Easy Tzatziki Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the main ingredients in tzatziki? ›

Tzatziki is a salted yogurt and cucumber dip that's made of strained yogurt, shredded cucumber, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and herbs. Authentic Greek tzatziki is most often made with sheep or goat yogurt, but my tzatziki recipe calls for regular full-fat Greek yogurt.

The biggest contributor to watery tzatziki is the cucumber, which is why it's important to try to remove as much water out of the cucumber as possible. To release the water from the cucumber, de-seed the cucumber then grate it. I suggest using a metal spoon to scoop the seeds out of the cucumber.

Tzatziki is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs such as dill or mint. Traditionally, it is made from strained sheep or goat's milk yogurt, but a full-fat Greek yogurt works just fine in this dip.

Tzatziki sauce should be kept in a sealed container and stored in the refrigerator when you're not using it. As long as it's stored properly, you can expect homemade tzatziki to last about three to four days. This will depend on how fresh the yogurt was when you made the sauce.

Key ingredients in Tzatziki include yogurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh dill or mint. Tzatziki provides essential macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals to support overall health. This versatile sauce may boost heart health, improve gut health, and potentially lower the risk of diabetes.

Tzatziki will last about four days in the fridge before it starts to go bad. While you can freeze it, it will change a bit in regards to texture and consistency when it comes time to thawing it out.

A platter of salted raw tomatoes and cucumbers becomes an instant salad when topped with tzatziki as a dressing. Bread is smeared with tzatziki and topped with grilled meats or vegetables for a crostini or bruschetta style snack that pairs well with Greek wines, like these Artichoke and Eggplant skewers.

Tzatziki sauce goes great with all kinds of meat like chicken, pork etc. It also tastes good with fish. Felafel and tzatziki together taste good.

Simply cut the cucumber in half lengthwise, and then use a small spoon to scrape the seeds out. Next, shred the cucumber on a box grater or in a food processor. Cucumbers are filled with water, which will dilute the tzatziki if you don't wring it all out.

Why does my tzatziki taste bland? ›

Salt – Without this, your tzatziki will taste very bland! I like sea salt but table would work just as well. Dill – You could also use mint but I prefer dill's pickle like flavour. It works so well in creamy dips and sauces!

Shred unpeeled cucumber with large holes of grater (I use this Microplane box grater) or food processor. Using a clean towel or paper towels, scoop a handful of shredded cucumber into towel and squeeze over sink. Allow the cucumber juice to drain out.

Preferably swap garlic for finely chopped red onion. Soak the onion in a little water before adding to the mixture. If you have already made the dish, then take out some of the garlicky yogurt (NOT sour cream as suggested in another answer) and replace with more fresh yogurt.

Tzatziki is a real powerhouse in terms of health benefits. Probiotics, which can aid promote gut health, vitamins A and C, calcium, and phosphorus are all included in this classic Greek meal. Together, these nutrients strengthen your immune system and maintain the health of your bones.

When I make yogurt based sauces, cold (tzatziki) or hot (curries etcetera), I strain the yogurt to remove some of the liquid (whey), which thickens it. Greek yogurt is strained yogurt. It isn't necessary to use additives for thickening. I now use cheese cloth to do the straining.

Tzatziki is a real powerhouse in terms of health benefits. Probiotics, which can aid promote gut health, vitamins A and C, calcium, and phosphorus are all included in this classic Greek meal. Together, these nutrients strengthen your immune system and maintain the health of your bones.

Greek yogurt is made from cow's milk that is strained to remove the whey, this results in a thicker consistency compared to natural yogurt. It also has a tangier flavour and can often be used as a healthier substitute to mayonnaise, sour cream or crème fraîche.

Tzatziki started back in the Ottoman Empire. During this time, India loved their raita, a yogurt-based dip. They were also led by the Persian class, who loved the Indian rice dish called the biryani. However, since Indian people love herbs and spices, some Persians think that the dish was too spicy.

Tzatziki (Greek: τζατζίκι, tzatzíki, [d͡zaˈd͡zici]), also known as cacık (Turkish pronunciation: [dʒaˈdʒɯk]) or tarator, is a class of dip, soup, or sauce found in the cuisines of Southeastern Europe and West Asia.