Description
Greek tzatziki sauce brings Mediterranean freshness to any plate, offering cool cucumber and tangy yogurt in perfect harmony. Creamy, zesty, and simple to prepare, this authentic sauce elevates grilled meats, vegetables, and pita bread with Mediterranean charm you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and grated
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) plain Greek yogurt
Aromatics and Herbs:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) chopped fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) dried dill)
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Grate cucumber and place in a fine-mesh sieve, sprinkling with salt to draw out excess moisture for approximately 15 minutes.
- Thoroughly press and squeeze cucumber using a kitchen towel to remove all liquid, ensuring a dry texture.
- Combine drained cucumber with Greek yogurt, creating a foundational base for the tzatziki sauce.
- Incorporate minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, chopped dill, salt, and pepper into the mixture.
- Whisk ingredients vigorously until achieving a smooth, well-integrated consistency.
- Taste and fine-tune seasoning, adjusting salt, pepper, or lemon juice according to personal preference.
- Transfer sauce to a clean container, ensuring a tight seal to preserve freshness.
- Refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour at 40°F, allowing flavors to harmonize and develop depth.
- Serve chilled as a versatile accompaniment to Mediterranean dishes, grilled proteins, or as a refreshing dip.
Notes
- Squeeze cucumber thoroughly to prevent watery sauce, ensuring a thick and creamy consistency.
- Use full-fat Greek yogurt for richer flavor and smoother texture that holds up better.
- Fresh dill provides brighter taste compared to dried, but either works perfectly in the recipe.
- Store tzatziki in airtight container for maximum 3-4 days, allowing flavors to develop more intensely in refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 70 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg