Here’s A Simple Tzatziki Recipe to Add Some Mediterranean Flair to Your Dishes!
Tzatziki sauce is a creamy and refreshing Greek yogurt sauce that is perfect for dipping, spreading, or drizzling over your favorite dishes.
Made with just a few simple ingredients, such as Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil, and spices, this savory, creamy sauce is served cold and often eaten with popular meat dishes like gyros or souvlaki.
You can also enjoy it with bread, salads, vegetables, and more. It’s the kind of sauce that makes you think of summertime spent eating with friends and family!
Tzatziki sauce is a traditional part of Greek cuisine but it can also be found in other Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, where it goes by different names and variations.
It has a long and rich history, but its exact origin is uncertain. Some say it may have reached Greece through trade routes across Persia. Either way, it’s a staple of Mediterranean cuisine.
In Greece, tzatziki is typically a sauce enjoyed as a cold dip or spread for meats, pita bread, vegetables and more. Cyprus also serves theirs as a sauce – often with more acidity (from lemon juice).
In Turkey, it’s called cacık and can be served cold as more of a soup, depending on how much water you add. Similarly, in the Balkans, tarator is a cold cucumber soup served and enjoyed in the summer.
A common theme in many of these variations is the creamy yogurt or cheese component and often the presence of cucumber.
Ingredients
Here are the tzatziki ingredients that you will need to make this recipe. Overall, it’s pretty simple!
- Cucumber – One firm and crisp English cucumber.
- Greek yogurt – Provides the creamy and tangy base; use full-fat Greek yogurt for a richer and smoother texture.
- Lemon juice – Adds a hint of acidity; preferably freshly squeezed.
- Olive oil – Use good quality olive oil.
- Garlic clove – Use fresh garlic cloves for the strongest flavor.
- Fresh dill – To add more flavor.
- Salt – To enhance the overall taste.
- Black pepper – To add a hint of spice.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
Before you set out to make this tzatziki sauce for your next meal, have a read through these recipe tips so that you achieve the best tzatziki possible!
- Squeeze the cucumbers really well so that the tzatziki doesn’t get too watery.
- If you don’t have Greek yogurt, you can use strained plain yogurt as a substitute. However, full-fat Greek yogurt is definitely the best option.
- Ideally, allow the tzatziki to chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour after making it to allow the flavors to mingle.
- If you want to get away from traditional tzatziki and experiment with flavor and texture, you could try making the yogurt sauce with shredded zucchini instead of cucumber and/or chopped mint or parsley instead of dill.
How to Make Tzatziki – Step by Step Instructions
In this section, we’ll show you exactly how to make this homemade tzatziki sauce.
We’ve included all the recipe process photos in case you want to see what the steps should look like when you make it at home.
The recipe card with exact measurements and instructions, but no pictures, can be found at the bottom of this post!
Place the shredded cucumber over a colander or on a towel and squeeze out as much water as possible. This will prevent the tzatziki from becoming too watery.
In a medium bowl, combine the shredded and drained cucumber with Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, grated garlic, chopped dill, salt and black pepper.
Mix well. Then refrigerate the tzatziki until you’re ready to serve it, preferably for at least an hour.
Drizzle with more olive oil before serving (optional).
You can serve it with pita bread, vegetables, grilled meats (such as chicken souvlaki or lamb), zucchini fritters, Greek fries, salads as well as fish and seafood. Enjoy!
Storage Tips
Once you’ve made this tzatziki, leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
However, if the tzatziki has been left out in the hot sun for a long time, we do not recommend keeping it since it contains yogurt which can spoil quickly.
The sauce may separate slightly in the fridge, so give it a good stir.
Also, keep in mind that the tzatziki may become more watery in the fridge. If necessary, you can drain any excess liquid before serving it again.
FAQ
Here are some answers to questions about tzatziki!
Tzatziki sauce is typically made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil as well as herbs and spices. Tzatziki – as a sauce – is popular in Greece and other neighboring countries.
With its thicker, creamier consistency, tzatziki sauce is often used as a dip for Greek pita bread, vegetables, grilled meats such as chicken souvlaki or gyros, zucchini fritters, Greek fries as well as fish and seafood.
To make tzatziki sauce, shred and strain the cucumbers, then add them to a bowl with the Greek yogurt, garlic, olive oil, and other spices. Mix until well combined, then allow to chill in the fridge before serving.
Related Recipes
If you liked this tzatziki sauce recipe, here are some more Greek(-inspired) recipes that you might enjoy!
- Melitzanosalata (Greek Eggplant Dip)
- Greek Orzo Salad
- Tirokafteri (Spicy Greek Feta Dip)
- Greek Avgolemono (Lemon Chicken Soup)
- Tiropita (Greek Cheese Pies)
- Greek Meatballs
Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 English cucumber, shredded
- 1 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Place the shredded cucumber in a colander or on a towel and squeeze out as much water as possible.1 English cucumber
- In a medium bowl, combine the shredded and drained cucumber with Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, grated garlic, chopped dill, salt and black pepper. Mix well.1 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 garlic clove, 2 tablespoons fresh dill, salt, black pepper
- Refrigerate the tzatziki until ready to serve.
- Drizzle with more olive oil before serving (optional).
Notes
- Squeeze the cucumbers really well so that the tzatziki doesn’t get too watery.
- If you don’t have Greek yogurt, you can use strained plain yogurt as a substitute. However, full-fat Greek yogurt is definitely the best option.
- Ideally, let the tzatziki chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour after making it to allow the flavors to mingle.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
