AUTHENTIC GREEK TZATZIKI RECIPE
Greek Tzatziki is a traditional dip, known and loved by everybody within Greece and abroad. It is a simple and classic Greek sauce with yogurt, cucumber and garlic. With only 3 ingredients, it’s super easy to make! The base ingredient for homemade tzatziki is good Greek yogurt; plain, fresh, creamy and dense so it’s the consistency that’s the trickiest part of this recipe.
Greek Tzatziki Prep Tips
Remove the Liquid
Make sure your yogurt is as thick as possible. If it is not, you can strain it to remove access liquids. I suggest using a cheesecloth or any type of clean, white cloth in a large bowl and plop the yogurt in. Bring together the four corners of the cloth and lift the yogurt over the bowl. Twist the corners, to squeeze out the liquid and continue squeezing, putting the yogurt under pressure to strain all liquids out. Keep in mind that straining your yogurt is going to reduce its volume.
The most important ingredient for the Tzatziki sauce is the cucumber. You’ll need to remove the seeds from of the cucumber because they add moisture to the mixture. Remember we don’t want the mix to be too runny so we’ll have to try to keep the recipe as dry as possible. To keep it authentic, grate your cucumber with the thick side of the grater. To make it more healthy and aesthetic, leave the cucumber skin on for extra fiber and color on your plate.
Once the cucumber is grated, it needs to be strained as well. Cucumbers are naturally hydrating so we’ll have to strain it like the yogurt. Remember to sprinkle it with some salt and let it sit for a few minutes as the salt will help draw the moisture out for the cucumber. Then, strain it the same way you would the yogurt.
Fresh Ingredients
To make authentic Greek tzatziki, you will need fresh garlic. If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can also use prepared garlic but it will not have the same flavor! So keep that in mind if you want the most authentic taste. Make sure the garlic is properly chopped or grated on the fine side of the grater, otherwise it may spoil the texture of the sauce. Ideally, you won’t want big chunks of garlic as mixture should be smooth other than the cucumber bits. If you don’t like garlic, try replacing it with some fresh, chopped dill. Make sure if you do this to keep the rest of the recipe as is. This will ensure you are still creating an authentic Greek tzatziki sauce, just creating a delicious variation of it without the intense taste and aroma of garlic.
INGREDIENTS
· 500gr plain Greek yogurt
· 1 big or 2 small cucumbers
· 2 or 3 cloves garlic
· 5 tbsp Kardamas Extra Virgin Greek Olive Oil
· 6-7 tbsp red or white wine vinegar (or to taste)
· 1-2 tsp salt (or to taste)
DIRECTIONS
Mix together the yogurt, the garlic, the cucumber and the olive oil in a large bowl. Add the salt and vinegar last, depending how intense you want the favor and voila!
Don’t be afraid to experiment on the vinegar and salt. The quantities are suggested :)
For better taste, leave your Greek tzatziki in the fridge for a couple of hours. This way you will allow it to sit and make the flavors less tangy. Actually, it should taste its best the next day!
SERVE
Pretty much with anything! Try it with hot grilled veggies, pitas or meat. Just make sure your food is hot and your tzatziki cold for the best taste. One of my favs is dipping my hot French fries in cold Greek tzatziki!
This authentic Greek Tzatziki recipe is simple, delicious and healthy! Give it a try… you’ll thank me for it!