Homemade Cacik | Turkish Cucumber & Garlic Yoghurt

I am so excited to share this recipe with you all. This delicious Cacik recipe is perfect as a sauce/side dish to your summer bbq’s, it is perfect with grilled meats as well as grilled vegetables or even grilled halloumi skewers. After sharing this on my Instagram stories, it became a highly requested recipe to share, so here it is for you all to enjoy at home.

WHAT IS CACIK

Cacik, also known as Tzatziki, is traditionally made from strained yoghurt using either sheep or goats milk, grated or chopped cucumber, crushed garlic, salt, olive oil and dried or fresh mint or chopped dill. Unlike natural yoghurt, this kind of yoghurt is thicker in texture and perfect for this sauce. Here in the UK you will traditionally find natural yoghurts or natural greek style yoghurts made with cow’s milk, they tend to be more watery and less creamy. I would recommend Fage Greek Yoghurt, not only for the amazing taste but the consistency of the yoghurt is so much more enjoyable and better for this recipe. If you are close to a continental shop you will be able to pick up some Turkish Yoghurt instead.

Cacik originates from the Ottoman Empire and has since been enjoyed as a cold meze along side other meze dishes. Cacik can also be enjoyed as a side sauce to a main meal like grilled meat as well as other Turkish or Greek dishes like Fasulya and Musakka.

Cacik is so easy to make and can be enjoyed during both the summer and winter months. So why not try this recipe at your next bbq as a saucy dip for your kebabs or even in your beef burgers, trust me, once you try this recipe you will want it every time you have a bbq.

Print

Cacik - Turkish Cucumber and Garlic Yoghurt

An easy to make cold Turkish Meze perfect for your grilled meat or vegetables..

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Turkish

Keyword Cacik, Tzatziki

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

• 350 g Turkish Yoghurt or Fage Greek Yoghurt
• 150 g grated or chopped Cucumber (if grated drain the water from the cucumber in a cheese cloth or your hands)
• 1 Garlic clove, crushed
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice, fresh
• 1 tsp dried Mint or fresh Mint leaves finely chopped
• Salt, to season
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil, to drizzle
• 1 Fresh Chopped Parsely, handful

Instructions

1. In a small mixing bowl add the cucumber, garlic, yoghurt, lemon juice and mint. Season with a little salt and using a table spoon mix everything together.

2. Dish the sauce into a serving bowl

3. Drizzle over some extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle over some more mint and garnish with some parsley or dill leaves

4. Serve straight away or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

That is it!! It really is as quick and as easy at that. Please let me know if you try my Homemade Cacik recipe and don’t forget to tag me in your photos on Twitter @PinarRawlins and Instagram @pinarrawlinsx.

If you are looking for more healthy recipes or Turkish food recipes then check out last weeks recipe for my Homemade Hummus with Paprika and my other recipes here.

Pinar xo