Haydari (Yogurt and Herb Dip)

Haydari is the cool, creamy counterweight to the spicy spreads on the Turkish meze table. Strained yogurt is whipped with garlic, dill, mint, and a little feta until thick and spreadable, then swirled with olive oil and dried mint before serving. It appears on meze tables from Istanbul to İzmir, always in the same spot next to the bread. It is the dip that balances everything else — smoky eggplant, spicy ezme, crisp vegetables — and it disappears fastest of all.

Cool, garlicky, and impossible to stop eating

The yogurt is dense and luxurious, tangy from the culture and bright from the herbs, with the feta adding just enough salt. Swirled with good olive oil and a pinch of dried mint, it is simple and completely satisfying. Use the thickest Greek yogurt you can find, and let the haydari sit for a few minutes after mixing so the garlic mellows. For a sharper bite, add a teaspoon of lemon juice along with the garlic.

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