Yoghurt and Cucumbers Dip (Cacık) Recipe

Yoghurt and Cucumbers Dip (Cacık) Recipe

         TZATZIKI/CACIK RECIPE

         "One day, you got a phone-call from your boss and you were informed that tomorrow will be your off day. This was really surprise for you and you thought that you prepared a special dinner for the family tomorrow. And, you decided that "- i am going to cook white Beans & Rice for dinner and cacık goes very well as a side dish with it". Because all members of family dying of white beans & rice very very much. Actually, same stories or abit different stories happens in many homes in Turkey in daily life. Yes, many kind of meal or chain of meals are prefered on these days. Especially, Our traditional food "Cacık" goes very well this kind of meals very much at summer days. Some of people like Cacık too garlicky, on the other hand, some of people mostly prefer it as less garlicky (maybe using just one clove of garlic or no garlic). Finely, everyone love it very much in Turkey.

         What is Tzatziki/Cacık? 

         It is called different names region to region, such as; "Cacik", "Tzatziki" "Tarator" and "Kheera Ka Raita ". Firstly, when we give a simple answer of what The Tzatziki/Cacık is? = "A dish made from yogurt, chopped Cucumber, olive oil, salt, crushed garlic, dill, mint and diluted with water. It is served cold in very small bowls usually as side dish.

Cacık Recipe

           The Tzatziki/Cacık is a traditional recipe of Greek and Turkish Cuisines. Also, it is known both in Bulgaria (and some countries of Balkans) and in India very well. According to historians its origin is found in Mesopotamia. But It came and spread to different cultures and countries with very different names.  Forexample; in Greece it is known that "Tzatziki", in Bulgaria it is known that "Yogurt Tarator", in India it is known that "Kheera Ka Raita" and in Turkey; we call it as "Cacık". The main ingredients of "Cacık, Tzatziki, Kheera Ka Raita and Yogurt Tarator"'s Recipe are: Yogurt and Cucumber. 

         Cacık goes very well as a side dish with;

         Our Turkish-stuffed-eggplant-karnıyarık dish with a cacık is PERFECT!
         Our Steak-and-potatoes-one-pot  Dinner dish with a cacık is PERFECT!
         Our Meat-balls-in-sauce (Sulu Köfte) dish with a cacık is PERFECT!
         Our  Turkish-dolma-rice-stuffed-peppers dish with a cacık is PERFECT!

       How to Make Cacik/Tzatziki 

        Ingredients:

        Serve: 8 servings, Preparation Time: 10 minutes, Total Time: 10 minutes, Food Type: Vegetarian food, Cuisine: Mediterranean & Anatolian Cuisine,

Cacık preparation

         - 1 - 2 or 1 Cup Cucumber, coarsely chopped ,
         - 1 Clove garlic, minced with salt,

       - 500 gr or 1 Cup Yoghurt, (we prefer homemade yogurt),

         - A little salt to taste, (1 pinch),
         - 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive oil,
         - Fresh Dill, Chopped or dried mint,

Yoghurt and Cucumbers Dip (Cacık) preparation

         Preparation:

       First of all, peel your cucumbers and chopped coarsely. Then, place the garlic, yoghurt and water in a medium sized bowl. Mix with a spoon until it is combine very well. Then, add  coarsely chopped cucumber and mix again. After these processes, pour your cacık into small serving bowls and then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil on top of each. Garnish with fresh dill or dried mint.

            ENJOY
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