Quick and easy Tzatziki recipe to serve as an appetizer or sauce. This simple recipe is made with Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and dill.
One recipe we frequently make in our home is Tzatziki. You can almost guarantee it will be in the refrigerator every Sunday. We use this cucumber yogurt sauce on salmon, vegetables, and to dip homemade pita bread or crackers in. A favorite of mine is topping it on roasted sweet potatoes and using it as a dip with sweet potato fries. It’s delicious!
My mother in law has often made a full-size grilled salmon then topped it with tzatziki and cucumbers. This appetizer is served with crackers and pita chips for guests to snack on during family gatherings. It’s one of our family favorites!
What is tzatziki?
Tzatziki is a dip or sauce made with Greek yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and dill. It is generally served cold as an appetizer or sauce to dip with grilled meats. This simple Greek yogurt sauce is famous to use on gyros, falafel, salads, salmon or served as a dip to enjoy with pita bread and vegetables. It is often associated with Greek, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern food.
Tzatziki Dip Ingredients
- Greek yogurt
- cucumber
- garlic
- dill
- olive oil
- lemon juice
- salt
How to make the best tzatziki recipe
- Start by shredding a cucumber then squeezing out the excess water. Note: you may peel the cucumber first or leave the skin on. I don’t peel the cucumber but it’s up to your preference. I also like to use a small cucumber or half of a larger cucumber depending on how intense I prefer the cucumber flavor.
- Use cheesecloth to squeeze the excess water out. If you’re short on time you can squeeze as much as you can quickly. If you’re prepping for a later time, let the cucumber sit in the cheesecloth or strainer above a bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Combine the Greek yogurt, shredded cucumber, crushed garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and chopped dill together. Add salt to taste.
- Refrigerate the tzatziki sauce until ready to serve. The longer the ingredients marinate together the better the flavor will be.
- Cover in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
Tzatziki Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ - 1 cucumber
- 1 ½ cups Greek yogurt
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1-2 tbsp dill finely chopped
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Shred cucumber and strain with cheesecloth to remove excess water.
- Combine all ingredients in a medium-size bowl. Add salt to taste.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour to marinate the flavors together. Serve with grilled meats, gyros, salmon, vegetables, or as an appetizer with pita bread.
That looks delicious!!!!