Achichuk
Achichuk is the summer salad that appears on every Uzbek table when tomatoes reach peak ripeness, a dish so simple it can hardly be called a recipe, more a method of letting fresh ingredients speak for themselves. It is often served alongside plov, kebab, or any meat-rich dish, balancing rich meals with tangy freshness. The name achichuk comes from a word suggesting a pleasant sourness, and the recipe's simplicity actually hides great attention to ingredient quality: the tomatoes must be perfectly ripe and the onion freshly harvested. In the markets of Tashkent and Samarkand, vegetable sellers know exactly which tomatoes are right for achichuk, a sign of Uzbek respect for seasonal produce.
Sun-ripened tomatoes
Very ripe, sweet tomatoes, thinly sliced, form the base of the salad.
Soaked red onion
Thinly sliced red onion is soaked in water to temper its sharpness.
Fresh hot pepper
A few slices of green hot pepper add a subtle spicy note.
Just oil and salt
A drizzle of sunflower oil and salt are the only seasonings needed.
Ingredients 4 servings
- 4 large, very ripe tomatoes
- 1 large red onion
- 1 green hot pepper
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 tsp salt
- Cold water for soaking the onion
- 1 bunch chopped parsley
- 1 bunch chopped dill
- Ground black pepper to taste
How to make it
- 1Peel the red onion and slice it very thinly, then place it in a bowl of cold water with a little salt, letting it soak for 15 minutes to temper its sharpness.
- 2Wash the tomatoes and slice them thinly, about 5mm thick, then arrange them on a large platter, slightly overlapping.
- 3Cut the hot pepper into thin rounds, removing the seeds if a milder dish is preferred.
- 4Drain the onion well and place it over the tomatoes, along with the pepper rounds.
- 5Sprinkle salt and ground black pepper directly over the salad, letting it sit for a few minutes to release the tomatoes' natural juice.
- 6Drizzle with sunflower oil, distributing it evenly over the whole surface.
- 7Sprinkle the chopped parsley and dill on top just before serving, to keep the herbs' freshness.
Nutritional info
per serving (~350 g)
Estimated nutritional values.
Pairs perfectly with
