Abdoogh Khiar (Chilled Buttermilk Cucumber Soup)

I've been making this for 30 years (though without the rose petals, lavash, and ice cubes). It's a unique and impressive starter on a hot summer day. Definitely make in advance so the flavors have time to meld. Enjoy!

Do you think I could use plain milk kefir instead of buttermilk?

Carole: Rose water adds an overpowering floral fragrance that would NOT substitute. There are enough flavors that the roses aren’t necessary, especially if they’re dried and packaged so long that their essence is lost. That said, if you wanted to add a floral flourish, you could try the edible flowering tips of some herbs, especially basil or chive. Whatever you find, taste one first, because some flowers are more bitter than their greens.

It sounds weird, but the rose petals are really great in this soup. They add color, flavor and a delightful texture. I buy them in my local Halal/international market. When I make this soup, I double the amount of rose petals (1/4 cup/15 grams) and I just crumble the petals in; I don't chop them. I also add a tablespoon of minced preserved lemon to the soup, an idea I got from the Aglaia Kremizi, the Greek author of Mediterranean Vegetarian Feasts. It adds a lot to the overall taste.

This is my go-to for hot days, it has been since I could eat solid food. However I’ve never added buttermilk, just good yogurt. I also grate the cucumber, the additional water makes the thick yogurt (the kind that I use) more soup-like

Do the rose petals impart flavor or just color ? If flavor, can I substitute some rose water for the petals in this receipe?

I made this recipe as a starter for a dinner party last night. I left out the rose petals but added fresh mint and an edible flower. I also put the soup in shot glasses for smaller portioning. I added about a 1/2 teaspoon of white pepper and reduced the salt to 1/4 teaspoon. The flavors melded well overnight and the raisins and walnuts added a chewy consistency that everyone enjoyed. All nine dinner party attendees agreed that this cool, flavorful soup is a perfect summer treat.

Old Novice: Yes, absolutely you could enjoy this without the lavash and raisins! It’ll lack some consistency from the soaked starch, so it may be slightly thinner. If you’re making your own buttermilk, be sure to use enough lemon juice to thicken the milk like a soup. The raisins provide a contrasting sweetness and chewy texture. If you have good-quality brightly colored dried tomatoes, try one or two, chopped. If you only have the brownish leathery kind, I’d say skip them.

Not a fairytale! Rose petals and rosewater are also used in Indian cuisine. You can probably find a rose lassie (cold yogurt drink) at an Indian restaurant. The first sips might seem strange, but if it grows on you, as it does many people, then there's nothing really like it! (Or maybe someone will write in about something like it--but I mean it's pretty cool and different!)

Prepared this as written. After tasting, I decided to add more raisins. Loved it! My partner’s comment: “Pretty good, but kind of heavy on the raisins!”

How long will this keep in the fridge?

Plain kefir is an excellent substitute for buttermilk, and it works well in this recipe. In fact, I always use plain kefir anytime I have a recipe calling for buttermilk because it's healthier and lasts much longer in the refrigerator.

Substitute rose, mint, walnuts, raisins with grated (cooked) beetroots and boiled egg; lavash with cooked potatoes and you will get Lithuanian cold beetroot (pink) soup (Šaltibatščiai)

Which is delicious, but a totally different soup! Borscht!

Have you tried Persian cucumber? It is much sweeter than regular cucumbers. You might like it. I actually don't like regular cucumbers but eat Persian cucumber frequently.