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    Home » Recipes » Greek Appetizers

    Tzatziki

    Published: Jan 9, 2008 · Updated: Jun 30, 2020 by Peter G · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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    Tzatziki is a Greek yogurt dip containing thick Greek yogurt, crisp, cooling cucumbers and garlic. Enhanced with vinegar and dill - it's traditionally served in gyros or with souvlaki.

    Want to know how to make it?

    Let’s get to it!

    Creamy tzatziki is delicious!

    🥘 Ingredients

    yogurt, cucumber, dill, garlic, olive oil, salt and vinegar all laid out on a marble table
    All the ingredients required to make tzaztiki
    • 1 cucumber, long-sized, finely grated
    • 500 grams Greek yoghurt
    • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped or use a garlic press
    • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil, extra virgin
    • 1 tablespoons dill, finely chopped
    • 1 teaspoon salt

    My best words of advice are to use traditional Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is strained and naturally thick, making it creamy and luscious.

    Be mindful of the garlic too. Too much and you will scare people away!

    🔪 Instructions

    step by step instructions on how to make tzatziki
    Step bt step instructions to make tzatziki
    1. Line a bowl with thick absorbent kitchen paper or a muslin cloth. Peel the cucumber.
    2. Grate the cucumber into the lined bowl.
    3. Once grated, bunch up the paper or cloth and squeeze the excess cucumber water.
    4. Place the grated cucumber into another bowl along with the yoghurt, garlic, vinegar, olive oil, dill and salt.
    5. Mix well, cover and place in the refrigerator.
    6. Serve after a few hours with pork souvlaki, pita bread, vegetables or crackers.

    It's essential to squeeze out the excess liquid from the cucumbers. This helps to keep it thick and not too "loose".

    a bowl of tzatziki dip in the middle of the table served with pita bread
    Served with pita bread for the ultimate Greek feast

    📖 Variations

    If you’re after something a little different, I have experimented by adding avocado to this Greek yogurt dip. Here’s the recipe for avocado tzatziki if you’re interested.

    Some other options include:

    Yogurt - if you want to make vegan tzatziki use soy, almond or coconut-based yogurt. Different? Yes. But still equally delicious.

    Mint - Don't like dill? Use mint instead. Or even better use a combination of both.

    Vinegar - Swap out the vinegar for lemon juice. No harm is done. 

    a bowl of greek yoghurt with pita bread on a marble table
    Tzatziki served in a bowl - ready to be enjoyed!

    🥗 Side dishes

    Serve it with my pork souvlaki or my Greek slow roasted lamb for the ultimate Greek dining experience.

    Alternatively, serve it as a starter with pita bread, vegetables or crackers.

    🎥 Video - how to make it

    a bowl of Greek tzatziki dip served on a marble table

    Tzatziki

    Author: Peter G
    A traditional recipe for Greek tzatziki made with yogurt, cucumbers, garlic and dill. Serve with souvlaki or gyros for the ultimate Greek feast.
    4.80 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Resting Time: (in the fridge) 4 hrs
    Total Time 4 hrs 15 mins
    Cuisine Greek
    Servings 6 serves

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cucumber, long-sized, peeled, finely grated (Note 1)
    • 500 grams Greek yoghurt, (Note 2)
    • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
    • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, (Note 3)
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil, extra virgin
    • 2 tablespoons dill , finely chopped (Note 4)
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Line a bowl with thick absorbent kitchen paper or a muslin cloth. Peel and deseed the cucumber. Grate the cucumber into the lined bowl.
    • Once grated, bunch up the paper or cloth and squeeze the excess cucumber water.
    • Place the grated cucumber into another bowl along with the yoghurt, garlic, vinegar, olive oil, dill and salt. Mix well, cover and place in the refrigerator. (Note 5)
    • Serve after a few hours with pork souvlaki, pita bread, vegetables or crackers.

    Notes

    1. You can also substitute with 2 Lebanese cucumbers 
    2. You can use low-fat Greek yogurt or a plant-based yogurt if vegan
    3. Can sub for lemon juice - try 1 teaspoon and adjust for tartness
    4. While dill gives tzatziki it's distinct flavour, you can also use mint
    5. Once everything is combined I recommend you place the tzatziki into the fridge and let it rest a little while.  It's a good idea to make this the day before. That way all the flavours get to develop really well. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 serve | Calories: 113 kcal | Carbohydrates: 5 g | Protein: 9 g | Fat: 6 g | Saturated Fat: 2 g | Iron: 1 mg

    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

    © Souvlaki For the Soul

    Made this recipe?Let me know how you went and tag @souvlakiman on Instagram!

    More Greek Appetizer Recipes

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    • Keftedes - Greek Meatballs
    • Baked Feta
    • Htipiti - Greek Red Pepper and Feta Dip

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    1. Barb D

      January 12, 2022 at 8:10 am

      5 stars
      Doubled the recipe except cukes because they were large. Used 2% Greek yogurt. I did 3 Tbls of dill weed and 1 Tbls of mint.
      Delicious. I use tzatiki with my can of tuna as a low-fat substitute for Mayo. It's amazing

      Reply
      • Peter G

        January 26, 2022 at 6:48 am

        Fantastic! I highly encourage people to change it up! Thanks for the feedback.

        Reply

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    Peter Georgakopoulos owner of Souvlaki For The Soul

    Yeia sou! I'm Peter! I consider Greek food to be the best food in the world. Let me show you how easy it is to prepare traditional and modern Greek recipes in your kitchen. And bonus points if you like baking too!

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