Easy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

What is Tzatziki Sauce? (Beyond nan White Gyro Sauce)

You cognize that mobility astir your godforsaken land food? Tzatziki would beryllium mine. 

At its core, tzatziki is simply a yogurt-based dip made pinch strained yogurt (also known arsenic Greek yogurt), cucumber, garlic, citrus juice, and herbs (typically dill aliases mint).

Referred to by galore names, specified arsenic Greek Tzatziki sauce, Tzatziki Sauce, and Cucumber Yogurt Sauce, it tin beryllium served arsenic a dip, a sauce, aliases moreover arsenic a dressing. 

It pairs good pinch conscionable astir anything, from nutrient to gyros, to Turkish kebabs, to grilled aliases roasted vegetables.

While galore group successful nan U.S. cognize it arsenic nan achromatic condiment that comes pinch a gyro, that type is often heavier, sometimes made pinch mayonnaise aliases sour cream, and doesn’t ever see cucumber. 

My homemade tzatziki condiment look is different here. It’s nan existent thing. The benignant of tzatziki you’ll find connected tables successful homes crossed Turkiye, Greece, and beyond.

Essential Ingredients for Authentic Tzatziki (And Why They Matter)

The bully news is that this easy tzatziki look requires only a fewer elemental ingredients and comes together successful minutes. You’ll find nan afloat database in nan look card below, but present are a fewer adjuvant tips to support successful mind erstwhile shopping:

Full-fat Greek Yogurt (also known arsenic Strained Yogurt): I deliberation nan champion yogurt for tzatziki is simply a whole-milk, plain Greek yogurt. It yields a rich | and creamy tzatziki dip, a main characteristic of this Mediterranean sauce.  If your instrumentality has immoderate liquid sitting connected top, beryllium judge to strain that retired earlier using.

You tin besides usage plain, unsweetened yogurt aliases moreover low-fat aliases fat-free yogurt, but nan texture will beryllium a spot looser compared to Greek yogurt.

Fresh Cucumber: Either Persian aliases English cucumbers activity well. I for illustration to peel them first, arsenic immoderate cucumber tegument tin beryllium bitter. Still, it is simply a individual preference.

I grate them utilizing nan ample holes connected a container grater and past drain them successful a mesh sieve. It mightiness look for illustration an other step, but thoroughly draining nan grated cucumber helps destruct excess liquid, giving you nan thick, creamy consistency that this cucumber tzatziki condiment is known for.

Fresh Garlic Cloves: The accepted type of this Mediterranean yogurt condiment calls for fresh, finely minced garlic. I usually adhd 2 cloves per 1 ½ cups of yogurt, but consciousness free to set nan magnitude based connected your preferences. 

If you for illustration a milder flavor, ail powder is simply a good substitute. Since it’s much concentrated, I urge utilizing astir 1 spoon per 1 ½ cups of yogurt.

Fresh Herbs: I for illustration utilizing caller dill, but caller mint is different classical option. In Turkiye, it’s besides communal to usage dried dill aliases mint if caller isn’t available. That said, I deliberation caller herbs bring a brighter, much vibrant taste.

Fresh Lemon Juice: Just a compression is capable to brighten nan flavors and equilibrium nan richness of nan yogurt.

Kosher Salt and Black Pepper: You won’t request thing beyond basal seasoning here. Start pinch nan amounts listed successful nan look and set to taste.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Optional): You won’t spot oliva lipid listed successful my look because my mom ne'er utilized it. I find that thick, whole-milk yogurt gives nan condiment each nan richness it needs. However, if you’d for illustration to adhd it, a tablespoonful of oliva lipid per 1 ½ cups of yogurt is simply a bully starting point.

How to Make Easy Homemade Tzatziki: A Step-by-Step Guide

Making a delicious tzatziki pinch yogurt, shredded cucumber, and citrus juice doesn’t require immoderate typical cooking techniques, truthful anyone tin do it.

Step 1 – Grate and drain nan cucumber: Using nan ample holes of a container grater, grate nan peeled cucumber and transportation it to a fine-mesh strainer. Press down pinch a spatula to merchandise nan excess moisture. I usually fto it beryllium for a fewer minutes to thief nan juices drain completely.

Once drained, you should person astir 1 cup of grated cucumber.

Alternatively, you tin wrap nan shredded cucumber successful a cleanable beverage towel and compression it by manus to region arsenic overmuch liquid arsenic possible.

Step 2 – Whisk nan yogurt base: In a mean bowl, harvester nan Greek yogurt, freshly squeezed citrus juice, minced garlic, salt, and achromatic pepper.

Whisk until soft and creamy. This is besides a bully clip to springiness it a speedy sensation and set nan seasoning if needed.

Step 3 – Add cucumber and herbs: Fold successful nan drained cucumber and caller dill aliases mint. Mix until everything is evenly combined.

Step 4 – Cover and chill:
You tin service it correct away, but if you person nan time, screen and fto it remainder successful nan fridge for astatine slightest 30 minutes. This allows nan flavors to meld and deepen.

Expert Tips from a Lifelong Tzatziki Maker

This look is beautiful straightforward, but location are a fewer things I want to constituent retired truthful you tin extremity up pinch nan champion tzatziki connected your first try:

• Don’t skip draining nan shredded cucumber: This is nan azygous astir important measurement erstwhile it comes to achieving that creamy texture tzatziki is known for. Yes, it’s an other step, but it makes each nan difference.
• DIY Greek Yogurt: If you don’t person Greek yogurt, you tin strain plain yogurt astatine home. Just spot a fine-mesh sieve complete a vessel and statement it pinch cheesecloth (a insubstantial towel will besides activity successful a pinch). Add nan yogurt, screen it, and fto it beryllium successful nan fridge for a fewer hours. The longer it sits, nan thicker it becomes.
  Since plain yogurt has much liquid, I urge utilizing astir half a cup much than nan look calls for to relationship for nan liquid that will drain.
• Avoid overmixing: Once you person folded successful nan cucumber and herbs, operation only until nan ingredients are conscionable combined. Overmixing tin origin nan cucumber to merchandise much liquid, which whitethorn h2o down nan sauce.
• Do not skip nan chilling: To me, nan concealed to nan champion tzatziki condiment is letting it remainder successful nan fridge. This clip allows nan flavors (especially nan ail and caller herbs) to create and deepen. Even conscionable 30 minutes makes a difference, but readying for an hr aliases 2 tin output moreover amended results.

How To Make Ahead and Store?

Make Ahead: You tin make this Greek tzatziki condiment look a time aliases 2 ahead. Just beryllium judge to transportation it to an airtight instrumentality and shop it successful nan fridge.

Storage: Leftovers will support for up to 3 days successful nan refrigerator. Give it a bully operation earlier serving, and if immoderate liquid has collected connected top, simply move it disconnected aliases drain it earlier mixing.

Delicious Ways to Serve Tzatziki Sauce successful Your Daily Cooking

I whitethorn aliases whitethorn not person been caught eating this Mediterranean classical pinch a spoon. All jokes aside, tzatziki is simply a staple for a reason. It pairs beautifully pinch conscionable astir immoderate nutrient aliases rootlike crockery that could usage a cooling, creamy contrast. Here are a fewer of my favourite ways to usage it:

Kabobs and Gyros: Simply drizzle it correct connected top! If you want to effort thing different, effort drizzling this condiment complete my Karniyarik recipe (aka Turkish Stuffed Eggplant), Greek Yogurt Chicken, Shish Taouk, aliases Baked Chicken Kabobs, Chicken Shawarma, aliases service it pinch Turkish Kofte. 

Sauce for Burgers and Sandwiches: I emotion utilizing it arsenic a dispersed for Greek Lamb Burgers (pictured above) aliases my Chicken Pita Wraps. It adds a creamy opposition and brings everything together.

Vegetables and Vegetable Dishes: A dollop of tzatziki tin move elemental roasted eggplant into a delicious appetizer. It’s besides a awesome lucifer for baked zucchini fritters, crispy falafel, aliases conscionable astir immoderate veggie-forward crockery you’d service astatine a gathering.

With Salads: Tzatziki isn’t conscionable a dip; it makes a fantastic, creamy summation to various salads. I peculiarly emotion a dollop alongside aliases moreover mixed into my easy Greek salad for an other furniture of freshness.

Grain Bowls: Drizzle it complete shawarma chickenhearted bowls (pictured above) aliases make it portion of a DIY Cava bowl. It adds creaminess and brightens nan remainder of nan toppings.

Part of a Meze Platter: Serve it successful a vessel arsenic a dip connected a ample platter on pinch food and crackers, olives, hummus, muhammara, pita bread (or pita chips), and caller earthy vegetables.

Tzatziki Sauce Variations & Substitutions:

• Dairy-Free/Vegan Options: To make this vegan aliases dairy-free, usage a neutral-flavored plant-based yogurt. I for illustration unflavored cashew yogurt, but coconut aliases almond beverage yogurt tin besides work. Just make judge it’s unsweetened and arsenic heavy arsenic imaginable for nan champion consistency.
• Herb Variations: You tin easy make this creamy tzatziki condiment your ain by switching up nan herbs. Fresh dill and mint are classical options, but parsley aliases chives are besides awesome alternatives. No caller herbs connected hand? You tin time off them retired and still person a delicious dip.
• Making it Thinner (like Turkish Cacık): If you person ever been to Turkiye, you’ve astir apt had cacik, a thinner type of tzatziki. To execute that texture, simply usage plain yogurt alternatively of Greek yogurt, aliases operation successful astir ½ cup of acold h2o (or more, depending connected your preference) until you scope nan desired consistency.

FAQs:

Other Yogurt Sauce Recipes You Might Also Like:

• My Yogurt Dill Sauce is bright, herby, and cleanable for serving pinch salmon, baked potatoes, aliases elemental roasted vegetables.
• A drizzle of my Greek yogurt crockery dressing instantly turns immoderate crockery greens into a refreshing, creamy broadside that goes pinch conscionable astir immoderate meal.
• A spoonful of my Yogurt Tahini Sauce adds a creamy, nutty furniture to atom bowls, roasted veggies, aliases conscionable astir thing that needs a small thing extra.

Categorized as: All Lunches, Condiments, Dips, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Grain Free, International Recipes, Lunch, No Cook, Nut Free, Salads, Sauces, Side Dishes, Turkish Cuisine, Vegetable Side Dishes, Vegetarian, Videos