Tarator, a popular side dish, and appetizer in Turkish and Balkan cuisine, is a refreshing and easy-to-make recipe that is perfect for hot summer days. With different variations available, the traditional recipe can be made with various ingredients such as cucumber, carrot, iceberg lettuce, walnut kernels, tahini, and purple cabbage, to name a few.
Today, I will be sharing with you the unique recipe of Purple Cabbage Tarator that adds a beautiful color and a slightly sweeter and milder taste to the dish. This recipe is a delicious and healthy way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet and is sure to impress your guests.
Tarator is also a versatile side dish that can be adjusted to personal taste and served with bread, vegetables, or meat dishes. It’s a great way to add some freshness and flavor to any meal. Tarator is also a great way to use up leftover yogurt.
What are the ingredients of the Purple Cabbage Tarator recipe?
Purple Cabbage: This ingredient is the main focus of the dish, and adds a beautiful color and a slightly sweeter and milder taste to the dish compared to traditional iceberg lettuce.
Yogurt: This is the base of the tarator, and it provides a tangy and creamy flavor. It’s preferable to use thick and strained yogurt for the tarator.
Garlic: This ingredient adds an intense flavor to the tarator. The garlic is usually minced or crushed and added to the yogurt.
Olive oil: This ingredient adds richness and flavor to the dish.
Fresh lemon juice: This ingredient is used to add acidity and balance the flavors of the purple cabbage tarator.
Dill: This ingredient adds a fresh and herbaceous flavor to the tarator. The dill is usually finely chopped and used for topping.
Mayo (Optional): Mayo can be added as an optional ingredient to give a creamy texture and a subtle tangy flavor to the purple cabbage tarator. At traditional tarator recipes, we don’t use mayo.
What dishes pair well with Purple Cabbage Tarator?
The versatility of Purple Cabbage Tarator makes it a delicious addition to any meal, as it pairs well with a variety of meat dishes such as chicken shish, kofte, sac kavurma, adana kebab, or testi kebab.
The tangy and creamy flavor of yogurt, combined with the fresh and herbaceous flavor of dill and the slightly sweet and milder taste of purple cabbage, creates a perfect balance that complements the rich and savory flavors of meat dishes. It’s a perfect side dish for any meat lover, and it’s sure to be a hit at any dinner party or gathering.
In summary, this Purple Cabbage Tarator recipe is a delicious and versatile dish that is perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re looking for a new side dish to serve with dinner, or a refreshing salad for a summer gathering, this recipe is sure to please. With its unique blend of flavors and textures, it’s a great way to add some variety to your main meal. The recipe is easy to follow and the ingredients are readily available at most supermarkets. I hope you enjoy making and trying this recipe, and that it becomes a new favorite in your kitchen.
Tarator
Ingredients
- 1 Purple cabbage (small size) finely chopped
- 2 Cloves of Garlic minced
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 4 tbsp Strained yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Fresh half lemon juice
Topping
- 2 Pinch of fresh dill washed, drained and chopped
Instructions
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Combine strained yogurt, minced garlic, and salt in a wide bowl.
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Place olive oil in a non-stick pan and add the finely chopped purple cabbages and saute for 5 minutes.
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Place the sauteed purple cabbages into the yogurt mix and then add the fresh half-lemon juice and combine all well.
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Place the mix on a serving plate, and add the chopped fresh dills on top.
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Serve
Recipe Notes
Tip: Serve with lavash bread or pita bread for dipping.
