Zagros Meadow
Gin, doogh, cucumber and wild mint, as the nomads drink it.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | ml | oz |
|---|---|---|
| Gin | 30 ml | 1 oz |
| Still doogh · homemade, P32 | 75 ml | 2½ oz |
| Fresh cucumber juice · homemade, J02 | 20 ml | ⅔ oz |
| Fresh mint leaves | 2 leaves | |
| Dried pooneh or dried mint | a pinch |
Ounces are rounded; measure in ml for accuracy. Homemade items link to their own page.
rocks glass
fresh cubes
cucumber ribbon and a pinch of dried pooneh
The story
Twice a year, the Bakhtiari and Qashqai nomads move their flocks across the Zagros mountains: up to the cool summer pastures in spring, down to the warm plains in autumn. Their life runs on yogurt and doogh, churned in goatskin bags and flavored with wild mountain herbs like pooneh. This is the only truly savory long drink in the book: tangy doogh, cool cucumber and a little gin, finished with wild mint the way doogh is served at every kebab house in Iran.
Method
- Gently press the mint leaves in the shaker.
- Add the gin, still doogh, cucumber juice and ice.
- Shake briefly, about 6 seconds; doogh doesn’t need hard shaking.
- Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass.
- Rub a pinch of dried pooneh between your fingers over the top and add a cucumber ribbon.
How it tastes
Tangy, lightly salty and refreshing, with cool cucumber, herbal mint and gin’s botanicals in the background.
Persian taste: shoor (salty), torsh (tangy)
Pair it with
- Food: Kebab koobideh with rice and grilled tomato, doogh’s natural partner.
- Sweet: Gooshfil, crisp fried pastry dusted with sugar; the sweet-salty contrast is an Isfahan favorite with doogh.
- Snack: Nan-o-panir with dried mint
Variations
Mountain doogh
Use the mountain doogh version of P32, with pooneh and kakuti.
Vodka meadow
Use vodka instead of gin for a cleaner drink.
Alcohol-free
120 ml still doogh, 20 ml cucumber juice, ice and dried mint.
Balancing tips
- Use still doogh only; never shake a carbonated liquid.
- Start without extra salt or lemon; doogh already brings both.
- Try a half-size serving first if your guests are new to savory drinks.
Allergens
- Milk
- Contains alcohol. Please drink responsibly.
Development notes
- Status: draft recipe, not yet taste-tested.
- Test a half-size serving first.
Watch it mixed
Follow along
Steps light up as the animation plays. Tap a step to jump to it.
Heads-up: this animation was rendered from an earlier draft, so the amounts on screen differ slightly. Follow the ingredient table above.
Zagros mountains, imagined
