Tzatziki
Greek Dip
Tzatziki is a Greek dip made from yogurt, cucumbers, garlic and dill. So simple and refreshing, tzatziki is one of the most infamous Greek appetizers (meze) which can also be used as a spread, a dip, or a side dish. This sauce can always be found in the iconic gyro and souvlaki. I grew up putting a dollop on top of my rice. My children love dipping their pita bread and homemade fries into the sauce. I love dipping my grilled meat and fresh vegetables in it. This easy and fresh recipe will liven up any meal. It is so cool, crisp and fresh. Its rich and creamy texture comes from the creamy Greek yogurt.
Tips & Tricks:
squeeze the water out of the grated cucumber. This step is essential for making a denser creamy, rich tzatziki – if you skip it, the water from the excess cucumber will cause your sauce to separate. Squeeze the cucumber directly over the sink using a kitchen towel or allow it to drain in the colander for 20 minutes.
Use seedless cucumber
If Greek yogurt is unavailable, you can substitute it with regular yogurt, which needs to be drained overnight to remove the excess moisture. Line a fine sieve with a cheesecloth and place it in a large bowl that will collect water; add the yogurt into the cloth and let it drain overnight in the refrigerator.
Ingredients:
Serves 6
1 English cucumber(seedless), grated and drained
500 g strained plain Greek yogurt- 2%
2 cloves of garlic, minced
½ cup of EVOO(extra virgin olive oil)
1 tbsp of lemon juice
2 tbsp of chopped fresh dill(optional)
Salt to taste
Cooking Instructions:
Wash your cucumber, dry then grate leaving the skin on-we want the green skin flecks to shine through!
Place the grated cucumber on a towel and gently squeeze out a bit of the excess water.
In a medium bowl, combine the cucumber, yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, EVOO, salt, and dill, if using. Chill until ready to use.
So simple and nothing beats homemade tzatziki! Use it to dress up grilled meats, veggies, sandwiches and more.
