🇹🇯 Tajik Cuisine

Chakka

Strained Yogurt Dip

Prep Time 15 min + straining
Servings 4
Difficulty Easy
Calories 88 kcal

A thick, tangy strained yogurt seasoned with herbs, garlic, and cucumber — Tajikistan's essential condiment and dip.

Ingredients

  • 500ml natural yogurt
  • 1 cucumber, grated and squeezed
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Fresh dill and mint, chopped
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

  1. 1 Line a strainer with cheesecloth over a bowl.
  2. 2 Pour yogurt in, let strain 2-4 hours in the refrigerator.
  3. 3 Mix thick strained yogurt with grated cucumber, garlic, herbs, and salt.
  4. 4 Drizzle with olive oil before serving.
  5. 5 Serve as a dip with bread or alongside grilled meats.

Did You Know?

Chakka can be dried further into kurt (dried yogurt balls) that last months without refrigeration — a legacy of nomadic food preservation.

From The Culinary Codex — http://theculinarycodex.com/dish/tajik/chakka/