Masht-o Khiyaar (Persian Cucumber Salad with Sultanas and Walnuts)

This is a Persian recipe and my favorite cucumber salad. Cucumbers are combined with toasted walnuts and sultanas and a light dressing of yogurt, fresh dill, and fresh mint. For best results refrigerate salad for about 1 hour.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 10 mins
• Calories: 59 Calories

Ingredients

• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
• 1 ½ cups plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
• 2 tablespoons roughly chopped walnuts
• 3 tablespoons golden raisins (sultanas), roughly chopped
• 1 large cucumber - peeled, seeded, and diced

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place yogurt into a fine-mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter and allow to drain, about 20 minutes. You should end up with about a cup of thick yogurt.

Step 2

Heat a small skillet over medium heat, add walnuts, and toast while stirring until nuts start to turn golden brown and become fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Allow to cool.

Step 3

Mix yogurt, sultanas, walnuts, dill, mint, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, add cucumber and toss to combine. Refrigerate for 1 hour.