Persian summer soup · No cooking
Ab Doogh Khiar Recipe (Persian Cold Yoghurt Soup)
Thick yoghurt. Ice cold. Bread at the end.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenAb doogh khiar is the cold soup of an Iranian summer: yoghurt thinned with water, cucumber, herbs, walnuts and raisins, with dry bread crumbled in at the table. It goes thin and sour when the yoghurt is weak, and soggy when the bread sits too long. The fix is thick yoghurt, ice cold water, and adding the bread only when serving.
The 3 laws of ab doogh khiar
Why this recipe works
Runny yoghurt
Body and creaminess.
Room temperature
It is meant to refresh.
Bread early
Keeps some crunch.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Soup
The NineFoods soup gauge
Is the texture right?
Stir and lift a ladle.
Method · 2 stages
Step by step
Mix
- Whisk yoghurt and cold water with salt and herbs.
- Stir in cucumber, walnuts and raisins. Use the gauge above.
Serve
- Add ice, sprinkle rose petals, crumble in bread at the table.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Weak yoghurt.
Fix next time
Use thick yoghurt.
Why
Old yoghurt.
Fix next time
Use fresh and add a pinch of sugar.
Why
Added early.
Fix next time
Crumble in at the table.
Why
Too little salt or herb.
Fix next time
Salt well and add more mint.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Yoghurt | Base | Doogh |
| Persian cucumbers | Crunch | English cucumber, seeded |
| Raisins | Sweetness | Leave out |
| Lavash | Bread | Toasted pita |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
A light lunch on hot days.
Store
Fridge 1 day without bread.
Reheat
Serve cold only.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 2 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is the texture right) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Ab Doogh Khiar FAQ
What is ab doogh khiar?
A cold Persian soup of yoghurt, cucumber and herbs.
Is it a soup or a drink?
It is eaten as a soup, with bread crumbled in.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes, but add the bread just before serving.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes.