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Bakhour Salad with Sausage
Instructions
I prepare the ingredients for the Bakhour salad. I boil the eggs – cooking them for 7 minutes after the water comes to the boil. I peel the onion and the garlic.
I cut two cucumbers into small matchsticks and transfer them to a deep bowl. Fresh cucumbers give the salad a crunchy base.
I cut the onion into half-rings, pour boiling water over it and leave it for 10 minutes. Then I drain off the water. This removes the bitterness and makes the onion milder.
I cut 3 tomatoes into matchsticks and add them to the cucumbers.
I chop the boiled sausage into cubes and add it to the vegetables. In the classic Uzbek Bakhour there would be meat here, but sausage is a convenient alternative.
I add 3 boiled eggs, cut into cubes, to the chopped ingredients.
To the same bowl I add 100 g of cheese grated on a vegetable grater.
I finely chop the dill, leaving one sprig for garnish. I transfer it to the rest of the ingredients.
I finely chop 2 cloves of garlic and add them to the salad bowl together with the onion. Then I pepper and salt to taste and mix everything with 3 tbsp of mayonnaise.
I taste it. If there is not enough salt or pepper, I add a little more.
I transfer the finished Bakhour salad to a salad bowl, garnish it with the herbs and serve it to the table.Bon appetit!
Tips
- 1
ALWAYS scald the onion with boiling water – this removes the bitterness. Without this step the onion will overpower the delicate flavour of the other ingredients.
- 2
CUT THE CUCUMBERS shortly before assembling – otherwise they will release their juice and the salad will become watery.
- 3
USE GOOD-QUALITY SAUSAGE – boiled «Doktorskaya» or «Molochnaya» from a trusted producer. Cheap sausage with colourings will spoil the taste.
- 4
Serve IMMEDIATELY after making – this salad does not like standing for long (the tomatoes and cucumbers release juice). A similar principle works for other «quick» salads.
Video
FAQ
What can I use instead of sausage? +
The original Uzbek version uses boiled lamb or beef (200–250 g). Alternatives: boiled or baked chicken (a dietary option), smoked chicken (a brighter flavour), diced ham (convenient), boiled beef (the classic by the traditional recipe), boiled turkey (a low-calorie option). Sausage is a simplification. If you want a more «Uzbek» version, take lamb boiled with onion and spices (coriander, cumin). For a vegan version, use tofu cubes fried with smoked paprika.
Can I make it without mayonnaise? +
Yes, the recipe can be adapted. Alternatives: 20% sour cream (the classic substitute), Greek yoghurt (a dietary option), a 1:1 mix of sour cream and mayonnaise, olive oil + mustard + lemon juice (a vinaigrette-style dressing). Mayonnaise gives a «creaminess» and brings the ingredients together. Without it the salad turns out «lighter». In Uzbek cuisine mayonnaise is already a «Soviet» adaptation: traditionally sour cream or oil with vinegar was used. For children, replace it with sour cream – it will be milder.
How long does the salad keep? +
In the refrigerator in a closed container – 1 day. At most – 2 days without tomatoes and cucumbers. Salads with fresh vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers) and mayonnaise are «one-day» salads. The tomatoes release juice and the mayonnaise loses its freshness. At room temperature – a maximum of 2 hours. Make portions you will eat straight away. For convenience: keep the chopped ingredients without mayonnaise in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, and mix and dress them right before serving.
Which sausage is best? +
«Doktorskaya» (the classic, 250–270 kcal/100 g), «Molochnaya» (milder, 240 kcal/100 g), «Ostankinskaya» (with dill – an interesting accent), smoked sausage of the «Servelat» type (a bright flavour, 320–350 kcal/100 g). Avoid: salami (too salty and spicy), liver sausage (it will crumble), sausages with a lot of fat and spices. For a children's version – «Molochnaya» or «Chaynaya» – a neutral flavour. For a men's gathering – smoked sausage of the «Krakovskaya» type – a brighter flavour. The main thing is that the sausage should be firm and hold its shape in cubes.
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