Description
If you love Greek food and Mediterranean flavors, this homemade tzatziki sauce is one recipe you’ll want to keep on repeat. It’s creamy, fresh, and incredibly easy to make, and once you try it, you’ll never reach for a store-bought version again.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 English cucumber
- 2 cups Greek yogurt
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- Juice from 1/2 a lemon or 1 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Grate the cucumber, using the largest holes on a box grater.
- Place in cheesecloth or colander and squeeze out any excess liquid.
- Place the Greek yogurt, garlic, dill, olive oil, and lemon juice in the bowl and mix.
- Add the grated cucumber and stir again.
- Taste and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Mix thoroughly and place in the fridge in a covered container for at least 1 hour.
- Yield 3 cups or ~12 (¼ cup) servings
Notes
- Use Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt. The thick texture is what gives tzatziki its signature creaminess.
- Drain the cucumber really well. This is the difference between thick, restaurant-style tzatziki and a watery sauce.
- Use fresh herbs whenever possible. Fresh dill or mint makes a noticeable difference.
- Adjust the garlic to taste. Use less for a mild flavor or add more if you love garlic.
- Mint can be used instead of dill for a fresh twist, or you can use a mix of both.
- For a smoother sauce, grate the cucumber finely. For more texture, leave it slightly chunky.
- For extra tang, a small amount of crumbled feta cheese can be added, even though it’s not an ingredient in an authentic Tzatziki recipe.
- In a pinch, sour cream can be used instead of Greek yogurt but then it’s not really authentic Greek Tzatziki.
- Prep Time: 15
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Greek
