Haydari (Turkish Yogurt Dip)
Ultra creamy and smooth, Haydari Tarifi (literally translated as yogurt dip recipe), is a Turkish yogurt dip that comes together in just 5 minutes. This rich dip is crafted using Greek yogurt, olive oil, feta cheese and some fresh herbs and seasonings.
If you love Turkish food, this dip is seriously delicious and an absolute must try. Pair it with some crunchy Turkish cheese rolls and you've got yourself an irresistible snack!
Haydari is one of the most popular Turkish appetizers that is served with some meat and vegetable sides.
I'm a sucker for recipes that need minimal ingredients and kitchen time, and this Haydari recipe just ticks those boxes perfectly. You can team it up with some Sumac cucumber salad, Zeytoon Parvardeh (marinated olives), Sumac onions and some other grilled meats and dishes to make it a complete Middle Eastern fare.
Quick Look: Haydari
- 🔪 Prep time: 5 minutes
- ⏲️ Cook time: 0 minutes
- 👪 Servings: 2 people
- 📋 Main ingredients: Greek yogurt, feta cheese, garlic, fresh mint, fresh dill, olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
- ♨️ Cooking method: Crush feta until smooth 🡢 mix with yogurt, herbs, garlic, and seasonings 🡢 transfer to a serving bowl 🡢 drizzle with olive oil and garnish with mint.
- ⭐ Difficulty: Very easy
- 🥣 Serving ideas: Serve with pita bread or flatbread, grilled meats and kebabs, fresh vegetables, or as part of a Turkish mezze spread along with Turkish salsa.
Jump to:
What's So Great About the Recipe?
- Thanks to its subtle, Mediterranean flavors, you can pair the dip with anything from veggie sticks and grilled meats to fried foods.
- It is a no-cook recipe that you can get on your table in a matter of minutes.
- It's an easy side to pair with pretty much any of your favorite Middle Eastern mains, just like my beet cucumber salad with feta.
Recipe Ingredients
Greek yogurt: Unflavored Greek yogurt forms the base of this dip. Use full fat version of the yogurt to get the perfect, creamy consistency. I always do this when I make my Turkish yogurt soup too.
Feta cheese: Feta cheese lends the dip a nice sharp and salty flavor. It's best to use the full fat version of this one too.
Fresh herbs: Fresh or dried dill and mint leaves are crucial to this recipe. They bring in a nice touch of freshness and a pop of color to the sauce.
Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil add some extra richness and flavor to the sauce, and elevates its flavor to the next level.
Garlic: Fresh minced garlic lends an incredible flavor to the Haydari Tarifi. You can also use some air fried garlic to lend the filling some extra smoky flavor.
Seasonings: I've used a simple seasoning mix of salt and pepper. You can also add in some Sumac if you have it at hand.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- If you don't have Greek yogurt, you can use regular, strained yogurt too. The idea is to have a thick base so that the sauce doesn't get runny.
- I've used fresh dill for this recipe, but if you can't get your hands on it, you can use dried dill instead. The same goes for mint too- you can make do with dried mint leaves as well.
- If you don't have feta cheese, you can make do with some blended cottage cheese instead. Blended cottage cheese has an incredibly thick and creamy texture, and is a great choice for any homemade dip or spread recipe. Plus, it is protein rich too.
- If you really want to use a fresh herb into the Haydari Tarifi, freshly chopped parsley is your best bet. You can also use garlic parsley salt to bring out the flavors of the dip.
How to Make Haydari
Step 1: In a large bowl, add the feta cheese and use a fork to crush it and get it smooth.
Step 2: Now add the Greek yogurt, mint, finely chopped dill, garlic, salt and pepper.
Step 3: Give it all a good mix. Taste and adjust accordingly.
Step 4: Transfer into a serving bowl and top with a generous drizzle of olive oil and some mint leaves.
💭Top Tip
Remember to give the base a quick taste. If it doesn't have that slightly tangy flavor, you can add a bit of sour cream into the mix.
Tips & Tricks to Nail Recipe
- If you're using strained yogurt, you'll need to watch out for the final consistency of the Haydari.
- Cacık is much thinner, which Labneh has a thicker, spreadable texture. You can use either of these, based on your personal preference and how you would want the Haydari to be.
- Don't forget to top this simple to make Turkish dip with some of your favorite spice blends and seasonings and a generous drizzle of olive oil before you serve it. I love using my homemade herb salt to season this dip, just for a bit of extra flavor.
- Remember that Haydari isn't the same as the famous Greek Tzatziki, though you can slightly tweak and play around with the ingredients to bring in different variations.
How to Serve Turkish Yogurt Dip
Serve this creamy Middle Eastern yogurt dip with some pita chips, a side of Fattoush salad or Torshi Makhloot (pickled vegetables) and some Egyptian Dukkah with lots of olive oil. Sometimes, I also like to make some Schug sauce to go with the spread, just for a kick of heat.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
You can make Haydari 2-3 days in advance and refrigerate it, which makes it a great recipe for meal prep. In fact, its flavors develop even further when it is refrigerated.
This dip, is not freezer friendly, and can actually lose its creamy and smooth texture when it is frozen and defrosted.
More Turkish Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
If you tried this Haydari recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Haydari (Turkish Yogurt Dip)
Ingredients
- 2 cups Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoon feta cheese
- 2 cloves garlic grated
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves
- ¼ cup dill
- 2 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper crushed
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the feta cheese and use a fork to crush it and get it smooth.
- Now add the Greek yogurt, mint, finely chopped dill, garlic, salt and pepper.
- Give it all a good mix. Taste and adjust accordingly.
- Transfer into a serving bowl and top with a generous drizzle of olive oil and some mint leaves.
Notes
- If you're using strained yogurt, you'll need to watch out for the final consistency of the Haydari.
- Cacık is much thinner, which Labneh has a thicker, spreadable texture. You can use either of these, based on your personal preference and how you would want the Haydari to be.
- Remember that Haydari isn't the same as the famous Greek Tzatziki, though you can slightly tweak and play around with the ingredients to bring in different variations.
- Don't forget to top this simple to make Turkish dip with some of your favorite spice blends and seasonings and a generous drizzle of olive oil before you serve it.
