Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Creamy homemade tzatziki, an authentic Greek cucumber yogurt sauce, is easy to make and so delicious! Use tzatziki in a variety of ways, as a dip, dressing, or sandwich spread. You’ll find that tzatziki is good on everything!
How long it takes: 20 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: mixing bowl, sharp knife, grater
Servings: Makes 3 cups
Have you ever tried tzatziki? You’ll see it on the menus of restaurants featuring Greek food, or other Mediterranean and Middle East cuisines. It’s often served as a dip with warm pita bread. Sometimes creamy tzatziki accompanies spicy foods to tame the fire in your mouth.
Homemade Tzatziki
Made with creamy Greek yogurt and shredded cucumbers, enhanced with fresh dill, garlic, and lemon, this classic condiment can be served in many ways. Tzatziki has become a staple sauce recipe in my kitchen and I’m sure you’ll want to add it to yours!
Unlike many creamy sauces, tzatziki is actually good for you since it’s made with Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise. Cucumber, garlic, and dill add even more nutrients and with only 30 calories per ¼ cup, it’s pretty guilt-free.
You can buy tzatziki sauce in most grocery stores but it usually contains additives and preservatives. Why not make your own? It tastes so much fresher and it’s easy!
How To Serve Tzatziki
While tzatziki is perfect as a dip for pita bread, grilled vegetables, meatballs or falafel, tzatziki is also an outstanding way to turn an ordinary burger into a gourmet sandwich. Try a dollop of tzatziki on a bun with a hamburger, turkey burger, black bean burger, or grilled chicken. It’s especially amazing on my Greek turkey burgers. Of course, tzatziki is great on gyros, too.
Use tzatziki as a sauce to top fish, especially salmon. Mix tzatziki with pasta or potatoes for a quick and easy salad. Try a dollop on scrambled eggs.
Once you make your first batch of tzatziki, you’ll be flooded with ideas of how you’d like to enjoy this versatile Greek dip. Look for creative ways to use tzatziki. It won’t be difficult because the creamy texture and fresh taste complements so many dishes.
How do you pronounce "tzatziki"?
When you look at this word, you may scratch your head and say, “What?” Looks like a lot of consonants in there, doesn’t it? Well, don’t worry, it’s easy to pronounce: tuh-zee-kee. Practice a few times and you’ll have it down. It’s way harder to type tzatziki than it is to say it, believe me!
How To Make homemade tzatziki
There’s no cooking involved in this easy recipe. You can whip it up in about 15 minutes, depending on how fast you are with a knife. You’ll need a grater and a nice sharp knife.
What kind of cucumbers work best? Buy Persian or English cucumbers for best results. These are the long skinny cucumbers, usually wrapped in plastic, because their skins are delicate. Ordinary cucumbers have waxed thick skins and are more watery. Grow your own cucumbers? Perfect! Just harvest them when they’re small and tender.
Prep the cucumbers: Remove the seeds (they’ll water down your sauce if you leave them in), and then coarsely grate the cucumber. There’s no need to peel it first.
If you want, you may drain the cucumber, pressing excess water out. I usually skip this step because I’m lazy. Oh, did I just say that aloud? I meant I’m looking for ways to simplify recipes for you guys.
Add the sauce ingredients: Stir the shredded cucumber into full-fat Greek yogurt along with minced garlic, olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and chopped fresh dill. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Serve or refrigerate: If you want, garnish tzatziki with a sprig of fresh dill or a drizzle of olive oil. A curl of lemon peel is really pretty, too.
Recipe Variations
- Garlic alternatives. If you’re not crazy about fresh garlic, try substituting minced shallots or green onions (scallions). You could also substitute ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder. I’m thinking that even if you like fresh garlic, you could still add shallots or green onions to your tzatziki, anyways, just for the fun of it! Why not?
- Add mint. Instead of fresh dill, or along with it, add chopped fresh mint leaves. Don’t use dried mint because it’s too potent for this dip recipe.
- Lower cal dip. Want to cut the calories a bit? Full fat Greek yogurt is really the best for this dip, but substitute 2% or non-fat if you like. If you want to make vegan tzatziki, use non-dairy soy or coconut yogurt.
Refrigerate: Homemade tzatziki, tightly covered, will last in your fridge for up to 2 to 3 days. Refrigerated tzatziki will separate slightly and appear watery at first. Give it a good stir and it will be fine. Don’t be tempted to freeze tzatziki–you won’t be happy with the results. And really, it only takes about 15 minutes, tops, so make it fresh!
More Dips & Spreads
Homemade Tzatziki
Ingredients
- 1 English or Persian cucumber, seeded and grated (about 1½ cups)
- 1 ½ cups Greek yogurt (full-fat is best)
- 2 small garlic cloves, minced, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, more to taste
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, stir all ingredients together until combined.1 English or Persian cucumber, seeded and grated, 1 ½ cups Greek yogurt, 2 small garlic cloves, minced, or to taste, 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, more to taste, 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours before serving, or serve immediately.
Notes
- Cucumber: Any tender-skinned cucumber will work. Avoid the the larger cucumbers with the waxy coating. If that’s all that’s available, peel the cucumber and remove most of the seeds.
- Yogurt: Full-fat Greek yogurt yields the creamiest sauce but 2% Greek yogurt works too.
- Shortcut: 2 teaspoons dried dill can be substituted for fresh dill.
- Storage: Store tzatziki in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 3 days. Makes 3 cups.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did You Make This?Share a comment and rating below! I love hearing what you think!
Easy, quick, delicious!
Thank you so much! I appreciate you leaving a review.
I love a good tzatziki sauce!
Same!!