Cacık (Turkish Cucumber and Yogurt with Garlic and Mint)
In short: A cool bowl of yogurt with diced cucumber, crushed garlic, dried mint and olive oil, served beside kebabs, rice and fried dishes. It takes about 10 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 10 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 115 kcal
Cacık is the cooling side dish of the Turkish table: thick yogurt, crisp cucumber, a little raw garlic and dried mint. It sits next to kebabs, stuffed vegetables, pilaf and anything fried, and the yogurt calms spicy food. Made a bit thicker it works as a dip, and thinned with iced water it becomes a summer soup. The recipe takes ten minutes and needs no cooking.
Instructions
- Toss the cucumber with a pinch of salt in a sieve and leave it for 10 minutes, then press out the liquid with the back of a spoon.
- Beat the yogurt in a bowl with a fork until smooth. Stir in the garlic paste and the cold water until it has the texture of thick cream.
- Fold in the cucumber, olive oil and dried mint. Taste and adjust the salt and garlic.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes so the flavors blend.
- Serve cold in small bowls, drizzled with olive oil and finished with a pinch of dried mint.
Tips
- For a thin, soup-style cacık, whisk in 150 ml (2/3 cup) iced water and add a few ice cubes and a handful of chopped dill.
- Use whole-milk yogurt. Low-fat yogurt turns watery as soon as the cucumber releases its juices.
Questions and answers
How long does cacık keep?
Up to 2 days in the fridge, although the cucumber releases water and the texture thins. Stir it well before serving and add fresh herbs at the last minute.
What is the difference between cacık and tzatziki?
Cacık is looser and usually seasoned with dried mint, while tzatziki is thicker and often has more garlic, olive oil and dill.
What do you serve with cacık?
Grilled meats and kebabs, rice pilaf, stuffed vegetables and fried foods such as fritters. It also tames the heat of spicy dishes.
How long does it take to make Cacık (Turkish Cucumber and Yogurt with Garlic and Mint)?
About 10 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Cacık (Turkish Cucumber and Yogurt with Garlic and Mint)?
About 115 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 8 g of carbohydrates and 7 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 115 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8 g |
| Fat | 7 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 330 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
