What Is Cacik?

Cacık is an indispensable, refreshing and delicious companion of the summer months.

With the freshness of yoghurt, the crispness of cucumber and the sharpness of garlic, cacık offers a feast of flavour. As you enjoy cooling off with every bite, the smell of mint takes you to the blue waters of the Mediterranean.

Cacık is not only an appetiser. It is also served as a complement to the meat cooked on the barbecue and the vegetables coming out of the oven. It is even spread on bread and eaten for breakfast.

It is also very easy to make tzatziki. You can prepare this delicious appetiser in minutes by combining a few ingredients.

Cacık dates back to the Ottoman Empire.

Ingredients:

•2 cups of yoghurt
•1 water glass of grated cucumber
•1/2 bunch of dill
•1/2 bunch of mint
•1 clove of garlic
•1 tablespoon olive oil
•Salt and black pepper

Preparation:

1.Grate the cucumbers and squeeze the juice.
2.Finely chop the dill and mint.
3.Grate the garlic.
4.Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
5.Cool the cacik in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
6.Serve the cooled cacik.

Tips and Tricks:

•Use strained yoghurt for cacik.
•Squeeze the juice from the cucumbers.
•Do not chop the dill and mint too finely.
•You can pound the garlic in a mortar and pestle instead of grating it.
•Drizzle the cacik with olive oil before serving.

Bon Appetit!