlining them below but be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page to view the full, printable recipe card. You can also watch how it comes together in my Instagram reel!
STEP 1 – STRAIN CUCUMBERS
Finely grate the cucumbers and sprinkle them with some sea salt. Then place the grated cucumbers in a strainer so that all the excess water drips out. The salt will help release the excess moisture.
Pro Tip: Press the cucumbers with the back of a spoon to really make sure you get all the excess moisture out.
STEP 2 – STRAIN YOGURT
While the cucumber drains, add the Greek yogurt to a bowl.
Pro Tip: If you don’t have thick yogurt, you can easily strain the yogurt first to remove all excess liquids. This is optional, of course!
STEP 3 – ADD REMAINING INGREDIENTS
To that same bowl, add the strained cucumber, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, a touch of sea salt, pepper, chopped dill, and dried mint.
STEP 4 – MIX IT ALL TOGETHER
Mix everything together, then taste and add anything else you want, depending on your taste.
I like to top it with some roasted walnuts, olive oil, sumac, and fresh dill for a little more flavor, though this is completely optional.
Serve & ENJOY!
FAQ
What is a Persian cucumber?
A Persian cucumber is a type of small, thin-skinned cucumber with a mild flavor and very few seeds. They tend to be less watery than regular cucumbers and are great for snacking or making dips like this mast o khiar!
What is the difference between tzatziki and mast o khiar?
Tzatziki is a Greek yogurt dip made with thicker, strained Greek yogurt and fresh dill. Mast o khiar is a Persian dish that can be made with thinner plain yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, and mint. Both are delicious sides or dips!
How do you strain the Greek yogurt?
Start by placing a colander inside a larger bowl. Line the colander with either cheesecloth, a thin dish towel, or a coffee filter. Put the yogurt in the center of the cloth bundle. Then securely tie up the cloth with kitchen twine or elastic bands so that all of the goodies are snugly bundled together inside. If you’re using a coffee filter, cover the top of the yogurt with plastic wrap.
Next, place this bundle into your refrigerator for about 1 hour to let the liquid drip out and strain through your cloth/coffee filter. Once the liquid has sufficiently drained away, discard it and enjoy your thickened yogurt!
Storage
Store any leftover Persian yogurt dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Whipped Cottage Cheese
- Mutabal Recipe (Middle Eastern Eggplant Dip)
- Green Pasta Sauce
- Spicy Cashew Dressing
Mast o Khiar (Persian Yogurt Dip)
This mast o khiar recipe is creamy, bright, and oh-so-refreshing. It's one of my favorite things to slather on top of any kabob or protein. My mom's version is unbeatable, but I've added a few of my own touches that you're going to love!
Ingredients
- 2 small Persian cucumbers, grated
- sea salt
- 2 cups thick Greek yogurt
- 1-2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1/2 tablespoons dried mint
- roasted walnuts (optional)
- olive oil (optional)
- sumac (optional)
- fresh dill (optional)
Instructions
- Finely grate the cucumbers and sprinkle them with some sea salt. Then, place the grated cucumbers in a strainer so that all the excess water drips out. The salt will help release the excess moisture. Press the cucumbers with the back of a spoon to really make sure you get all the excess moisture out.
- While the cucumber drains, add the Greek yogurt to a bowl. If you don’t have thick yogurt, you can easily strain the yogurt first to remove all excess liquids. This is optional, of course!
- To that same bowl, add the strained cucumber, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, a touch of sea salt, pepper, chopped dill, and dried mint.
- Mix everything together, then taste and add anything else you want, depending on your taste. I like to top it with some roasted walnuts, olive oil, sumac, and fresh dill for a little more flavor, though this is completely optional. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Store any leftover Persian yogurt dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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