Turkish meze: What is cacık and how is it prepared?

Cacık, which is found in various forms in Turkey and countries of the former Ottoman Empire, is a refreshing sauce made by mixing strained or diluted yogurt with finely chopped cucumber and minced garlic. So, what are the ingredients for cacık, and how is it prepared? Here is the answer...

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Turkish meze: What is cacık and how is it prepared?

Cacık is traditionally seasoned with olive oil, dill, mint, lemon juice or vinegar, and sometimes thyme, sumac, and red pepper flakes.

Cacık is served cold and is used with almost everything, from various mezes to main courses. It pairs particularly well with classic Turkish meat dishes such as meatballs and all kinds of kebabs.

As a side dish, cacık is often consumed instead of a salad; it is diluted with water and eaten with a spoon like a soup.

CACIK RECIPE

Ingredients for Cacık / Serves 4
2 cups of yogurt
1 cucumber
2 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of fresh mint or parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon of olive oil
Juice of half a lemon
Salt

HOW TO PREPARE CACIK?

Wash and grate the cucumber. Place the grated cucumber in a strainer or a clean cloth and squeeze it to drain the water.
Crush or grate the garlic.
Place the yogurt in a bowl. Add the grated cucumber, crushed garlic, chopped fresh mint or parsley, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt.
Mix all the ingredients well and whisk until you achieve a homogeneous consistency.
Let the cacık sauce rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Stir the cacık before serving and garnish with fresh mint or parsley.
Cacık can be consumed alongside various dishes or on its own as a cold soup.
It is especially served with kebabs or pita bread. It is a preferred meze in the summer months due to its cooling and refreshing properties.

News Source: 12punto