Yoghurt with Cucumber

Name: Yoghurt with Cucumber (Cacik)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: Serves 4
Cuisine: Turkish
Ingredients: 200 g (7 oz) Lebanese (short) cucumbers; dried or finely chopped herbs (such as dill or mint) (optional); 300 g (10½ oz/generous 1 cup) Turkish or Greek-style yoghurt; 300 g (10½ oz/generous 1 cup) Turkish or Greek-style yoghurt; 1 or 2 garlic cloves; extra virgin olive oil; dried or finely chopped herbs (such as dill or mint) (optional); dried or finely chopped herbs (such as dill or mint) (optional); dried or finely chopped herbs (such as dill or mint) (optional)

Cacik

Preparation info

Serves
4

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
35 min

Appears in

Istanbul Cult Recipes

By Pomme Larmoyer

Published 2015

About

Cacik (pronounced ‘djadjek’) is the twin of the Greek tzatziki. Sometimes more liquid-y in Turkey than variations found in neighbouring countries, it can also be flavoured with dried mint or finely chopped dill. A classic of the meze cable, cacik is also served with meat dishes or kebabs.

Ingredients

200 g (7 oz) Lebanese (short) cucumbers
1 or 2 garlic cloves

Asia
Turkey
Starter
Gluten-free
Vegetarian
Istanbul
Mediterranean

Method

Peel the cucumber if you like, then grate the flesh into a large bowl. Salt it and leave to stand for 30 minutes, to disgorge any liquid Drain well. Using a mortar and pestle, crush the garlic with some salt. Mix it into the yoghurt – into just a tablespoon of yoghurt first, then add the rest of the yoghurt, so that the garlic mixes through evenly. Add the cucumber and a few pinches of herbs (i