🍽️Appetizer

The Royal Silk Road Yogurt: Mast-o-Khiar

Name: The Royal Silk Road Yogurt: Mast-o-Khiar
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Appetizer
Ingredients: 2 cups thick Greek yogurt or strained Labneh; 3 Persian cucumbers, finely diced (peel kept for texture); 1 tablespoon high-quality dried mint, crushed by hand; 1/4 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped; 2 tablespoons golden raisins, soaked in warm water for 5 minutes; 1 clove garlic, turned into a fine paste with sea salt; 1 teaspoon dried culinary rose petals; 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; Freshly cracked black pepper to taste; A pinch of sea salt

"A COOLING GARDEN OF CREAMY YOGURT, CRUNCHY WALNUTS, AND FRAGRANT ROSE PETALS."

Prep:30 min

Cook:45 min

LevelBeginner

Analyzing...

● Ingredients

2 cups thick Greek yogurt or strained Labneh
3 Persian cucumbers, finely diced (peel kept for texture)
1 tablespoon high-quality dried mint, crushed by hand
1/4 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
2 tablespoons golden raisins, soaked in warm water for 5 minutes
1 clove garlic, turned into a fine paste with sea salt
1 teaspoon dried culinary rose petals
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
A pinch of sea salt

🔄 Chef's Swaps

Greek yogurtCoconut yogurt

A great dairy-free alternative that maintains the thick texture.

Golden raisinsDried barberries (Zereshk)

If you prefer a tart, sour pop instead of sweetness.

🌱 Vegetarian🌱 Gluten-Free🌱 Low-Carb🌱 Halal⚡ Beginner💰 $

❤️Health92%

😋Taste85%

🥳Joy88%

👨‍🍳Difficulty15/100

📜 The Story

Born from the sun-drenched gardens of ancient Persia, Mast-o-Khiar was the cooling sanctuary for travelers along the Silk Road. It represents the perfect balance of 'Sard' (cool) ingredients like cucumber and 'Garm' (warm) elements like walnuts and mint, a hallmark of Persian nutritional wisdom.

🧬 Flavor DNA

🍋Sour

5/10

🧂Salty

4/10

🌶️Spicy

1/10

🍯Sweet

3/10

☕Bitter

1/10

🍗Savory

6/10

✨ Sensory Profile

"A cooling wave of creamy yogurt meets the sharp herbal notes of mint, punctuated by the sweet burst of raisins and the earthy snap of walnuts."

Chef's Mastery

💡

The Secret

Always crush the dried mint between your palms right over the bowl; the friction releases the essential oils for a far more intense aroma.

⚠️

Avoid This

Using large English cucumbers which have too much water; they will turn your royal dip into a thin soup.

❄️

Storage

Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The flavors actually peak on day two.

Instructions

Prep the cucumbers by dicing them into uniform 0.5cm cubes to ensure a refreshing crunch in every spoonful.

In a large chilled ceramic bowl, whip the yogurt with the garlic paste, salt, and pepper until it reaches a velvety, glossy consistency.

Fold in the diced cucumbers, walnuts, drained raisins, and half of the dried mint. Use a gentle folding motion to keep the yogurt airy.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This allows the dried mint to bloom and the garlic to mellow into the yogurt's creaminess.

Just before serving, garnish with the remaining mint, rose petals, and a thin drizzle of olive oil for a royal finish.