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.
- 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.
- 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!
- For the best results, combine this and then let it sit for about 10-15 minutes to help meld the flavor.
- Feel free to sub out the mint for dill or use both. Let your tastebuds be your guide!
Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup plain greek yogurt preferably full fat
- 1 whole small cucumber Look for a persian cucumber as they are seedless. Approx. ¼ C, peeled and chopped small or grated and drained
- 1 garlic clove crushed
- ½ t lemon juice preferably fresh
- ½ t dried mint leaves
- S & P to taste
Instructions
- Combine in a bowl and serve.
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