Mast o Khiar (Persian Yogurt and Cucumber Dip) • Unicorns in the Kitchen

Name: Mast o Khiar - Persian Yogurt and Cucumber Dip
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 4 cups Plain Greek Yogurt (See Note #1); 2 cups Chopped Cucumber (See Note #2); 2 tbsp Dried Mint; 1 tsp Powdered Dried Rose Petals; 1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts; 1/2 cup Raisins; 1/2 tsp Salt; 1/4 tsp Black Pepper

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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.

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 and cucumber dip). And, today, we are going to check out mast o khiar, another delectable Persian recipe using yogurt.

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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 Persian yogurt and cucumber dip is made of only these two ingredients plus salt, pepper and sometimes dried mint.

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

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