Tzatziki Sauce
Tzatziki Sauce is a refreshing creamy dip made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, dill, pepper, and salt. It can be ready within 10 minutes from start to end and is super easy to make even for novices in cooking. This Mediterranean-style homemade yogurt dip is a perfect accompaniment to serve with pita bread, pita chips, falafel, gyros, sandwiches, fresh-cut veggies, etc., and also can be used as a salad dressing.
| Ingredients: |
| 1 cup Greek Yogurt or Whole Milk Yogurt |
| 1/2 medium Cucumber, peeled and grated (or finely chopped) |
| 1 tablespoon finely chopped Fresh Dill (or 1 teaspoon dried dill) or Mint Leaves |
| 1 clove of Garlic, finely chopped or grated (or 1/4 teaspoon of Garlic Powder) |
| 1/2 tablespoon Lemon Juice |
| 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground Black Pepper (powder) |
| Salt, to taste (approx. 1/4 teaspoon) |
Directions:
- Peel and grate the 1/2 cucumber. If you like a little chunky texture in the dip, use large holes in the grater otherwise use small holes. You can even finely chop the cucumber instead of grating it.
- Squeeze out the water from the grated cucumber to prevent the dip from turning watery. Put the grated cucumber in a fine strainer and press it with a large spoon to extract the water. (or put the grated cucumber in a cheesecloth and wring it tightly to extract most of the water).
- Transfer it to a large bowl.
- Add 1 cup greek yogurt (or whole milk yogurt), 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon dried dill) or mint leaves, 1 clove of finely chopped or grated garlic (or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder), 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste (approx. 1/4 teaspoon).
- Mix well.
- For best flavor, cover the bowl with a lid and keep it in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours before serving. Tzatziki dip is ready. It stays good for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Tips and Variations:
- For Mint Tzatziki, add 1 tablespoon of chopped mint along with other ingredients.
- Olive Oil – Add 1/2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil with other ingredients.
- Use the full-fat whole milk yogurt or Greek yogurt to make this sauce thick.
- For a creamy texture, add 2-3 tablespoons full-fat sour cream.
- How long does tzatziki sauce last – It stays good for 5-6 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Taste: Creamy and salty
Serving Ideas: Serve it with pita bread, pita chips, falafel, fresh-cut veggies like carrots, zucchini, celery sticks, etc..