Recipe for: Buttermilk cucumber drink with dill - photo 1
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Recipe for: Buttermilk cucumber drink with dill

Spicy Drinks Regional Cuisine of Poland 25 min Easy 8 views ~19.76 PLN - (0)
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Description

A refreshing, slightly tangy drink made from buttermilk with grated cucumbers and fresh dill, inspired by the Podlasie tradition of using fermented dairy products in the summer. Perfect for hot days, it quenches thirst well and pairs nicely with grilled dishes, young potatoes, and fish. It has a delicate, creamy texture, a green color, and a dill aroma—great as a standalone drink or a light addition to a summer meal.

Ingredients Used

Ingredients (8)

Servings:
4
  • Buttermilk 800 g
  • Cucumber 1 pcs (~300 g)
  • 🌿 Spices
  • Dill 1.5 bunch (~30 g)
  • Salt 2 g
  • Black pepper 2 pinch (~1 g)
  • ✨ Optional
  • Garlic 2 clove (~10 g)
  • Olive oil 15 ml
  • Lemon juice 15 ml
💰 Estimated dish cost: ~19.76 PLN (4.94 PLN/serving)

💡 Click an ingredient to mark it as used

Preparation steps

Preparation

1

Wash the cucumber under running water and dry it with a paper towel. If the skin is thick or bitter, peel the cucumber thinly with a peeler. If the skin is firm and thin (field cucumber), you can leave some of the skin for color and crunch.

Ingredients: Cucumber
Use a cutting board and a peeler. Check the skin: if it has white spots or soft spots, cut them off with a knife.
2

Grate the cucumber on a large grater into a bowl or chop it into small cubes if you don't have a grater. Also grate (optional) a clove of garlic on a fine grater or press it through a garlic press into the bowl with the cucumber.

Ingredients: Cucumber, Garlic
Use a grater with large holes for a delicate texture and more juice. If you don't like chunks, choose fine grating and blend later.
3

Transfer the grated cucumber to a sieve set over a bowl and gently press with a spoon to remove excess juice. Leave about 1–2 tablespoons of juice in the cucumber for flavor; you can keep the rest of the juice and add it later if the drink is too thick.

Ingredients: Cucumber
Use a spoon to press and a coarse sieve. Do not press dry — we want to keep some juice, but too much will make the drink watery.
4

Pour the buttermilk into the blender, add the squeezed cucumber, chopped dill (save a few sprigs for decoration), salt, and pepper. If you are using garlic, add it now. Blend on medium speed for 20–30 seconds until the ingredients are combined and the drink is creamy; do not blend too long to avoid creating foam.

Ingredients: Buttermilk, Cucumber, Dill, Salt, Garlic
Use a hand blender or a jug blender. If you don't have a blender, mix the mixture thoroughly with a whisk or a hand mixer, first mashing the cucumber with a fork.
5

Taste the drink and season to your liking: add a tablespoon of olive oil and 15 ml of lemon juice if you want a creamier texture and a more pronounced acidity. If the drink is too thick, add a bit of reserved cucumber juice or cold water and mix briefly again.

Ingredients: Olive oil, Lemon juice, Cucumber
Add the ingredients gradually and taste. Olive oil and lemon are optional — they add an elegant finish but change the character of the drink.

Cooling

6

Pour the drink into a pitcher, place it in the refrigerator for 15–30 minutes to let the flavors meld and the drink chill well. During the cooling process, the aroma of dill will be released, and the consistency will achieve a pleasant smoothness.

Ingredients: Buttermilk, Dill
Use a covered pitcher so the drink doesn't absorb odors from the fridge. Chilling is an important step — serve the drink well chilled.

Serving

7

Serve in tall glasses with a few ice cubes (optional) and a sprig of fresh dill for decoration. You can add a slice of cucumber to the rim of the glass. The drink tastes best right away, slightly chilled.

Ingredients: Dill, Buttermilk, Cucumber
It's best to use glasses with a capacity of 300–400 ml. If serving for grilling, place the drink next to plates with young potatoes and light fish.

Fun Fact

💡

In Podlasie, fermented and sour dairy drinks — buttermilk and kefir have long been used for refreshment during fieldwork. The combination of buttermilk and cucumber is a local variant of cold soup, simple and light.

Best for

letni piknik grill odpoczynek w upalne dni podlaska biesiada

Tips

🍽️ Serving

Serve well chilled in tall glasses, garnished with a sprig of dill and a slice of cucumber. Accompany with young potatoes with dill, grilled fish, or a light tomato salad. Serve immediately after chilling.

🥡 Storage

Store in a closed pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Before serving, stir – the cucumber may release some juice. Do not freeze; after a longer period, the buttermilk may separate and lose freshness.

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