Cacik -Turkish Yogurt Dip
Cacik – Turkish Yogurt Dip is a simple yet delicious mix of creamy yogurt, crunchy cucumber, zesty garlic, and refreshing herbs. It’s the perfect addition to any summer meal. Ready in just 10 minutes, this versatile dish can be served as a soup or a dip, much like Greek tzatziki. Pair it with oven-baked lamb kebabs and Middle Eastern carrot rice pilaf for a weeknight family meal.
Why You Will Love This Recipe:
- Easy to make. Cacik is a simple recipe that can be prepared by anyone, even if you have never cooked before.
- Protein-rich. This Turkish yogurt dip is a great source of protein and probiotics. The addition of lemon, garlic, cucumber, and herbs makes this simple dish a great addition to your diet.
- Versatile. Cacik is a staple in Turkish cuisine and can be served in many different ways. Try it as a cold yogurt soup on a hot summer day or as a tzatziki-style dip with roast lamb or my easy chicken shawarma.
This Turkish dip is fantastic! It’s creamy and refreshing, perfect with grilled meat and pita bread. It was easy to make and a big hit—definitely a new favorite.
Nina
Whenever we have a Turkish or Middle Eastern meal, Cacik dip is a must. We absolutely love this recipe and hope you will too.
Recipe Ingredients
Only a few ingredients are needed to make this delicious Turkish recipe, but because there are so few, make sure they are of the best quality you can find.
- Thick creamy yogurt. You will need one cup of plain yogurt. I like using Greek yogurt as it provides a great amount of protein.
- Cucumbers. Make sure you use fresh cucumbers that are firm and crisp to make cacik. I like Lebanese also called Persian cucumbers, but you can use regular English cucumbers or telegraph cucumbers as well.
- Lemon juice. Freshly squeezed is the best.
- Fresh herbs. Cacik is typically made with dill or mint, but you can use any other fresh herbs. I prefer fresh mint leaves to make this recipe.
- Dry mint. This ingredient can’t be omitted, dry mint gives the dip its authentic Turkish flavor.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients 👇
Variations
- Give it some heat: Add Aleppo pepper to add some spiciness.
- Feta Cacik: Mix in crumbled feta cheese for a salty kick.
- Add more fresh herbs: Try different herbs such as fresh dill, parsley, thyme, and sage to enhance the dip with refreshing flavors.
How To Make Cacik – Turkish Yogurt Dip
Step 1: Wash the cucumber thoroughly and coarsely grate it. Set the grated cucumber aside to allow it to release some of its moisture while you prepare the other ingredients.
Step 2: Finely dice, grate, or mince the garlic cloves, and finely chop your choice of fresh herbs. Add the garlic and herbs to a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Step 3: Add the yogurt to the bowl with the garlic and herbs, then squeeze in fresh lemon juice. Stir the mixture until well combined.
Step 4: Using your hands, squeeze out the excess water from the grated cucumber. Add the drained cucumber to the yogurt mixture.
Step 5: Stir the mixture thoroughly to combine all the ingredients. Taste the dip and adjust the seasoning to your preference. Add more salt, dried mint, or a splash of extra virgin olive oil to enhance the flavor. Transfer the dip to a serving dish and enjoy!
How To Serve
This delicious Turkish yogurt dip can be enjoyed in many different ways. Here are a couple of ideas for you to try:
- Enjoy cacik the traditional way as part of a Turkish meze. Serve it with Tavada Patates Salatası (Turkish potato salad), Turkish stuffed eggplant, Middle Eastern eggplant dip, and fresh pita bread (gluten-free if needed).
- It pairs wonderfully with grilled meat and vegetables.
- Use it as a yogurt sauce in burgers, wraps, and sandwiches.
- Cacik can be part of a well-balanced breakfast. Serve it with poached eggs to make Turkish eggs.
- Serve it as a refreshing Turkish yogurt soup.
Cacik – Turkish Yogurt Soup
Cacik is sometimes served as a chilled soup. This is a light and refreshing dish for a hot summer day. To make Turkish yogurt soup, add half a cup of cold water to the yogurt dip and mix until you have a creamy consistency. Serve in small serving bowls with crusty bread on the side.
Recipe FAQs
Yogurt-based dips are popular everywhere from the Middle East to Central Asia and Cacik and Tzatziki most likely have the same origin, but while these delicious dips are quite similar they also have a couple of differences:
The main difference between these two delicious cucumber dips is that Cacik is Turkish and Tzatziki is Greek.
Both dips have yogurt, cucumber, and garlic as their main ingredients. However, the seasoning is different. Both use fresh herbs, but the unique rich flavor in Cacik comes from the dry mint.
Some people will say that cacik is made with diced cucumber while tzatziki is made with grated cucumber. I have been to Turkey many times and always enjoyed cacik served with grated cucumber.
Store your Cacik dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 2-3 days. Before serving, give it a good stir, as the yogurt and cucumber might release some water over time.
More Delicious Dip Recipes You’ll Love
If you tried this Cacik -Turkish Yogurt Dip Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Cacik -Turkish cucumber and garlic yogurt
Ingredients
- 1 cup thick Greek yogurt, organic if possible. 250ml, 8½ fl oz
- ⅓ cup grated cucumber, liquid squeezed out approximately … cucumbers
- 2 small garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced you can add less or more garlic depending on your taste preferences.
- 1 teaspoon dry mince
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice approximately ½ a lemon
- sea salt to season
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil only add a the oil at the end to serve, do not mix the oil into the dip.
- fresh mint leaves or dill to serve
Instructions
- Prepare the Cucumber: Wash and coarsely grate the cucumber. Set aside to release moisture.
- Prepare the Garlic and Herbs: Finely dice or mince the garlic cloves and chop the herbs. Place them in a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Mix Ingredients: Add the yogurt and lemon juice to the bowl with garlic and herbs. Stir to combine.
- Combine Cucumber: Squeeze excess water from the grated cucumber and add it to the yogurt mixture.
- Final Touches: Stir well to combine. Adjust seasoning with salt and dried mint. Add a splash of olive oil if desired. Transfer to a serving dish and serve.
Notes
- Adjust Flavors: Feel free to adjust the amount of lemon juice, garlic, and herbs to taste. You can also add a splash of extra virgin olive oil for extra richness.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Stir well before serving.
- Variations: Add crumbled feta, roasted garlic, or a pinch of red pepper flakes for different flavors.
- Make a Soup: Dilute cacik with some water to make chilled yogurt soup.
Ich mag Türkisches Essen!