Tzatziki dip recipe (Greek garlic sauce)
Tzatziki dip (Greek garlic sauce) is a classic Greek appetizer and, in other variations, also native to countries such as Iraq, Cyprus and Turkey. It is traditionally made with strained yogurt, grated cucumbers, garlic, olive oil, vinegar and various herbs. It is found worldwide on the menu of all Greek taverns and is served as a creamy yogurt condiment to accompany other Greek 'mezze' plates.
Ingredients
- 1 kg plain Greek yogurt
- 3 Lebanese cucumbers
- 5 to10 garlic cloves grated
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1/5 cup of vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- It is best to strain the yogurt before using it. Lay a cheesecloth, muslin cloth or similar inside a colander and pour the yogurt in that. Let it drain over a bowl for a couple of hours or overnight in the fridge.
- Grate the cucumber coarsely (can leave the peel on if it's organic) and place it in a fine-mesh sieve. Salt well with ½ tsp of salt, cover, and leave on the side for 30min or overnight to drain and release most of its liquid. Can also squeeze the grated cucumber in your fist, a handful at a time, to extract as much liquid as you can.
- Put the strained yogurt, squeezed grated cucumber, grated garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and salt in a bowl and mix well.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking. Keep in mind that the tzatziki dip will taste a little stronger the next day when all of the flavours have infused into the yogurt.
- Store in a closed glass container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
1. If you don't have time to strain the yogurt, you can find strained yogurt sold by weight in some European delis or choose a tub yoghurt brand with the thickest consistency. If the yogurt is not very thick the sauce will still turn out nice , just a little runnier.
In this recipe, I use the Greek sheep's yogurt as I am after the authentic tzatziki dip recipe, but you can use other types of yogurts if preferred, like cow's, goat's, coconut yogurt or soy. Only remember to choose the plain variety. 2. If you cannot tolerate fresh garlic, try using a garlic infusion instead. Mix the garlic and olive oil and let it infuse a few hours or days before draining and pouring into the tzatziki sauce. 3. If you are not a fan of the strong garlic flavour, feel free to add half of the recommended amount of garlic or don't add any at all. Another option can be to substitute fresh garlic for dry garlic powder. The powder will give a lighter garlicky taste. 4. Some optional additions to the tzatziki sauce can include - A tablespoon of sour cream to make it creamier - ½ cup of grated carrot to give it some sweetness - Or keep the recipe traditional and add some dill or mint. - Can also try using a different type of vinegar. Instead of white vinegar, use apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar or even some lemon juice. Adjust the amount to your liking. 5. Do not throw away the liquid strained from the yogurt. This liquid is called Whey; it's very nutritious and easy to digest. It is high in protein, calcium, copper, vitamin A and Bs. Check my notes on the top of this post for ways of using Whey. 6.Drink that cucumber juice! It is highly alkalizing and hydrating for your body, and it contains a variety of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants.
In this recipe, I use the Greek sheep's yogurt as I am after the authentic tzatziki dip recipe, but you can use other types of yogurts if preferred, like cow's, goat's, coconut yogurt or soy. Only remember to choose the plain variety. 2. If you cannot tolerate fresh garlic, try using a garlic infusion instead. Mix the garlic and olive oil and let it infuse a few hours or days before draining and pouring into the tzatziki sauce. 3. If you are not a fan of the strong garlic flavour, feel free to add half of the recommended amount of garlic or don't add any at all. Another option can be to substitute fresh garlic for dry garlic powder. The powder will give a lighter garlicky taste. 4. Some optional additions to the tzatziki sauce can include - A tablespoon of sour cream to make it creamier - ½ cup of grated carrot to give it some sweetness - Or keep the recipe traditional and add some dill or mint. - Can also try using a different type of vinegar. Instead of white vinegar, use apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar or even some lemon juice. Adjust the amount to your liking. 5. Do not throw away the liquid strained from the yogurt. This liquid is called Whey; it's very nutritious and easy to digest. It is high in protein, calcium, copper, vitamin A and Bs. Check my notes on the top of this post for ways of using Whey. 6.Drink that cucumber juice! It is highly alkalizing and hydrating for your body, and it contains a variety of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants.
Nutrition
Calories: 101kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 5gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 199mgPotassium: 78mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 76IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 71mgIron: 1mg
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