Cacik -Turkish cucumber and garlic yogurt
Cacik is a traditional Turkish dip made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and herbs. It is light, refreshing, and perfect as a side dish or dip for bread, meat, or vegetables. I hope you like it as much as we do!
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.
