Cooking & Baking

Last edited Sun May 10, 2015, 06:57 PM - Edit history (1)

(In two different ways -- if you can't refrigerate milk, turn it into yogurt as soon as possible.)

There's a Turkish dish called cacik which is great for hot summer days. Like gazpacho and vichysoisse, it's a culinary reaction to summer heat, but unlike those dishes, no cooking is required for preparation. And it's hard to imagine a more cooling combination than yogurt and cucumbers, with a little mint. Keep it in mind if the AC breaks down.

You might also look into Indian lassis -- cool drinks made with yogurt, milk, and fruit. Mango is preferred, and delicious.

My favorite raita is a simple combination of chopped cucumber, golden raisins (sultanas), and blanched almonds in yogurt. Let the almonds soak for several hours (or overnight), and the raisins for about one hour. Combine and add a little salt and pepper. No measurements, just use whatever feels right for you. Other recipes call for cucumbers and tomatoes, and get to be kind of like a salad with more dressing than salad. Which, by the way, is probably where the idea for yogurt-based salad dressing comes from.