This 5-ingredient recipe for Greek tzatziki sauce is delicious, refreshing, and healthy that is perfect for dipping or as a topping on your favorite dishes like gyros. It is made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and herbs.
Contents
🌟 Why this recipe works
This authentic tzatziki sauce recipe is easy to make and can be made ahead of time. It is a great way to add flavor and nutrition to your meals.
In Greece, they use tzatziki sauce for gyros. A gyro is a meaty dish similar to a kebab, but you can also use this versatile authentic Greek sauce for salads, grilled meats, and dipping.
It is made with staple pantry ingredients, like yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and fresh herbs. The easy tzatziki sauce is refreshing and has a cooling effect, making it perfect for hot summer days.
The flavor of plain Greek yogurt combined with grated cucumber gives the sauce a wonderful refreshing feeling, and the garlic and freshly chopped dill add flavor and aroma.
It's so quick to make this sauce in just 5 minutes and tastes far better than any tzatziki sauce Walmart offers. And what makes this homemade tzatziki recipe even better is that it is easy to scale, and it lasts for over a week refrigerated, so you can enjoy it on any meal you want without needing to make more every time.
🍽 Key ingredients
This authentic Greek tzatziki sauce recipe is very easy to make and only requires a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
Plain Greek yogurt - Yogurt is a healthy and delicious base for this sauce. It is high in protein and calcium and has a creamy texture that pairs well with the other ingredients.
Cucumber - The best cucumbers to use in this recipe are English cucumbers. They are a cool and refreshing addition to this sauce with a mild flavor that pairs well with the yogurt and garlic.
Minced garlic - Fresh garlic adds a sharp and pungent flavor to this sauce.
Fresh dill - The addition of fresh dill is what really makes this sauce special. The basil leaves add a beautiful flavor and aroma to the homemade tzatziki sauce.
Olive oil - A good quality olive oil, like extra virgin olive oil, adds a smooth and silky texture to the sauce.
Kosher salt - A little bit of salt is added to balance the flavors of the sauce.
Substitutions
Plain yogurt
You can substitute the creamy Greek yogurt for sour cream. The sauce will be slightly thicker but will still have a delicious flavor.
Herbs
fresh mint and fresh basil are good substitutes for dill. The flavor changes slightly for each herb, but both herbs work great with the traditional Greek yogurt.
🔪 How to make
Tzatziki sauce is easy to make and can be made ahead of time. Simply mix the ingredients together and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to meld.
Preparations
Step 1
Wash and shred the English cucumber using a grater. Use the large holes to grate the cucumber and not the small holes.
Step 2
Finely chop the garlic and dill leaves.
Step 3
Place the shredded cucumber in a colander and sprinkle with Kosher salt. With one big handful at a time, lightly squeeze the grated cucumber between your palms to remove excess moisture.
Step 4
Pour the grated cucumber into a cheese cloth and squeeze as much juice as possible from it.
Step 5
Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl and combine.
Step 6
Pour the tzatziki sauce into an airtight container or bowl covered with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of three hours before serving.
Step 7
Serve chilled with more freshly chopped dill.
💭 Cooking tips
Consistency
If you want a thinner sauce, simply add more yogurt. For a thicker sauce, add less yogurt.
Using dried dill
This sauce is best when made with fresh dill, but you can also use dried if that's all you have on hand. Use half the quantity for dried dill.
📖 Recipe Variations
This easy tzatziki sauce recipe is used as a base sauce and can be modified to suit your needs and taste buds. Here are a few variations of tzatziki recipes.
Add fresh lemon juice
Adding a teaspoon of lemon juice to the tzatziki sauce gives it a beautiful tart flavor that works well with all the other ingredients. Depending on your taste buds, you may want to add a teaspoon of sugar to counteract the tartness.
Add sour cream
Tzatziki sauce with sour cream adds a creamier and thicker consistency. For best results, use a combination of 8-ounce sour cream and 8 ounces of strained yogurt.
Add a touch of spice
If you like all things spicy, tzatziki tastes great with a finely chopped chili (deseeded) mixed into the greek tzatziki sauce.
🥗 What to serve with
This easy tzatziki sauce recipe is versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. It is usually served with Greek food recipes like Greek salad, gyros, or ground lamb burgers. Here are a few flavorful suggestions:
Gyros
If you have ever been to Greek restaurants, you would have definitely seen or tasted their famous grilled meat in a floury pita bread called gyros. Gyros are the main dish for authentic Greek tzatziki sauce, and this gyro recipe is the best and easy to make too.
Pasta with roasted veggies
This Italian classic dish is healthy with lots of roasted vegetables, like zucchini, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes. Pasta with roasted veggies is the perfect match for this light recipe for tzatziki sauce. You only need a dollop on top to add a refreshing taste.
Couscous salad
Another summer classic dish that is popular in Mediterranean cuisine is this couscous salad that is packed with flavor from a variety of grilled vegetables, spices, fresh herbs, and olive oil. Together with some tzatziki sauce on the side or on top is heavenly.
🙋 Frequently asked questions
Should I remove the cucumber seeds and skin?
It is not necessary to remove the cucumber seeds or skin, but some people prefer to do so. If you are one of those people, simply peel the cucumber and then use a spoon to scrape out the seeds.
What's the difference between tzatziki sauce and cucumber sauce?
Tzatziki sauce and cucumber sauce are similar, but they have different textures. Tzatziki is more like a thick dip, while cucumber sauce is more like a thin dressing.
What is tzatziki sauce?
Tzatziki sauce is a traditional Greek sauce made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and herbs. It is commonly used as a dip or condiment and goes well with a variety of dishes.
🧊 Storing
This Greek tzatziki sauce recipe has a long shelf life compared to most sauces as it uses natural ingredients that stay fresh for longer.
Fridge - Simply place the sauce in an airtight container or bowl covered with plastic wrap, and it will last in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Freezer - If you intend to freeze this sauce, use a food processor to blend the cucumber instead of a box grater, and then mix it with the Greek yogurt. Doing so will prevent the texture from turning into mush upon thawing. Transfer the refreshing sauce to an airtight freezer container and freeze it for up to 3 months.
🍳 Related recipes
If you like this Greek tzatziki sauce recipe, try my delicious dipping recipes in your next meal.
👪 Serving size
This Greek tzatziki sauce recipe is amazing with many Greek dishes, and it yields enough for around 2 cups, and since you only need a generous spoonful with a gyro or burger, you can expect it to last for over a week using it on several meals.
This concludes our guide on how to make tzatziki sauce. It's easy, refreshing, and lasts for up to 2 weeks so that you can enjoy it in many Greek delicious recipes. We hope you found it informative and that you'll give this delicious sauce a try. Thanks for reading!
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📋 Recipe
Tzatziki Sauce (Easy 5 Ingredients!)
Ingredients
- 16 oz Greek yogurt
- 1 medium Cucumber - or about 3 Persian cucumbers, grated
- 2 teaspoon Finely minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoon Fresh dill
- Kosher salt - or sea salt-to taste
Instructions
Preparations
- Wash and shred the English cucumber using a grater. Use the large holes to grate the cucumber and not the small holes.
- Finely chop the garlic and dill leaves.
- Place the shredded cucumber in a colander and sprinkle with Kosher salt. With one big handful at a time, lightly squeeze the grated cucumber between your palms to remove excess moisture.
- Pour the grated cucumber into a cheese cloth and squeeze as much juice as possible from it.
- Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl and combine.
- Pour the tzatziki sauce into an airtight container or bowl covered with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of three hours before serving.
- Serve chilled with more freshly chopped dill.
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