Tzatziki Sauce (Cucumber Yogurt Sauce)

You may be wondering, "What is Tzatziki"? Tzatziki is commonly referred to as the yogurt and cucumber sauce that you know and love at Greek restaurants. It's a classic sauce that is made from thick Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, and either fresh dill or mint. It is a refreshing side dish that can accompany anything from meats to veggies.

When we traveled to Greece last summer Tzatziki sauce was a staple on our table at almost every meal. Especially when we were on the islands off the coast of Greece. We spread it on fresh-baked pita bread as an appetizer and slathered it on our fish! However, Tzatziki is found in other cultures than Greece. In fact, you can find this dip all over the Mediterranean.

It's a super simple dip to make and wonderful to have on hand in your refrigerator. My family prefers using mint, either dried or fresh, in this recipe but dill is commonly found throughout the region and I occasionally swap out the mint for dill.

Tips and Tricks

Here are a few tips to help you with this recipe. While it's super easy, you do need to prep the cucumber a bit.

1. Cucumber - I prefer to grate this either in the Cuisinart or by hand. The cucumber needs to be drained. You can do this either by placing it into a cheesecloth and squeezing it over the sink or if you are in a rush like I usually am, I use my hands and squeeze hard to get the liquid out. 
2. The longer the garlic sits in the sauce the less sharp it will taste. I tend to like more garlic than what is in this recipe but adjust this as it suits you! 
3. For the best results, combine this and then let it sit for about 10-15 minutes to help meld the flavor. 
4. Feel free to sub out the mint for dill or use both. Let your tastebuds be your guide! 

Tzatziki Sauce

Tzatziki sauce is a Greek based yogurt sauce. It is tangy, garlicky, and adds umami flavor to your mouth. This sauce can be used for any type of meat adding flavor and a creaminess to your dish. I love this with our Lamb Burger!

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keyword: garlic, greek, lamb, sauce, tzatziki, tzatziki sauce, yogurt

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 oz

Author: Gwen

Ingredients

• ½ cup plain greek yogurt preferably full fat
• 1 whole small cucumber approx. ¼ C, peeled and chopped small or grated and drained
• 1 garlic clove crushed
• ½ t fresh lemon juice
• ½ t dried mint leaves
• S & P to taste

Instructions

• Combine in a bowl and serve.

Notes

Adjust the amount of garlic up or down for taste. Feel free to use fresh mint, about 2 T chopped as a substitute. This pairs well with the Lamb Burger!

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