Tzatziki is a creamy yogurt sauce with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh herbs (typically dill, mint, or parsley). It’s super easy to make and makes the perfect accompaniment for grilled meat, veggies, salads, and dips. Tzatziki is one of the most popular Greek dishes and can be found in most restaurants!
Tzatziki can be made ahead of time and will keep for days in the refrigerator. I like to serve it as an appetizer with pita chips, flatbread, or roasted vegetables, or even use it as a dressing for a Greek Salad. It also makes a great dip for chicken or lamb gyro wraps.
To make this tzatziki recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Yogurt – Full fat Greek yogurt is preferred because it has a thicker texture but plain yogurt works just fine. Make sure to use the strained variety though, not the non-strained version.
Cucumbers – Choose English cucumbers for this tzatziki recipe because they are the easiest to peel and work best when grated using the large holes of a box grater. If you can’t find English cucumbers, regular cucumbers work just as well. Garlic – Minced garlic adds flavor and pairs well with the flavors in this recipe. Salt – A pinch of salt helps bring out the flavor of the other ingredients. Olive Oil – I recommend using extra virgin olive oil for this tzatziki recipe, but any type of olive oil will do. Lemon Juice – The addition of lemon juice brightens the flavors in this tzatziki recipe and enhances the aroma. Fresh Herbs – I used dill for this recipe, but mint or parsley are just as delicious.
The first step to making this tzatziki is to squeeze out the excess water from the cucumber. This is an important step because watery tzatziki won’t have the right texture or flavor. You can do this by hand, or place the grated cucumber in a sieve and press it between kitchen or paper towels until all of the liquid is removed.
Once the excess liquid is removed, combine the cucumber with the other ingredients and stir to combine. This simple tzatziki is ready to serve but will be even better after it’s been chilled for an hour or so. It will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days if kept in an airtight container.
To make this homemade tzatziki, you’ll need the following ingredients:
I like to use a strained Greek yogurt in this recipe because it has a thicker texture than plain yogurt. I also recommend using a full fat version instead of the low fat option, because it will taste much better and be richer. You can replace the yogurt with sour cream if you want a more tangy tzatziki but it won’t be as healthy. tzatziki rezept