Tzatziki Sauce

Tzatziki sauce is a popular dipping sauce in the Mediterranean diet. Most of the Mediterranean dishes are healthy. The Greek tzatziki sauce is not an exception. Nowadays, it has become popular all over the world.

The refreshing flavor of this sauce provides comfort while enjoying meals. The combination of Greek yogurt offers a richness to the sauce and makes the sauce velvety and smooth. On the other hand cucumber, garlic, and herbs offer fresh and satisfying flavors.

Preparing the best tzatziki sauce is quite easy. However, you require expert guidance to make it work perfectly. Don’t worry! We are here to provide you with special guidelines and pro tips for preparing the tzatziki sauce at home. So, we recommend reading the article carefully from the beginning till the end.

Ingredients for Authentic Tzatziki Sauce

You don’t need heavy cream or bunches of butter to prepare this healthy dipping sauce. The tzatziki sauce ingredients are simple and subtle. The ingredients are listed below.

1. Greek yogurt – 1 cup

Greek yogurt is the key ingredient of this Mediterranean yogurt sauce. You can use full-fat Greek yogurt if you want the best texture and richness. Additionally, you can use fat-free Greek yogurt or non-dairy yogurt for a healthier tzatziki sauce.

2.  Cucumber – 1 piece medium size

Cucumber is another vital ingredient for the yogurt-cucumber sauce. The refreshing crunch that defines tzatziki comes from the grated cucumber. 

3. Fresh Garlic – 2 cloves

Fresh garlic makes the sauce savory.

4. Olive oil – 1 tablespoon

The richness comes from the olive oil and helps in bringing the flavors together.

5. Fresh Herbs (Parsley, mint, and dill) – 1 tablespoon

Dill is mandatory to prepare the yogurt dill sauce. In traditional tzatziki, you will get a unique aromatic note that comes from the fresh dill. Additionally, you can add fresh parsley and mint to enhance the flavor and aroma.

Tips: If fresh herbs are not available, you can add dried herbs. You need to reduce the quantity during using dried herbs. 1 teaspoon of dried herbs will be enough for this recipe

6. Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon

Fresh lemon juice complements the flavor of cucumber and balances the richness of the yogurt.

7. Salt – 1 teaspoon

Salt balances the taste. Professionals suggest 1 teaspoon of salt for this recipe. You can adjust the salt according to your taste. 

8. Pepper – 1 teaspoon

Pepper is an Essential seasoning ingredient that enhances the flavors and gives a kick of spice. 

9. White wine vinegar (optional) – 1 tablespoon

White wine vinegar is an optional ingredient. Some experts recommend adding 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar to intensify the tangy taste and to add deep flavors.

How to Make Tzatziki Sauce at Home: 7 Easy Steps

Preparing the Greek cucumber dip is not a difficult recipe. However, you can follow our recipe to prepare the best tzatziki sauce with authentic flavors.

Step 1: Prepare the Cucumber

Start the process of preparing the cucumber.

• Take a medium-sized cucumber and wash it finely.
• Peeling is not necessary. But, you can remove the peel if you want.
• Now, take a box grater with a large whole and grate the cucumber.
• Place the cucumber on a cheesecloth and squeeze gently.
• Remove excess water from the cucumber and place the cucumber in a bowl.

Step 2: Prepare the Garlic & Herbs

After preparing the cucumber, you need to prepare the garlic and herbs.

• Take garlic cloves and fresh herbs.
• Rinse them nicely.
• Now, mince the garlic cloves finely.
• Chop the dill, parsley, and mint properly.
• The garlic and herbs are ready to use.

Step 3: Combine Yogurt and Other Prepared Ingredients 

All the ingredients are ready. It’s time to combine them.

• Take a medium bowl.
• Combine the grated cucumber, minced garlic, and chopped herbs.
• Mix them using a spoon or whisk until getting a smooth texture.

Step 4: Season the Sauce

The seasoning ingredients for this recipe are olive oil, salt, pepper, lime juice, and white wine vinegar.

• Measure them one by one and add them to the mixture.
• Stir the sauce nicely.
• The traditional Mediterranean dip is almost ready to enjoy.

Step 5: Adjust the Consistency

This step is optional.

• If the sauce becomes very thick compared to your requirement, you can add some water to adjust the consistency. Moreover, if you like the tangy version, you can add more lemon juice instead of water.
• After mixing the water or lemon juice, give a nice mix to get a perfect consistency. 

Step 6: Chill the Sauce

Chilling the sauce improves the flavors and consistency.

• Cover the sauce and keep it in a refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Chilling allows the flavors to infuse together.
• Besides, chilling will give a nice thickness to the tzatziki sauce.

Step 7: Serve and Store 

The creamy Greek sauce recipe is complete, and the sauce is ready to serve.

• Place the sauce into a bowl.
• Then, you can garnish the sauce by drizzling some olive oil over the sauce and by using some fresh chopped herbs.
• Now, enjoy the sauce as a dipping for fries.
• You can also store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

5 Top Dishes to Pair with Tzatziki Sauce

The creamy and healthy tzatziki sauce is perfect as dipping for all kinds of fries. We will describe the top 5 dishes that you can pair with tzatziki sauce to enjoy delicious meals.

1. Pita Bread

Pita bread itself is a tasty meal. You can dip pita bread into the tzatziki sauce. It could be a great starter. In the evening, you can enjoy pita bread with tzatziki sauce as a light and healthy snakes. 

2. Grilled Meat

If you want to know the best accompaniment for grilled meat. The tzatziki sauce will definitely be on the list. The tangy flavor of the sauce complements grilled chicken and increases the taste of grilled chicken to another level. 

3. Grilled Fish

As with meat, you can pair grilled fish with the tzatziki sauce. Grilled fish is light which pairs nicely with the tangy and rich flavors of the sauce.

4. Falafel

You can use the sauce as a dipping sauce for the crispy falafel. This combination could be an amazing meal idea for vegetarian people. The creamy texture of tzatziki sauce complements the crunchy falafel. 

5. Zucchini Fritters 

Zucchini is a tasty and expensive vegetable. The zucchini fritter is a common snack item. Tzatziki sauce pairs wonderfully with zucchini fritters. The crispy fritters are the perfect contrast to the creamy sauce.

FAQs

Can I Make Tzatziki Sauce Without Dill?

Yes, you can make tzatziki sauce without dill. Alternatively, you can use mint, parsley, or oregano. These herbs will also add refreshing flavors and aroma to the sauce.

But, if you want the authentic tzatziki recipe, experts recommend using the dill mandatorily. 

How Long Does Homemade Tzatziki Sauce Last?

You can store the homemade tzatziki sauce in the refrigerator. You need to refrigerate in an airtight container. After maintaining proper storage, you can store the homemade tzatziki sauce for 3 to 5 days.

However, if you want to store for a longer period, you can freeze the sauce. It will last for up to a month.  

What’s the Best Yogurt for Tzatziki Sauce?

The full-fat Greek yogurt is the best yogurt for tzatziki sauce. This yogurt gives a creamy, smooth, and rich texture. Additionally, it is high in protein.

But you also can use fat-free or dairy-free yogurt if you want to reduce the calories of the tzatziki sauce.

Conclusion

Tzatziki sauce is a simple and healthy sauce yet flavorful. Various famous Mediterranean dishes pair perfectly with the creamy sauce. The interesting thing is that you need some simple ingredients to prepare the sauce. Besides, the preparation process is very quick and easy.

You can complement meat, fish, egg, or even vegetables with the famous Middle Eastern tzatziki sauce. So, try to prepare the sauce by following our recipe. For further queries, be connected with us.