Haydari Recipe · Chef Not Required... (2024)

Haydari is a delicious Turkish yogurt sauce made with Greek yogurt, feta cheese and is packed with fresh herbs.

This refreshing haydari recipe combines fresh mint leaves, fresh dill and garlic with plain yogurt and takes less then 10 minutes.

Traditionally this Middle Eastern yogurt dip is served as part of a Turkish meze (or mezze - lots of small dishes served together).

Haydari is made with strained yogurt, usually Greek or Turkish yogurt. I have used Greek as that what is available to me locally.

Why you will love this haydari recipe

• Quick and easy - less than 10 minutes.
• Can be made ahead.
• Versatile, a refreshing sauce or dip for all kinds of meat and vegetables.

What you need to make haydari

• Greek yogurt (strained yogurt)
• feta cheese - I have used crumbled feta but any kind of feta cheese is fine.
• garlic
• fresh mint leaves
• fresh dill
• olive oil
• fresh lemon juice
• salt

*Please see the recipe card below for exact quantities and detailed instructions

How to make haydari

1. Place feta cheese and crushed garlic in a bowl.
2. Mash together with a fork to combine.

3. Add Greek yogurt, olive oil, finely chopped mint and dill.
4. Mix to combine then add lemon juice and salt to taste.

Top tips

• I like to remove the "core" from the garlic clove to use in this haydari recipe. This gives a smoother, less sharp flavour. Click here for more information about coring your garlic cloves and when you should do it.
• Want to make this haydari sauce with a milder garlic taste? Try substituting garlic infused olive oil for the plain olive oil in the recipe and leaving out the fresh garlic altogether.
• Haydari can be made ahead and kept for 2 days in fridge in an airtight container.

Variations

• Add more fresh garlic if you like a more pungent, sharp haydari version.
• Fresh herbs are definitely the best option for this haydari recipe, but you could use dried mint and dill if you don't have access to fresh.

Serving suggestions

• Serve as part of a meze platter.
• Use this haydari recipe as a dip and serve with pita bread.
• Haydari is great along side meat dishes like kebabs or these lamb ribs or these lamb chops.
• It's also the ideal accompaniment to recipes like this chicken shawarma rice, or maybe as part of a shawarma plate or platter with other dishes like sumac onions and Turkish orzo rice.

Other recipes you may enjoy

Shawarma Garlic Sauce - a creamy, garlicky, greek yogurt-based sauce that is the perfect addition to make your next shawarma extra delicious!

Turkish Onions - sliced red onions lightly marinated in lemon juice and olive oil combined with sumac and fresh parsley to make an easy Turkish onion salad.

Orzo Rice - Turkish Rice (orzo rice) is a great way to add some extra taste to your usual boiled rice. The fried orzo gives this rice rich nutty flavour.

📖 Recipe