Greek Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the main ingredients in tzatziki? ›

Tzatziki is a salted yogurt and cucumber dip that's made of strained yogurt, shredded cucumber, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and herbs. Authentic Greek tzatziki is most often made with sheep or goat yogurt, but my tzatziki recipe calls for regular full-fat Greek yogurt.

A tablespoon of corn starch or flour in a cup adding a dribble of water or broth until you get a thick paste. Then add it to the runny sauce. How do you make Tzatziki? Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, minced garlic, salt.

Tzatziki is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs such as dill or mint. Traditionally, it is made from strained sheep or goat's milk yogurt, but a full-fat Greek yogurt works just fine in this dip.

Tzatziki sauce should be kept in a sealed container and stored in the refrigerator when you're not using it. As long as it's stored properly, you can expect homemade tzatziki to last about three to four days. This will depend on how fresh the yogurt was when you made the sauce.

Tzatziki is made of strained yogurt (usually from sheep or goat milk) mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, and sometimes lemon juice, and dill or mint or parsley.

When I make yogurt based sauces, cold (tzatziki) or hot (curries etcetera), I strain the yogurt to remove some of the liquid (whey), which thickens it. Greek yogurt is strained yogurt. It isn't necessary to use additives for thickening. I now use cheese cloth to do the straining.

The biggest contributor to watery tzatziki is the cucumber, which is why it's important to try to remove as much water out of the cucumber as possible. To release the water from the cucumber, de-seed the cucumber then grate it. I suggest using a metal spoon to scoop the seeds out of the cucumber.

Squeeze the cucumber a little bit to encourage the moisture to drain out. Let drain for at least 5 minutes. In a medium bowl, stir the cucumber into the yogurt, along with the garlic, herbs, lemon, and salt.

Pro Tip: Getting rid of excess cucumber juice is important so that your tzatziki sauce isn't watery the next day. You'll be amazed how much liquid you can strain off. Cheesecloth is the most effective way, but you can also squeeze by the fistful over a strainer.

It's incredible popular in Greece where it's slathered on top of just about everything. You can serve it up with crudités or pita as an appetizer / snack or serve it alongside some skewered chicken, veggies, fish or meat as a dip for a main course. It's bright and tangy and perfect for summer.

Is tzatziki good for your gut? ›

Tzatziki is a real powerhouse in terms of health benefits. Probiotics, which can aid promote gut health, vitamins A and C, calcium, and phosphorus are all included in this classic Greek meal. Together, these nutrients strengthen your immune system and maintain the health of your bones.

Eating tzatziki can help add a variety of healthy nutrients to your daily diet, maintain a robust microbial system, and maintain blood glucose levels. If you suffer from high blood pressure, use tzatziki often as it contains less sodium and carbs than hummus.

Serve with a variety of vegetables like: fresh green beans (lightly steamed), green, red, or yellow bell peppers, carrots, celery, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Some of the recipes I found call for finely chopping or mincing the cucumbers and in that case I can see why you might have some issues. I wouldn't freeze tzatziki sauce. Dairy practically never freezes well. It is a fat-water emulsion, and it is likely to change its structure a lot upon thawing.

Tzatziki is a real powerhouse in terms of health benefits. Probiotics, which can aid promote gut health, vitamins A and C, calcium, and phosphorus are all included in this classic Greek meal. Together, these nutrients strengthen your immune system and maintain the health of your bones.

Yes, tzatziki is considered a healthier dip than hummus and sour cream. It contains several vitamins, a good amount of protein, and fewer carbohydrates and calories. The fat content of tzatziki is low too, which is not the case with other dips.

Greek yogurt is made from cow's milk that is strained to remove the whey, this results in a thicker consistency compared to natural yogurt. It also has a tangier flavour and can often be used as a healthier substitute to mayonnaise, sour cream or crème fraîche.