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    Home » Persian Recipes

    Mast o Khiar Persian Yogurt and Cucumber Dip

    Published: Apr 30, 2018 · Modified: Jul 8, 2021 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Mast o Khiar is a traditional Persian yogurt and cucumber dip that is light and flavorful. This tasty dip is ready in 15 minutes and can be served with main dishes or as an appetizer with some chips or pita bread.

    Mast o Khiar is a traditional Persian yogurt and cucumber dip that is light and flavorful.

    Persian cuisine is full of tasty recipes that are so diverse and seasonal. Every item in our dishes and on the table is there for a reason. One key item in Persian cuisine is yogurt and it's used in many ways such as Persian cold yogurt soup or a healthy appetizer such as borani esfenaj (Persian spinach dip). And, today, we are going to check out mast o khiar, another delectable Persian recipe using yogurt.

    Table Of Contents:
    • Why this recipe works
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestion
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Notes and tips
    • More dip and spread recipes
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    Why this recipe works

    "Mast" means yogurt and "khiar" means cucumber, therefore "mast o khiar" means yogurt and cucumber. Really, it's that simple! The basic version of this Persian yogurt and cucumber dip is made of only these two ingredients plus salt, pepper and sometimes dried mint. Just like Persian yogurt beet dip (borani laboo) this recipe adds a lot of color to your table and is pretty pleasing to look at.

    This Persian yogurt dip is a staple at Persian tables and is usually served with main dishes such as ghormeh sabzi, lubia polo, gheimeh or adas polo (Persian lentil mixed rice). It's a light side dish that can accompany every meal and can also be used as a sauce for grilled chicken or beef.

    Yogurt and cucumber is a cooling and refreshing combination that is very popular in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines. This recipe is similar to Greek tzatziki and Turkish cacik since they all have the same base. 

    This cucumber dip is flavored with raisins and walnuts.

    Ingredients

    To make this yogurt dip we need cucumbers, yogurt, walnuts, raisins, rose petals and dried mint.
    • Cucumbers: Small and seedless cucumbers or ones that have very few seeds like Persian cucumbers are ideal for this yogurt and cucumber dip. However, if those are not available, you can use English cucumber and simply scoop out the seeds before chopping them.
    • Yogurt: Creamy whole milk yogurt made with cow or sheep's milk work best for this recipe. You can also use Greek yogurt or low fat yogurt.
    • Dried mint: It adds good aroma and flavor to the dish. It cannot be substituted with fresh mint.

    Instructions

    • Prepare the main ingredient - chop the cucumbers into small pieces. Mix them with salt, pepper and dried mint.
    • Mix in the yogurt - Add in the yogurt and give it a nice stir. Next, add in chopped walnuts and raisins.
    • Final touches - Top with some more dried mint, walnuts, raisins and dried rose petals. Chill in the fridge for thirty minutes before serving. Serve it in a large bowl or individual small bowls.
    Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and stir well. Let it sit in the fridge for a few minutes before serving.

    Serving suggestion

    Mast-o-khiar can be served as an appetizer with pita chips, pita bread, naan or lavash bread or as part of a Persian appetizer platter. We love serving this yogurt dip as a side dish with grilled chicken, beef shish kabob or lamb. It's also great with mixed rice dishes such as lubia polo or chicken and rice.

    Top Mast o Khiar with walnuts, raisins and rose buds.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How to store this dip?

    Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

    Can I use non-dairy yogurt?

    Yes, you can use non-dairy yogurt as long as it's not flavored.

    Can I leave out the rose petals?

    Yes, the edible rose petals are for decoration and they add some flavor to mast o khiar. However, it's an optional addition and can be left out.

    Notes and tips

    • The basic mast o khiar recipe calls for yogurt, cucumbers, salt, dried mint and sometimes pepper. If you want it to be more flavorful, use this recipe with walnuts and raisins.
    • We always use walnuts and raisins in this Persian yogurt dip because these two ingredients have warm natures whereas yogurt and cucumbers have cold nature. Mixing all these ingredients together helps achieve a sense of balance.
    • For more flavor, add some garlic powder to the yogurt dip.
    • To make this dish, I usually chop the cucumber into small pieces, but some grate the cucumbers and that works too. Be aware that the dip might become watery after chilling in the fridge. If you're grating the cucumbers, squeeze them and discard the excess water before mixing it with yogurt.
    This Persian Yogurt Dip goes perfectly with grilled meat and rice dishes.

    More dip and spread recipes

    • Tirokafteri (Greek Spicy Feta Dip)
    • Creamy Whipped Ricotta
    • Persian Yogurt Beet Dip (Borani Laboo)
    • Best Whipped Feta Recipe

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Mast o Khiar - Persian Yogurt and Cucumber Dip

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Mast o Khiar is a traditional Persian yogurt and cucumber dip that is light and flavorful. It's ready in 15 minutes and can be served with main dishes or as an appetizer with some chips or pita bread.
    4.95 from 19 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Chilling time 30 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine Persian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 278 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 cups Plain Greek Yogurt See Note #1
    • 2 cups Chopped Cucumber See Note #2
    • 2 tbsp Dried Mint
    • 1 teaspoon Powdered Dried Rose Petals
    • ½ cup Chopped Walnuts
    • ½ cup Raisins
    • ½ tsp Salt
    • ¼ tsp Black Pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Place all the ingredients in a large bowl. 
    • Stir well until all the ingredients are well combined. 
    • Refrigerate the yogurt dip for 30 minutes. 
    • Serve with pita chips, pita bread, naan, or lavash bread. 

    Notes

    1. You can use full fat, low fat or nonfat plain Greek Yogurt. You can also use European yogurt which has a little more sour flavor. 
    2. Use seedless cucumbers like Persian or mini cucumbers. 
    3. The basic Mast o Khiar recipe calls for yogurt, cucumbers, salt, dried mint and sometimes pepper. If you want it to be more flavorful, use this recipe with walnuts and raisins. The reason that we always use walnuts and raisins in this Persian yogurt dip is because these two ingredients have warm natures whereas yogurt and cucumbers have cold nature. Mixing all these ingredients together helps balancing this dip.
    4. For more flavor, add some garlic powder to the yogurt dip.
    5. To make Mast o Khiar, I usually chop the cucumber into small pieces, but some grate the cucumbers and that works too. Be aware that the dip might become watery after chilling in the fridge, so, if you're grating the cucumbers, make sure to squeeze them and discard the excess water before mixing it with yogurt.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 278kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 24gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 372mgPotassium: 588mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 139IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 260mgIron: 2mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Laura

      January 22, 2022 at 3:34 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is so good that I ate almost the whole thing in one sitting.

      Reply
    2. Dannii

      August 05, 2021 at 12:23 am

      5 stars
      Wow, what an incredible looking dip. This would be perfect for serving up at a BBQ.

      Reply
    3. Beth

      August 04, 2021 at 11:11 pm

      5 stars
      My husband and I absolutely loved this recipe! So delicious and very tasty! We had a gathering and I made this dip, and everyone loved this! Can’t wait to make this again!

      Reply
    4. Anaiah

      August 04, 2021 at 10:31 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness, I loved this mast o khiar! It was absolutely delicious and was perfect with fresh naan bread. Definitely making this more often!

      Reply
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