Tsakhdon
Tsakhdon (цахдон): Ossetian sour cream sauce with crushed garlic, salt and fresh herbs
Ossetian tables in Vladikavkaz and the mountain villages of North Ossetia nearly always carry a bowl of tsakhdon, the thick, garlicky sour cream that goes with three-pie feasts, boiled beef, potatoes and anything grilled. It is cool, tangy and sharp with raw garlic, flecked green with dill, coriander and a little mint, and some families add a pinch of crushed red pepper. Garlic pounded with salt gives a smoother, sweeter heat than chopped garlic, so take the extra minute with a mortar. The usual slip is serving it the moment it is mixed; ten minutes in the fridge lets the garlic soften and spread through the cream. Use full-fat sour cream, as low-fat versions turn runny. Chef's tip: thin it with a spoon or two of cold water or kefir if you want it pourable over hot potatoes rather than spoonable beside pies.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 4 cloves garlicpeeled
- ½ tsp coarse salt
- 10 ½ oz full-fat sour cream (20%)
- ⅓ oz fresh dillfinely chopped
- ⅓ oz fresh corianderfinely chopped
- 4 fresh mint leaves (optional)finely chopped
- ¼ tsp black pepperfreshly ground
- 1 pinch crushed dried red chilli (optional)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Pound the 4 cloves garlic with the ½ tsp coarse salt in a mortar for about 2 minutes, until it turns into a smooth, juicy paste with no visible pieces.
2 minStep 2: Stir the paste into the 10 ½ oz full-fat sour cream (20%) in a bowl, beating with a spoon for 30 seconds until evenly mixed and glossy.
1 minStep 3: Fold in the ⅓ oz fresh dill, ⅓ oz fresh coriander and 4 fresh mint leaves, then season with the ¼ tsp black pepper and taste; it should be clearly garlicky and pleasantly salty.
2 minStep 4: Cover and chill for 10 minutes so the garlic mellows. Scatter the 1 pinch crushed dried red chilli over the top just before serving with pies, boiled meat or potatoes.
10 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 95 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 3 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tsakhdon take?
- About 10 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
- What can I use instead of full-fat sour cream (20%)?
- Greek yoghurt, same amount.
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