This recipe starts with plain, unsweetened yogurt and finely diced cucumber. It is intentionally simple. Use the texture of your yogurt as a guide, adding the water gradually instead of treating it as a fixed amount that must all go in.
Cacık — Recipe Card
Cooling cucumber & yogurt with mint
Makes 4 servingsUS cup = 240 ml · tablespoon = 15 ml · teaspoon = 5 ml. Cup and weight conversions are approximate. Australian cooks: use a 15 ml measuring tablespoon.
Ingredient quantities and servings are scaled. Cooking times, pan sizes, frying oil depth, and temperatures stay the same; cook larger batches as needed.
Ingredients
How to make Cacık
Prepare the cucumber
Wash the cucumber and peel it partially or fully if the skin is thick. Dice finely or grate coarsely. If it has large watery seeds, scoop those out first.
Smooth the yogurt
Whisk the yogurt in a bowl until smooth. Stir in the garlic and salt. Add the cold water a tablespoon at a time if you want a looser, spoonable consistency.
Mix and taste
Fold in the cucumber and most of the dried mint. Taste, allow a few minutes for the garlic to develop, then adjust the seasoning. Keep refrigerated until serving.
Finish the bowl
Spoon into a serving bowl or small individual bowls. Drizzle with olive oil and scatter the remaining mint over the top. Serve chilled beside köfte, vegetables or a rice dish.
Bring this recipe to your kitchen with a printable copy.
Print recipeRecipe from MyTurkishRecipes · https://myturkishrecipes.com/turkish-cucumber-yogurt-dip-cacik. Quantities reflect your selected serving scale. Cooking times are estimates; follow the doneness cues.
Make it work in your kitchen
Ingredient Substitutions
These swaps change flavor or texture as described. Keep the original ingredients for the closest version of the dish.
Whole-milk yogurt
Use the same amount of plain unsweetened Greek yogurt, then stir in cold water a spoonful at a time to reach the texture described in the recipe. It starts thicker and may taste tangier.
A few helpful kitchen notes
Using Greek yogurt
Thick strained yogurt needs more cold water to reach the same texture. Add it gradually until it is as thick or loose as you prefer.
Grated or diced?
Both work. Tiny dice keep a little crunch; grated cucumber gives a softer, more blended texture. Very watery cucumber can be gently squeezed before adding.
Fresh herbs
A little finely chopped dill can be added alongside or instead of mint. Keep the flavor simple so the cucumber and yogurt stay at the center.
How to store and reheat Cacık
Cover and refrigerate promptly. Use within 2 days and stir before serving, as cucumber can release water. Freezing is not recommended for texture.
Cacık: questions and answers
Is cacık always thin?
No. Its consistency varies. Add cold water for a lighter, spoonable version or use less for a thicker side dish.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Prepare it a few hours before serving and keep it refrigerated. Stir and check the consistency just before bringing it to the table.
Can I leave out the garlic?
Yes. The result will be milder while still keeping the yogurt, cucumber and mint combination.
