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Tzatziki is a refreshing Greek yogurt dip with a strong garlic flavor. It is made with full-fat Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, vinegar, olive oil, and plenty of garlic. Yeap, that's it! No lemon, no dill and IT IS NOT A SAUCE!
The reason I'm emphasizing this point so much is thatI see the term Tzatziki Sauce so many times and I wanted you to know, first hand by a Greek (me) that Tzatziki is not a sauce.
It's a thick and creamy dip. Now don't get me wrong here, you can, of course,go ahead and make it any way you like, but here, I'm going to show you how to make the REAL Greek stuff...
How To Make
Making Tzatziki is very simple. It requires only 5 ingredients and a bit of mixing to make. Traditionally Tzatziki is mixed by hand so you avoid any yogurt lumps being left inside. Remember, authentic Greek yogurt is really thick not runny.
This is really helpful when making a big amount of it (like when I make it in our restaurant where I have to stir 20 kilos of it) it is almost impossible to stir it properly any other way.
Now of course you won't be making that big an amount yourself. But I'm mentioning it just in case.
For this recipe, which serves a big bowl (that's enough to serve as a dip for 4 people), you may stir the yogurt with a whisk first before adding the remaining ingredients.
This way, you make sure the yogurt is really smooth and lump free.
The Right Yogurt For Making Tzatziki
As I said above, Greek yogurt is thick and creamy. That's because it is usually above 3,5 % fat and it is strained. This means most of the amount of water has been drained out of it.
This is done using a cheesecloth, so if you can't find real Greek strained Greek yogurt, you may use a plain one and make it strained yourself. You can follow this tutorial on how to strain yogurt to make Greek yogurt.
Another thing you probably didn't know about Greek yogurt, is that the authentic Greek stuff is made using sheep's milk. Or sheep's milk combined with a small percentage of goat milk.
Since this is really tangy in flavor though, most people today prefer yogurt that's made from cow's milk for making Tzatziki.
If you want to try authentic Greek yogurt, here's a recipe for making Greek yogurt at home (just make sure you use the right milk).
Lots Of Garlic!
Now that I told you all about Greek yogurt, there is one more thing that needs to be clarified. Prepare yourself for lots of garlic!
You know how Greek food (and Greeks) are considered good friends of garlic. Well, here's the brightest example of this.
Proper Tzatziki is loaded with garlic. To the point, it burns in your mouth. And here comes the bread to rescue you, or even better the pita bread.
-You may want to try my homemade Pita bread made with Greek yogurt and no yeast.
It is better for Tzatziki to sit in the fridge for a few hours before serving. This way the garlic cools down a bit and the flavors have the time to blend together even better. For best results leave overnight or for about 8 hours before serving.
Other Ways To Eat Tzatziki
Yes, you've guessed it! Inside wraps or sandwiches. Like in Traditional Pork Pita Gyros or Chicken Gyros. Or simply as a side to Chicken Souvlaki or Pork Souvlaki or any grilled meat indeed. There isn't a better side to charred, fire-cooked meat, every Greek will tell you that. 😉
Recipe
Tzatziki Recipe As Made In Greece
Tzatziki is a very creamy, garlic-loaded dip. Very appetizing, refreshing, and super easy to make!
850grams /1 lb + 14 ozfull-fat and strained Greek yogurt
320grams / 11.3 oz (2,5 cups)coarsely hand-grated English cucumber
2teaspoons (about 15 grams)garlic clovesgrated or pressed
3tablespoonsolive oil
1teaspoonred wine vinegar
⅔teaspoon salt
ground pepper
Instructions
Add the Greek yogurt to a large mixing bowl and work it with a hand whisk to become really smooth and creamy. Making sure there aren't any lumps in it.
Squeeze the grated cucumber with your hands to remove most of its water. Then add to the mixing bowl along with the Greek yogurt.
Add the remaining ingredients to the mixing bowl as well and mix very well.
Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving for the garlic to cool down a bit. Or even better overnight. If you like raw garlic you can serve this dip right away, along with some pita bread or rustic artisan bread!
Combine yogurt, grated cucumber, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic together in a large bowl. Add dill, salt, pepper, and lemon zest; mix until smooth. Pour into a serving dish, cover tightly, and refrigerate 8 hours before serving.
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.
More than any other nation in the Ottoman Empire, the Greeks enjoyed this dish immensely. However, they also experimented with this classic cucumber and yogurt dip until its Indian roots were almost invisible. Tzatziki (derived from the Turkish word cacık) was born.
Greeks usually eat tzatziki with bread, it is also used for the famous souvlaki wrapped in a pita and ofcourse in gyros. Almost all Greeks love dipping bread and Greek fries in tzatziki that is served at every traditional restaurant.
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.
Tzatziki, while being a ridiculously fun word to say and a very good name for a dog if you are in need of one, is a classic Greek condiment made of thick yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, lemon or vinegar, and fresh herbs like dill or mint or thyme, and sometimes olive oil.
So, it offers fewer carbohydrates and calories, making it suitable for weight loss. Tzatziki has little fat from yoghurt, milk, or vegetable oil but does not contain many calories. In addition, it is an excellent source of vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin A, and calcium.
Tzatziki sauce is a creamy cucumber sauce that is most often made with simple ingredients including, Greek yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, fresh herbs, olive oil and lemon juice. We've created the most delicious Easy Tzatziki Sauce made with sour cream instead of full-fat Greek yogurt.
You can thicken it by placing a piece of cheesecloth over the top of a wide mouthed jar and holding it in place with some rubber bands. Fill the cheesecloth with your sauce, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The excess water will drain out and the sauce will be thicker.
If you want to know more about this sauce, here are some historical and fun facts about it. 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.
Unlike the more familiar Turkish style, in Egypt, spices such as cumin and paprika are added. The kebab is served in baladi bread, with a salad and tahini, baba ganoush, or tzatziki. A very popular street food, you will also find them on restaurant menus, where they are more likely to be served with rice.
Its blend of yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, garlic, lemon, and herbs delivers key nutrients, which are proposed to support heart health, gut health, and may even lower diabetes risk. If you add tzatziki to your meals, you can boost everyday dishes while savouring the many potential health benefits tzatziki brings.
Tzatziki makes a very nice condiment for gyros or kebabs. It goes very well with pork or lamb. It's also very nice served as a dip with pita bread triangles.
Some Greek yogurt brands are very tangy so you may wish to use less lemon juice. Also, some lemons can be very tart. Start with 1/2 a lemon and add more if needed. If your sauce is too tart, you can fix this by adding a little sweetener.
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.
Yes, tzatziki is considered a healthier dip than hummus and sour cream. It contains several vitamins, a good amount of protein, and fewer carbohydrates and calories. The fat content of tzatziki is low too, which is not the case with other dips.
This cucumber sauce is easy to make and full of fresh flavor. You don't need any fancy ingredients to make it, just sour cream, garlic, mustard, and some fresh dill. You can serve it after just one hour in the refrigerator, but overnight is recommended.
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