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    Home » Recipes » Side Dish

    Cucumber Yogurt Sauce (Khyar Bi Laban)

    By Lily・Published: Jun 23, 2021・Updated: Jun 23, 2021・Post may have affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Lebanese cucumber yogurt sauce, also known as khyar bi laban, is a refreshing yogurt salad made with mint, yogurt, fresh garlic, and cucumber. It's my favorite side dish for grilled kafta, stuffed cabbage leaves, fried kibbeh, kibbeh bil sanieh, and chicken biryani rice.

    cucumber mint yogurt with fresh mint and dried mint

    There are two secrets to making this recipe perfect: use freshly mashed garlic and use both dried and fresh mint. After making this Lebanese cucumber yogurt sauce at least a hundred times over the years, it's perfect.

    What I Love About This Sauce

    This cucumber yogurt sauce reminds me a little bit of tzatziki sauce, just not as thick. But what truly sets this yogurt sauce apart from all others is the combination of crunchy cucumbers, tangy mashed garlic, and refreshing fresh mint leaves. I have to make this sauce any time there's kafta, kibbeh, or biryani rice.

    Ingredient Notes

    ingredients needed to make cucumber mint yogurt
    • Fresh mint and dried mint: I recommend using both types of mint for this cucumber mint yogurt. Dried mint has a different flavor profile than fresh mint and both complement this yogurt extremely well.
    • Persian mini cucumbers: An alternative to Persian cucumbers is an English cucumber. I strongly suggest using either Persian or English cucumbers because they are crispy and less watery. Also, you do not have to remove the peel.
    • Fresh garlic cloves: The garlic must be mashed with a mortar and pestle to make this right. The garlic needs to be completely mashed so it mixes into the yogurt well. If the garlic is chunky, the yogurt sauce will have chunky pieces of garlic.
    • Yogurt: Use unsweetened plain yogurt either store-bought plain yogurt or homemade plain yogurt.

    How To Make Cucumber Mint Yogurt

    Using a mortar and pestle, mash the whole garlic cloves and salt together. Mash the garlic cloves very finely.

    garlic cloves and salt in a mortar and pestle
    mash the garlic with a mortar and pestle

    Chop the cucumbers finely. Remove the fresh mint leaves and chop finely. Add the yogurt, dried mint leaves, fresh mint leaves, chopped cucumbers, and mashed garlic into the same bowl.

    chop the Persian cucumbers into small chunks
    Add all of the ingredients together in a bowl

    Mix the yogurt together. Salt the cucumber mint yogurt as desired.

    Mix the cucumber mint yogurt with the mashed garlic
    the cucumber mint yogurt in a large bowl

    Tips and Tricks

    • Use Persian cucumbers. Regular cucumbers are too watery to use for this recipe. The best cucumbers to use are either Persian cucumbers (baby cucumbers) or English cucumbers.
    • Use high-quality plain yogurt. I prefer to make this sauce with homemade yogurt.
    cucumber mint yogurt in a bowl with fresh mint and dried mint

    Variation Notes

    Use Greek yogurt or labneh in lieu of plain yogurt. This makes a thicker sauce, so some adjustments need to be made. If using Greek yogurt or labneh in lieu of plain yogurt, chop the cucumbers very finely. Because the Greek yogurt and labneh are thicker, reduce the quantity of labneh or Greek yogurt by half. Add a little bit of water if desiring a thinner consistency.

    FAQs

    Is Lebanese cucumber yogurt like tzatziki?

    Yes, both cucumber yogurt sauces use herbs, yogurt, and cucumbers. Greek tzatziki uses Greek yogurt and dill whereas Lebanese cucumber yogurt uses plain yogurt and mint.

    Can this be made fat-free?

    Yes. Substitute fat-free yogurt for full-fat yogurt.

    What goes with cucumber yogurt sauce?

    Fried kibbeh, baked kibbeh bil sanieh, chicken biryani rice, stuffed cabbage leaves, and grilled kafta.

    How to store?

    Store in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

    Pairings With Cucumber Yogurt

    • fried kibbeh in a bowl
      Fried Kibbeh Balls
    • egyptian mahshi crumb in a pot
      Egyptian Mahshi Crumb (Stuffed Cabbage Rolls)
    • baked kibbeh on a plate
      Kibbeh Bil Sanieh (Baked Kibbeh)
    • spicy chicken biryani rice recipe.
      Chicken Biryani Rice

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    📋 Recipe

    cucumber mint yogurt in a bowl with fresh mint and dried mint

    Cucumber Yogurt Sauce (Khyar Bi Laban)

    Author: Lily
    Course: Sauce
    Cuisine: Lebanese
    Prep: 10 minutes mins
    Total: 10 minutes mins
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate Email
    Servings 6
    This refreshing Lebanese cucumber yogurt sauce is made with crispy cucumbers, fresh and dried mint, mashed garlic, and plain yogurt.

    Ingredients
     
    US Customary - Metric

    • 1 quart full-fat unsweetened yogurt
    • 3 Persian cucumbers
    • 2 fresh mint sprigs
    • 2 tablespoon dried mint
    • 4 garlic cloves
    • Salt to taste

    Instructions

    • Mash the garlic with a mortar and pestle.
    • Finely chop the Persian cucumbers.
    • Remove the leaves from the mint sprigs. Finely chop.
    • Add the mashed garlic, chopped cucumbers, fresh mint, and dried mint to the yogurt. Mix the cucumber yogurt sauce.

    Notes

    1. Greek yogurt or labneh can be substituted in lieu of yogurt. Reduce quantity by ½ if using.
    2. This sauce can be made with either fresh mint or dried mint or both.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 cup | Calories: 158 kcal | Carbohydrates: 8 g | Protein: 13 g | Fat: 7 g | Saturated Fat: 5 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 20 mg | Sodium: 56 mg | Fiber: 0 g | Sugar: 7 g

    More Amazing Side Dishes

    • homemade Lebanese vermicelli rice.
      Lebanese Vermicelli Rice Pilaf
    • fire roasted eggplant dip with garlic and mint
      Mediterranean Grilled Eggplant Dip
    • close up view of baked mac and cheese.
      Baked White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
    • easy homemade yogurt in a pot
      Easy Lebanese Homemade Yogurt (Laban)

    About Lily

    Howdy! My name is Lilian, but my friends call me Lily. I'm the founder and one of the recipe authors here at The Matbakh. I enjoy sunsets, long walks to the fridge, meaningful relationships, and anything related to food. I'm so happy you are here!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Lindsey

      July 12, 2021 at 8:02 am

      5 stars
      The mashed garlic in this recipe is what makes this sauce so yummy. It was easy to make with baby cucumbers and fresh mint.

      Reply
      • Lily

        July 12, 2021 at 8:03 am

        Thanks for the comment

        Reply

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    lily at the matbakh

    I'm Lily

    I'm an American Lebanese living in Texas. My kitchen, or matbakh, is a hodgepodge of recipes from the U.S. and Mediterranean region.

    ABOUT ME

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