Cacik (Turkish Yogurt Dip)
This dip or sauce depending on how thick you make it, is a quick and easy little something to throw together to set off any Turkish Dish you are making.  I served this on top of the Turkish Lamb Pilaf dish that I made and to go along with the Naan Bread that I served to make this meal more rounded out.  I hope you enjoy this.  It was a huge hit here at our house.  Especially with a house full of picky eaters.
Servings: 8 yield(s)
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
Ingredients
  • 1 cup yogurt (use which ever brand as long as it is plain yogurt)
  • 1 cucumber (peeled and seeded)
  • 1 clove garlic (grated)
  • 1/2 tsp mint (fresh chopped or dried)
  • 1 lemon zested
  • 1 lemon (juiced)
  • 1/8 tsp salt (add more or less salt according to your taste)
  • 1/8 tsp pepper (add more or less pepper according to taste)
  • 4 tsp water (add more or less depending on how thick you want this to be)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (also drizzle some over the top of finished product)
Instructions
  1. Add the yogurt to the bowl. Then add 1 tsp at a time of water. Mix in water really well to the yogurt. Do this until you get to the thickness that you want.
  2. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and mix well to incorporate and the yogurt is smooth.
  3. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and mix well until it is mixed together really well.
  4. Next add the grated garlic and mint and mix well. Add the cucumber and stir into the yogurt mixture.
  5. Taste this and adjust the seasonings. At this point if you want more lemon juice you can also add it at this point.
  6. Garnish with additional mint and olive oil.
Recipe Notes

This dip is really a quick and easy way to add a burst of freshness that packs in the flavor to any style dish.  It can be made a little bit thinner to be used as a sauce as well.  I used it as a dip for the naan bread and as a sauce to put over the Turkish lamb pilaf.  This would be really good as a dip for fresh vegetables as well.  This dip/sauce is made from very few ingredients and doesn't cost a lot to make.