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Authentic Tzatziki Recipe Greece, Europe
JUMP TO RECIPEWe strongly advise you to read the cooking tips before jumping to the recipe though
Introduction & history
Simple and refreshing, tzatziki is one of the most famous Greek appetizers (meze) which can also be used as a spread, a dip, or a side-dish. Its preparation is a no-brainer. First, fresh cucumbers are peeled, the seeds are removed, and the flesh is grated or chopped into very small pieces. Grated cucumbers are then squeezed by hand or through a kitchen cloth. To help remove excess water, some recipes suggest salting the grated cucumbers and letting them stand for 15 minutes. Creamy Greek yogurt, usually made from sheep or goat’s milk, is mixed with olive oil, minced garlic, a dash of vinegar or lemon juice, and fresh herbs — usually dill — and joined with grated and drained cucumber. After being stirred thoroughly, the tzatziki should be left in a refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours, so it cools completely. After being garnished with a drizzle of olive oil or a sprig of dill, tzatziki can be served as a spread with some hot Greek pita bread, or as a dip for grilled ... Read more
Serve With
Cooking tips
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yogurt
Traditionally, tzatziki is prepared with Greek yogurt made of sheep or goat’s milk, which gives it a denser, creamier texture. If Greek yogurt is unavailable, you can substitute it with regular yogurt, which needs to be drained overnight to remove the excess moisture. Line a fine sieve with a cheesecloth or a coffee filter, place it in a large bowl which will collect water, add the yogurt into the ... Read more -
cucumbers
To make tzatziki, peel the cucumbers, cut them lengthwise, and remove the seeds from the middle. Then, grate or chop them into very small pieces. Since cucumbers have a high water content, they need to be drained thoroughly. Some recipes suggest sprinkling them with some salt to help drain the water and then squeezing them with your hands or through a kitchen towel. -
garlic
Fresh garlic — minced or squeezed — is one of the basic building blocks for tzatziki. If you do not have fresh garlic, you can substitute it with garlic flakes, garlic powder, or granulated garlic. For each garlic clove called in the recipe, use 1/2 tsp garlic flakes, 1/8 tsp garlic powder, or 1/4 tsp granulated garlic. -
olive oil
Olive oil is added to tzatziki to give it a richer taste. You can use regular or virgin olive oil, which is added to the yogurt gradually, while constantly stirring. Also, you can drizzle some olive oil on top of tzatziki before serving. -
vinegar
A dash of vinegar — red or white — is stirred into the tzatziki to give it a fresher taste. You can replace the vinegar with freshly squeezed lemon juice by using the same amount stated in the recipe. -
herbs
Fresh dill, chopped finely, is the most common herb used in tzatziki recipes. However, it can be substituted with mint, parsley, or thyme. Whichever herb you use, wash it thoroughly, pat it dry, and chop it into very fine pieces. -
garnishing
Tzatziki is usually served in bowls and can be garnished with a drizzle of olive oil, a few olives, a slice of cucumber or a sprig of fresh dill.
Recipe variations
Traditional Tzatziki
PREP 10min
READY IN 10min
This recipe was adapted from visitgreece.gr and gives the basic method of tzatziki preparation. The cucumbers are in this case drained without using salt, and the herbs are completely omitted.
Ingredients
Traditional Tzatziki
1 cucumber
500 g Greek yogurt
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup olive oil
salt to taste
1 tbsp vinegar
Preparation
1
Traditional Tzatziki
Step 1/5
Start by peeling the cucumber and removing the seeds. Grate the cucumber and squeeze out the excess water.
Step 2/5
Peel the garlic cloves, mince them finely, and mix them with salt using your hands.
Step 3/5
Stir in 1 or 2 tbsp Greek yogurt and mix well to distribute the garlic evenly.
Step 4/5
Add the remaining yogurt, grated cucumbers, olive oil, and vinegar. Stir, cover, and place in a refrigerator.
Step 5/5
Serve cold.
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