4.9 from 75 votes
Tzatziki
Tzatziki is a creamy yogurt and cucumber sauce that combines strained Greek yogurt, finely chopped cucumbers, crushed garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh herbs like mint or dill. It's cooling and textured, with a balance between tartness from the lemon and richness from the yogurt. The removal of excess moisture from the yogurt and cucumbers prevents watery sauce and intensifies flavors, making it ideal as a dip, dollop, or accompaniment.
Prep Time
2 hrs
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 15 mins
Servings:
6
servings
Calories:
117 kcal
Course:
Appetizer
Cuisine:
Mediterranean
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups Greek yogurt plain, lowfat
- 1 pound cucumber Persian or English, peeled and seeded
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon mint chopped, or dill
- 1 clove garlic or more to taste, crushed
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or more to taste, fresh
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
- mint optional, fresh sprig for garnish
Instructions
- Strain the Greek yogurt for 2-3 hours in the refrigerator. If you'd prefer to use plain yogurt and not Greek, you'll need to strain it for 14-15 hours to get the right consistency. If you don't know how to strain yogurt, you can find instructions here: How to Strain Yogurt
- Pulse the cucumbers in the food processor or hand chop to desired texture. I like them chopped small, but not minced. Bigger chunks will result in chunkier tzatziki. It’s a matter of preference. You can also grate them, if you prefer.
- Cut out an 18-inch rectangle of cheesecloth and fold into two layers. Place chopped cucumbers in the center of the double-layered cloth. Gather up the cheesecloth and twist at the top to form a bundle. Squeeze the bundle several times over the sink, twisting the bundle tightly to get rid of as much liquid as possible. If you don't have cheesecloth, use a thin dishtowel instead.
- Place strained yogurt in a medium mixing bowl.
- Add the drained cucumber pieces from the cheesecloth to the bowl along with the olive oil, chopped fresh mint or dill, crushed garlic, lemon juice, and salt.
- Use a fork or whisk to blend the ingredients together. Taste the tzatziki; add more garlic, lemon juice, or salt to taste if desired. Serve cold. Store in the refrigerator.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Strain yogurt well to achieve thick consistency; plain yogurt needs longer straining.
- Remove seeds and peel cucumbers to prevent excess water and bitterness.
- Tightly squeeze cucumbers in cheesecloth or a clean dishtowel to remove moisture.
- Adjust garlic and lemon juice amounts to balance pungency and tartness.
- Serve chilled for the best refreshing flavor.
Nutrition Information
Calories
117kcal
(6%)
Carbohydrates
5g
(2%)
Protein
6g
(12%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Cholesterol
3mg
(1%)
Sodium
121mg
(5%)
Potassium
111mg
(2%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
125IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
3.2mg
(4%)
Calcium
78mg
(8%)
Iron
0.3mg
(2%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 117
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 117kcal | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 5g | 2% |
| Protein | 6g | 12% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 3mg | 1% |
| Sodium | 121mg | 5% |
| Potassium | 111mg | 2% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 125IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 3.2mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 78mg | 8% |
| Iron | 0.3mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.