Cacik Recipe Turkish Yogurt and Cucumber (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

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Cacik is a Turkish yogurt and cucumber dish that's usually served as an appetizer or side dish. It's ready in 15 minutes and calls for just a few ingredients.

Cacik Recipe Turkish Yogurt and Cucumber (1)

My love for Turkish cuisine is deep and old, as I moved to Istanbul years ago before I came to the US. We have some lovely Turkish recipes on the blog such as Turkish simit, Lahmacun (Turkish pizza), creamy cucumber salat with yo and Turkish white bean salad which are all very tasty and a great way to introduce a new cuisine to your family.This classic Turkish recipe called cacik is a favorite that I cannot wait to share with you!

Table Of Contents:
  • What Is Cacik?
  • Yogurt In Turkish Cuisine
  • Ingredients For Cacik
  • How To Make Cacik
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storage
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Turkish recipes
  • Step-by-Step Recipe

What Is Cacik?

Cacik, pronouncedja-jikis a Turkish yogurt and cucumber dish that's very common in almost all regions in Turkey. It's a simple dish that you often see in restaurants, especially self-service ones calledLokanta. There are similar dishes in the area such as Greek tzatziki and Persian mast-o khiar however each recipe has its own twists and uniqueness.

This Turkish yogurt and cucumber dish is perfect for warm summer days and is a great addition to a Turkish table.

Cacik Recipe Turkish Yogurt and Cucumber (2)

Yogurt In Turkish Cuisine

Turkish cuisine calls for yogurt in so many savory recipes such as cilbir Turkish eggs, ayran (Turkish yogurt drink) and yayla corbasi Turkish yogurt soup and it's also common to serve yogurt with pasta, rice and kabobs. It's also common to use yogurt in salads such as this creamy cucumber salad with dill.

There are different types of yogurt available in Turkish supermarkets such as goat or sheep's milk yogurt but the most common yogurt is made form cow's milk.

Ingredients For Cacik

Cacik Recipe Turkish Yogurt and Cucumber (3)
  • Yogurt: Whole milk yogurt works best for this recipe. You can use Greek yogurt or regular yogurt. If you own an instant pot, check out my tutorial on how to make yogurt in instant pot.
  • Cucumbers: It's best to use fresh cucumbers that are firm and bright in color. I always use mini cucumbers or Persian cucumbers because of their fresh flavor and very tiny seeds.
  • Garlic: This is optional. However. I always use it because it gives a great flavor.
  • Dried mint: Dried mint is a staple in Turkish cuisine. It has a stronger aroma and flavor compared to fresh mint and mixes better with the yogurt.

How To Make Cacik

Cacik Recipe Turkish Yogurt and Cucumber (4)
  1. Start by whisking the yogurt to make sure it's smooth. Then slowly add the water and keep whisking until smooth and runny.
  2. Add in grated cucumber (no need to squeeze out the excess water in the cucumbers) and minced garlic.
  3. Finish by adding enough salt and dried mint to the yogurt and cucumber.
  4. Divide between bowls and pour some extra virgin olive oil over them if desired.
  • If it's thick like tzatziki or Persian mast-o khiar, then it can be served as a side dish, dip or sauce with some bread such as lavash or homemade pita.
  • If the cacik you made is more runny like the one in this recipe, then same as Persian abdoogh khiaror gazpacho, it should be served as an appetizer in a bowl with a spoon, and maybe a side of bread.

You can serve this delicious Turkish yogurt and cucumber as an appetizer or a side dish in a bowl. It's common to serve it with dishes like karniyarik (stuffed eggplant),beef shish kabob, zucchini fritters (mucver) or chicken shawarma. It also works great with Turkish bulgur or other grains such as rice.

Cacik Recipe Turkish Yogurt and Cucumber (5)

Storage

Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To serve, give it a nice stir and top with olive oil.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is cacik different from the Greek Tzatziki?

Even though tzatziki and cacik are very similar (both have the base of cucumber and yogurt), they are different from each other. Tzatziki uses dill whereas cacik uses dried mint and tzatziki is thicker than a traditional cacik. It's common to add a bit of lemon juice to the Greek version.

How thick should cacik be?

If you're wondering about the consistency of cacik, you're not alone. There are different consistencies out there and what you do depends on your preference. The recipe that we have here has 1 cup of water so it has the consistency of soup or gazpacho which is how Turkish restaurants usually serve it.
That being said, some tend to leave out the water and make this dish as thick as tzatziki. That works too if you would like to serve it as a dip.

Do I need to grate the cucumbers?

We usually make this recipe with grated cucumber however I have also tried it with chopped cucumber in some restaurants and that works too.

Can I use non-dairy yogurt?

You can definitely use non-dairy yogurt in this recipe as long as it's not flavored.

Cacik Recipe Turkish Yogurt and Cucumber (6)

More Turkish recipes

  • Creamy Cucumber Salad With Yogurt
  • Turkish Sauteed Spinach Recipe
  • Turkish Smoky Eggplant Salad Recipe
  • Turkish Sumac Onions Recipe (10 minutes!)

Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

Step-by-Step Recipe

Cacik Recipe Turkish Yogurt and Cucumber (11)

Cacik Turkish Yogurt and Cucumber

Shadi HasanzadeNemati

Cacik is a Turkish yogurt and cucumber dish that's ready in 15 minutes and is so easy to make. You can serve it as an appetizer or side dish.

5 from 18 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine Turkish

Servings 4 servings

Calories 118 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups plain yogurt
  • 1 cup water
  • 4 Persian cucumbers or mini cucumbers
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoon dried mint
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

  • Whisk the yogurt in a large bowl to make sure it's smooth. Add water to the yogurt and whisk until it's completely incorporated.

  • Grate the cucumbers in another bowl and if they're too watery, squeeze out the excess water. If they're not too watery, add the directly to the yogurt and water.

  • Mix well and add garlic, salt and dried mint. Taste and add more salt if needed.

  • Chill cacik yogurt and cucumber in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving.

  • To serve, divide it between 4 bowls and top each with a little bit of olive oil.

Video

Notes

  • Use mini or Persian cucumbers for this recipe because they have very small seeds. English cucumber has bigger seeds which would change the texture and flavor.
  • If you would like to have a thicker cacik, leave out the water.
  • You can store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Give it a nice stir before serving.
  • You can use non dairy yogurt for this recipe as long as it's not flavored.

Nutrition

Calories: 118kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 5gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 352mgPotassium: 281mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 164mgIron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ashley

    Cacik Recipe Turkish Yogurt and Cucumber (16)
    So delicious! The flavor is perfect. I will definitely make this again.

    Reply

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Cacik Recipe Turkish Yogurt and Cucumber (2024)

FAQs

What is the Turkish version of tzatziki? ›

Cacik (Turkish cucumber and yogurt dip) is a classic side dish, closely related to tzatziki and other yogurt dips from the Eastern Mediterranean. This refreshing and delicious dip pairs perfectly with rice dishes and grilled meats and vegetables. And it comes together in under 15 minutes!

What is cacık in english? ›

cacik (plural caciks) A Turkish dish made from yoghurt, salt, olive oil, crushed garlic, chopped cucumber, and mint.

What to make with Turkish yogurt? ›

9 Best Turkish Yogurt Dishes
  1. Ayran (Buttermilk) Ayran is everywhere in Türkiye! ...
  2. Cacık. Cacik in Türkiye is more often served as a chilled soup. ...
  3. Haydari. ...
  4. Atom. ...
  5. Purslane With Strained Yogurt and Garlic. ...
  6. Carrot Salad with Garlic Yoghurt. ...
  7. Eggplant and Yoghurt Salad. ...
  8. Çılbır.

What kind of yogurt do they eat in Turkey? ›

Everyone seems to have their favorite kind of Anatolian yogurt, with some Turkish people preferring buffalo milk yogurt because of its rich content of fat, it's thick texture, and the flavorful kaymak present on the top of the mixture.

Is Cacik the same as tzatziki? ›

Tzatziki (Greek: τζατζίκι, tzatzíki, [d͡zaˈd͡zici]), also known as cacık (Turkish pronunciation: [dʒaˈdʒɯk]) or tarator, is a class of dip, soup, or sauce found in the cuisines of Southeastern Europe and West Asia.

Is tzatziki Greek or Turkish? ›

Tzatziki is Greek, no other country can claim the most famous Greek food in the world (it's a few centuries older than Greek Mousaka)!!! The Ottoman Empire, ruled over Greece from the 16th century until World War 1.

Is yogurt Greek or Turkish? ›

Yogurt
A plate of yogurt
TypeFermented dairy product
Place of originTurkey
Serving temperatureChilled
Main ingredientsMilk, bacteria
1 more row

Which country invented cacık? ›

More than any other nation in the Ottoman Empire, the Greeks enjoyed this dish immensely. However, they also experimented with this classic cucumber and yogurt dip until its Indian roots were almost invisible. Tzatziki (derived from the Turkish word cacık) was born.

Why is Turkish yogurt called Greek? ›

The name "Greek" yogurt was first used to describe products manufactured by fa*ge, a company in Athens, Greece. However it became popular after Chobani, a company created in the US by a Turkish man, started using the term too.

What is the difference between Cacik and Haydari? ›

Haydari is a type of yogurt dish similar to a thick cacık, made from certain herbs and spices, combined with garlic and yogurt. It differs from cacık in that the recipe contains no cucumber and calls for strained yogurt or labne.

What does Ayran mean in Turkish? ›

1000 CE Turkic dictionary, Dīwān ul-Lughat al-Turk, defines ayran as a "drink made out of milk". Similar drinks exist elsewhere, such as doogh (دوغ), an Iranian fermented drink that has long been a popular drink and was consumed in ancient Iran (Persia).

Can you freeze Turkish yogurt? ›

The simplest, fastest way to freeze yogurt is to simply pop the original container in the freezer. While you can take this approach with larger tubs, it makes the most sense for single-serving containers, as you can then thaw only what you need.

What is Turkey's signature food? ›

Turkey may be famous for its kebabs, but the popular dish is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Turkish cuisine. Covering over 300,000 square miles, the European destination's rich and diverse food is largely thanks to its landscape.

Do Turkish people eat rice with yogurt? ›

in Turkish “katık “means anything you eat with bread , even poorest person would eat yogurt with bread for survival. It is also our favorite topping (sometimes with garlic ) almost with every meat or vegetable dish ,on rice , on spagetti , on mantı ,on stuffed grape leaves , near kebabs ,yogurt is our sauce .

Do Turkish eat tzatziki? ›

A staple in Greek and Turkish cuisine, tzatziki is a sauce or dip made with Greek-style yoghurt, cool cucumber, punchy garlic, zingy lemon and fresh herbs.

What is the Turkish version of Greek yogurt? ›

Lebne is made by placing yogurt in a fine strainer or cheesecloth for a while so that all the whey runs out. The texture you get is like that of cream cheese, and this is often mistaken to be a curd cheese – though it is actually made from yogurt. The straining process gives you what is commonly called Greek yogurt.

What is Greek yogurt called in Turkey? ›

But whenever a recipe calls for the thick, sour ingredient, it is referred to as Greek yogurt, which in Turkey is probably closest to “süzme yoğurdu”, which means strained yogurt.

What is the Turkish brand of Greek yogurt? ›

Chobani was founded in 2005 by the Turkish Kurd and businessman Hamdi Ulukaya. He chose the name Chobani as a variation of the Turkish word çoban, "shepherd".

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