The tzatziki sauce Greek recipe is a fresh, creamy sauce with an intense and distinctive flavor; it is often served with bread or pita and with many meat, fish and vegetable dishes.
This Greek recipe is prepared exclusively with plain yogurt, cucumbers, olive oil, flavored with chopped garlic and dill.
This sauce should be served cold and is especially suitable for the summer period; it is very easy to prepare but you should be careful to let it rest — the longer you leave it in the refrigerator before serving, the more flavor it will develop.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN THESE RECIPES
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 4 servings
- Cuisine: Greek
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer and Autumn
Ingredients
- 1 Cucumber
- 12 oz (about 1 3/8 cups) Greek yogurt
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 4 tablespoons Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons White wine vinegar
- to taste Salt
Tools
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Vegetable peeler
- 1 Grater
- 1 Strainer
- 1 Small bowl
Preparation
Start by peeling the cucumber, rinse it under running water, dry it and grate it into a strainer.
While the cucumber is releasing its liquid, about ten minutes, peel and finely chop the garlic.
It is important to mix after adding each ingredient before adding the next. Then put the Greek yogurt in a bowl, add the garlic, the previously drained cucumber, the extra virgin olive oil, the white wine vinegar and finally the salt.Once prepared, cover the small bowl well with plastic wrap and let the sauce rest in the refrigerator for about 12 hours.
It is advisable to prepare tzatziki the day before use.
The sauce keeps in the fridge for 3-4 days.Tips: for this recipe use Greek yogurt which is much thicker and firmer. Serve tzatziki in small bowls and garnish with a few mint or dill leaves.
Given its strong and intense flavor, I recommend enjoying it outside of working hours ;
Storage: Once prepared, it can be stored in the refrigerator for about 2 days, ideal to serve chilled after resting for at least 2 hours
Refreshing effect: Thanks to the combination of yogurt and cucumber, it provides an immediate sensation of freshness.
Versatility for light meals: It is perfect to accompany quick no-cook dishes, such as salads, raw vegetable crudités and outdoor appetizers
If you don’t like garlic, how can it be substituted?
Although garlic is a key ingredient in the traditional version, omitting it makes the sauce milder and easier to digest.
Alternatives to add flavor:
Chives: Finely chopped, they add a sharp note similar to onion but much lighter and fresher.
Lemon Zest: Grate the peel of an untreated lemon to enhance summer freshness.
More Herbs: Add plenty of fresh dill or mint to compensate for the missing robust garlic flavor.
White or Black Pepper: A sprinkle of freshly ground pepper adds an interesting spicy note.If I don’t have Greek yogurt, can I use regular yogurt?
Greek yogurt is simply regular yogurt strained to remove the watery whey. You can use strained plain yogurt.
Procedure: Take full-fat plain yogurt, place it in a strainer lined with cheesecloth (or a clean kitchen towel) and let it drain over a bowl in the refrigerator for at least 2-4 hours.
Result: You will obtain a thick, compact cream very similar to the original.
