How to Make Armenian Jajukh / Cucumber Yogurt Salad

Garlic and yogurt are meant to be together. Add dried mint, cucumbers and ice and you have a refreshing side dish that pairs amazingly with kebab or any spicy main course. Scroll down to see how I make Armenian Jajukh in my first ever blog post! I know you will enjoy this recipe. It has a hint of garlic, but if you like it stronger by all means add more garlic! My grandmother always added ice-cubes to Jajukh, but you can also add 1/2 a cup of very cold water. The cold yogurt is what makes this so nice for summer.

Is your garden overflowing with mint right now? My grandmother planted mint at my childhood home and it has over-taken the backyard. I love it. I ask my mother to bring me some of the mint with roots, so that I can plant it in my herb garden every summer.

I prefer using small cucumbers, but you can certainly use large English cucumbers as well. Just slice them into small, bite-size pieces. I recommend using a micro-plane to crush your garlic. I also absolutely love these giant ‘ball’ ice cubes because they melt slowly and leave your Jajukh nice and cold yet not too watery. They are the same ice cubes I use in my Boulevardier cocktails. If you like strong drinks without all the added water from small ice-cubes, I strongly recommend investing in these ice-cube trays! This makes me wonder, actually, what are popular cocktails in Armenia?

When you pronounce Jajukh to your ‘odar’ (meaning non-Armenian) friends, you have to really emphasize the ‘kh’ sound so they think this salad is very exotic. Անուշ Ըլլայ!

Print Recipe

Jajukh / Cucumber Yogurt Salad

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Salad – Armenian

By Sylvia Hagopian / ArmenianDish.com – Serves: 4-6

Prep Time: 15 minutes

This very simple recipe for Jajukh uses five ingredients plus ice cubes. The ice cubes melt which makes this salad a fantastic side dish on a hot summer day.

Ingredients

• 4 cups 2% or full-fat yogurt
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tablespoon dried mint
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 small cucumbers
• 5 ice-cubes

Instructions

1

Using a large bowl, stir yogurt until consistency is smooth

2

Slice cucumbers down the middle, and then on a diagonal to create small 1/4 inch slices

3

Add cucumbers, mint, salt and crushed garlic to the yogurt

4

Stir well to combine

5

Add ice cubes and allow to melt slightly, stirring to combine

6

Serve cold with ice cubes