Imagine a great side dish that is tasty, refreshing, light, and healthy. These words describe cacik perfectly. It is a fundamental dish served cold and eaten with a spoon, similar to soup. However, it is generally consumed before or after a meal, usually in place of a salad. You can even have it as a little dish on hot summer days that will keep your hunger down and body up.
As a side dish, the most preferable meal to have it with is definitely the ones with rice. Cacik gives the rice a soft texture to eat and digest quickly. You should also consider trying it with meat and chicken, especially when served with mint and dill. Another delicious combination of cacik is with vegetables. It especially goes well with eggplant and spinach, helping to get rid of the bitter tastes of both meals.
Even though it is widely known as a Greek recipe, cacik is a typical side dish around Anatolia and the Middle Eastern area. It is known in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and of course, in Turkey. While the Greek Caciki is more tight and creamy, the Turkish one is more liquid and fluid, more like a drink. That means you can get creative with our recipe change and improve it, which will give you different results.
You can add different herbs, change the consistency, and have a personalized version for your gusto. But never forget that it is a valuable food in both Turkish and Greek culture that requires attention and respect to roots. What might be the best part of cacik is that it is effortless and relatively quick to prepare, which might be the lifesaver in a rush for a crowd.
Now, get ready for this great dish and wait no more to have it; enjoy!
Cacik
Ingredients
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup cold water
- 1 medium cucumber
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 sprigs fresh dill
- 2 sprigs fresh mint leaves
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- salt
- 1/2 tsp dried mint
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
For Serving
- extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- dried mint
- red pepper flakes
- fresh mint leaf
Instructions
- Whisk the plain yogurt with half of the cold water in a large bowl, keep whisking and adding the water gradually, set aside.
- Cut the cucumbers into small dice. Finely chop the fresh dill and the mint leaves then set aside.
- Mince the garlic with a sprinkle of salt, then add it to the yogurt bowl and whisk it.
- Add the dried mint and red pepper flakes to the bowl and whisk it. Keep whisking while adding the olive oil.
- Add the diced cucumber, chopped dill and fresh mint to the bowl and mix it.
- Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle the dried mint and red pepper flakes on top before serving.
Nutrition
About the Author: Mediterranean Living
