This refreshing Lebanese-style crunchy Cucumber-Yogurt Mint Garlic Salad (Kh’yar bi laban or Laban wa Khyar) is so easy to make and can be served as a dip sauce, side dish, and as a salad! Also, this chilling salad recipe is healthy, low-carb, gluten-free, and can be made vegan!
With just a few simple ingredients like yogurt, cucumber, mint, and garlic you can make the most perfect summer salad that’s also easily paired with so many other dishes! Surely it will become a crowd-pleaser salad that meets everyone’s expectations and more!
Crunchy and Creamy Cucumber-Yogurt Salad
In addition, this salad can be a delicious dish to take to family dinners, party gatherings, and summer hangouts! Note that everyone will be amazed to have this refreshing and special salad on a dinner table.
What Exactly Is Cucumber-Yogurt Salad?
I just love versatile recipes and dishes – anything that go well as a dip, sauce, sandwich spread, and salad at the same time. Hence, it’s is where this cucumber-yogurt mint garlic salad comes in.
Even though it is often served as a dip sauce, traditionally it is referred to as a type of salad – along with other Lebanese traditional salads like fattoush and tabbouleh. Simply because it can be consumed as an independent salad by itself.
In various countries, there are different names and variations of this salad. For example in Greece, it is Tzatziki, and in Germany they call it as Gurkensalat; whereas in Poland, it’s simple Mizeria; and in Lebanon, it’s traditionally Kh’yar bi laban, aka cucumber with yogurt.
Cucumber-yogurt mint garlic salad is crunchy, soft, creamy, refreshing, and extremely delicious! This mouthwatering salad is definitely a must-try recipe for you and your family.
Delicious and Refreshing Yogurt Salad!
What to Enjoy with Cucumber-Yogurt Mint Garlic Salad?
After you’ve mixed everything together and allowed your sauce to rest well, it is finally time to enjoy it!
Want to have the most flavorful dinner ever? Then try yogurt mint salad with Mujadara Hamra (Reddened Lentils and Bulgur) and also with Lebanese Lentils and Rice Recipe (Mujadaret Roz), you will be amazed with this incredible and tasty combination!
This salad is just a perfect side dish when it comes to meat and chicken! You must check out for healthy Kibbeh Bl Sanieh, delicious Simple Lebanese Meat and Rice-Hashweh and Tender Slow Cooked Roast Beef!
You can eat it with BEST Fattoush Salad and also enjoy it with some boiled and seasoned broccoli and Crispy Crunchy Air Fryer Cauliflower. Also, you can dip some crackers in it or eat along with sandwiches like Simple Grilled Chicken Sub Sandwich!
Cucumber-yogurt mint garlic salad tastes so delicious with potatoes! For Example, Perfectly Seasoned Baked Potato Balls Recipe would taste amazing with yogurt mint garlic salad. And also Baked Cumin Chicken and Potatoes would make a tasty combination with cucumber mint salad.
Appetizing Cucumber-Yogurt Salad!
Tips and Tricks for the Best Results
As cucumbers usually are full of liquid, it’s much better to avoid mushy and watery cucumbers in this salad.
Tip 1: After you wash cucumbers, allow them to drain properly. Try to combine all the ingredients and leave out the cucumber because your ingredients will be resting in the fridge overnight while the cucumbers drain.
Tip 2: Salt the cucumbers before using them in the recipe: place the cucumbers in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Allow to rest for 20-30 minutes and then lightly squeeze the cucumbers to get rid of the excess liquid. After that, pat them with a kitchen towel and then continue with the recipe.
Tip 3: If you have cucumbers with seeds, then it’s best to scoop out the watery, seedy section of the cucumber. It’s so much better to use Persian or Lebanese cucumbers and other low-seed/seedless variations, as they require much less effort to prepare because you don’t have all the mushy insides to deal with.
Tip 4: As much as everyone loves garlic, sometimes its sharp and bitter taste is too much to handle and spoils the taste of the recipe. Thus, allow your yogurt mix and garlic to sit for a couple of minutes before you serve it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
You can store this salad in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. But if you set some of the yogurt sauce aside, then that is fridge-friendly for 3 days.
Sure you can. But try to chop fresh mint into very small pieces to make it resemble the size of dried mint powder.
You can simply swap cucumbers with celery for an interesting taste. Of course the flavor will differ, but celery retains its crunch for a longer time than cucumbers.
If you’re unable to use yogurt, then you can easily use a dairy-free sour cream alternative like coconut cream, almond cream, or cachew cream.
Fresh chopped garlic is optional in this recipe, but I think it adds a special flavor. If you’re not a huge fan of garlic or you simply don’t have it at the moment, I would suggest to use garlic powder for a subtle taste.
You can definitely add in finely minced parsley, chopped green onion, or dill. But note that mint definitely tastes the best.
You can surely adjust the size of cucumbers to your liking. For example, cube them, grate them, or cut them into circles. You can also experiment with using peeled and non-peeled cucumbers to test which texture you prefer.
For a thick version of this salad, you could use Lebanese labneh instead of the plain yogurt. This way, you will be having more of a heavy texture dip sauce.
A Refreshing Salad for Summer Days!
Ingredients for Cucumber-Yogurt Mint Garlic Salad
These are simple, affordable, and very delicious ingredients that will turn into a flavorful salad!
- Persian cucumbers, cubed
- Plain full fat yogurt
- Tap water
- Dried mint
- Salt
- Garlic, minced
- Olive oil, to drizzle
Directions for Cucumber Mint Garlic Salad Recipe
To begin with, whisk together the yogurt and water in a medium bowl.
After that, add the salt, dried mint, crushed garlic, the cubed Persian cucumbers and mix well.
Finally, drizzle with some olive oil and enjoy right away or chill in the refrigerator for an hour.
Best Homemade Refreshing Salad
Amazing Dishes That Go Perfect with Cucumber-Yogurt Mint Garlic Salad
- Mujadara Hamra (Reddened Lentils and Bulgur)
- Lebanese Lentils and Rice Recipe (Mujadaret Roz)
- Kibbeh Bil Sanieh (Baked Kibbeh)
- Meat and Rice Stuffed Squash
- Simple Lebanese Meat and Rice-Hashweh
- Perfectly Seasoned Baked Potato Balls Recipe
- Tender Slow Cooked Roast Beef
- Baked Cumin Chicken and Potatoes
- Best Boiled Potatoes with Dried Herbs
- Crispy Crunchy Air Fryer Cauliflower
- Freekeh with Ginger Chicken
Cucumber-Yogurt Mint Garlic Salad
Ingredients
- 3-4 Persian cucumbers, cubed
- 32 oz Plain full fat yogurt
- ½ cup Tap water
- 1 tablespoon Dried mint
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil to drizzle
Instructions
- Whisk together the yogurt and water in a medium bowl.
- Then add the salt, dried mint, crushed garlic, The cubed Persian cucumbers and mix well.
- Drizzle with some olive oil and enjoy right away or chill in the refrigerator for an hour.
Video
Notes
Tips and Tricks for the Best Results
As cucumbers usually are full of liquid, it’s much better to avoid mushy and watery cucumbers in this salad. Tip 1: After you wash cucumbers, allow them to drain properly. Try to combine all the ingredients and leave out the cucumber because your ingredients will be resting in the fridge overnight while the cucumbers drain. Tip 2: Salt the cucumbers before using them in the recipe: place the cucumbers in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt. Allow to rest for 20-30 minutes and then lightly squeeze the cucumbers to get rid of the excess liquid. After that, pat them with a kitchen towel and then continue with the recipe.Tip 3: If you have cucumbers with seeds, then it’s best to scoop out the watery, seedy section of the cucumber. It’s so much better to use Persian or Lebanese cucumbers and other low-seed/seedless variations, as they require much less effort to prepare because you don’t have all the mushy insides to deal with. Tip 4: As much as everyone loves garlic, sometimes its sharp and bitter taste is too much to handle and spoils the taste of the recipe. Thus, allow your yogurt mix and garlic to sit for a couple of minutes before you serve it.
Lilly says
Love this yogurt salad especially when served with mjadara and stuffed zucchini. Yummy!!
Dalia says
This salad is my favorite! Love it with mjadara and zucchini and stuffed grape leaves
Lama says
It is truly so refreshing!
Hiba says
This salad came out amazing! It’s so refreshing especially on hot days