Tzatziki – Greek Yogurt & Cucumber Sauce

I admit it. I am a tzatziki snob.  I can’t help it.  Once you’ve had really good tzatziki, and it totally makes your meal perfect – settling for sub par just makes you sad.

I will eat good tzatziki multiple ways:

  • On souvlaki (pork, chicken or lamb) and gyro
  • Mixed into a big serving of rice – this is pure comfort food for me
  • Slathered onto toasted pita bread
  • As a dip for thin pretzel chips (don’t knock it til you’ve tried it)
  • With a spoon 😊

So, I believe, I’ve perfected (at least for my taste) tzatziki and I am willing to share the recipe with you dear reader so that you may join me in the land of tzatziki snobs 😊

Recipe:

  1. 1 cup PLAIN Greek Yogurt (I capitalized plain because I have vanilla Greek Yogurt in my refrigerator as well, and have almost made a tragic mistake).  I use fat free – since the Greek Yogurt is nice and thick and has such a nice mouth feel – I don’t need to use full fat.
  2. 1/4 cup sour cream.  This is one of the secrets.  It seems to smooth out all of the “edges” of the individual ingredients and brings them together in one amazing flavor.
  3. 1/2 English cucumber– peeled
  4. 2 cloves garlic minced
  5. 1/4 cup fresh dill chopped – please use fresh.  There is nothing like the aroma of fresh dill.
  6. 1/4 teaspoon Salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.

Instructions:

  • On the large hole side of a box grater, grate the cucumber.  English cucumbers usually don’t have seeds – but if yours does, don’t use the seeds.
  • Place the cucumber shreds in a colander lined with a few paper towels and place the colander either in the sink or over a bowl.  Lightly salt the cucumbers.

  • This will help to draw out some of the liquid. Let them drain about an hour.
  • While the cucumber drains, combine the Greek yogurt, sour cream, minced garlic, salt & pepper, and dill in a bowl.  Mix in the cucumber shreds and refrigerate at least a few hours before serving.

Leftovers (if any) will keep nicely in the refrigerator (covered) for at least a week.

Enjoy!

PS:  Don’t forget the breath mints 😊

Posted in Posts, Recipes.