How to Make Cacik

Name: How to Make Cacik
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Turkish
Ingredients: 1 large cucumber, grated; 0.5 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste; 2 cups plain whole milk yogurt; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, plus more for garnish; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill; 0.25 cup cold water or milk, as needed; 1 tablespoon olive oil, for serving

Cacik is a cold Turkish dip and side dish made from yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, and fresh mint, thinned slightly with water or milk to a pourable consistency. It is served alongside grilled meats or eaten on its own with bread.

It shares roots with Greek tzatziki and appears across the Balkans and Middle East under different names, but the Turkish version is typically thinner and often served as a light soup rather than a thick dip.

Salting and draining the cucumber before mixing is the one step that separates a watery cacik from one with real body.

Cacik Turkish yogurt cucumber dip garnished with mint

What Actually Matters

Salting the grated cucumber and letting it drain before mixing is what keeps the finished cacik from turning watery within an hour. Cucumber holds a surprising amount of water, and skipping this step means the yogurt separates and thins out as the salt in the dish slowly pulls moisture out over time on the table.

How to Make Cacik Recipe

Serves 4. Prep time: 25 minutes. Cook time: 0 minutes. Total time: 25 minutes.

Ingredients

1 large cucumber, grated
0.5 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
2 cups plain whole milk yogurt
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
0.25 cup cold water or milk, as needed
1 tablespoon olive oil, for serving

Method

Toss the grated cucumber with the 0.5 teaspoon of salt and place it in a strainer over a bowl. Let it drain for 15 minutes, then squeeze out any remaining liquid by hand.
Whisk the yogurt in a bowl until smooth.
Stir in the drained cucumber, garlic, mint, and dill.
Thin the mixture with cold water or milk, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a pourable, dip like consistency.
Taste and adjust salt as needed. Chill for at least 20 minutes before serving.
Drizzle with olive oil and a scatter of fresh mint just before serving.

Nutrition (Per Serving, Estimated)

Calories	Protein	Fat	Carbs
90	6g	4g	7g

These figures are calculated estimates from standard ingredient data, not lab verified nutrition facts.

Tips, Variations, and Storage

Do not skip draining the cucumber. It is the single step that keeps this dish from watering out on the table.

Cacik keeps in the fridge for up to two days, though it may need a quick stir and a splash more water before serving again.

For a thicker version closer to a dip, skip the added water and use strained Greek style yogurt instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cacik the same as tzatziki?

They are closely related. Cacik is typically thinner, often served as a light chilled soup, while tzatziki tends to be thicker and used more as a dip.