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Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

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Homemade Tzatziki sauce is an easy recipe that’s perfect as a topping or dipping sauce and is prepared in just 10 minutes.

We go to a place near us called Ashburn Kabob weekly for their amazing Mediterranean food. As you can guess, their kabobs are what they’re known for, and they’re fantastic. I also love another local spot called the Mantoo – it’s my absolute favorite! They don’t serve tzatziki sauce, however, and I’m a dipping girl.

So I keep some homemade tzatziki sauce in our fridge at all times. We use it on anything and everything! It’s a healthy sauce to use as both a topping or a dipping sauce, and it’s naturally Keto so Rob can eat all he wants.

a bowl of tzatziki sauce with fresh lemon, fresh cucumbers, garlic cloves, and fresh dill and mint around the bowl on a table

Tzatziki Sauce Ingredients

Traditional tzatziki sauce is made from strained sheep or goat’s milk yogurt, cucumbers, and garlic. Variations over time include additional ingredients such as mint, dill, lemon and vinegar. Strained Greek yogurt is widely used in place of sheep or goat’s milk yogurt due to its similarity and availability.

The ingredients for this tzatziki sauce recipe include Greek Yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, mint, dill chives, lemon juice, coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper.

How to Make Tzatziki Sauce

  1. Strain: Add the yogurt to fine-mesh strainer or coffee filter over a bowl and refrigerate 1-2 hours. You can skip this step if you’re short on time but your Tzatziki may turn out watery.
  2. Remove Water From Cucumber: Squeeze the liquid from the grated, deseeded cucumber using a tea towel, thick paper towel or a potato ricer. You can also place it in a colander first and sprinkle it with salt to help draw out the liquid.
  3. Combine Ingredients: Mix all of the ingredients together and store it in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Easy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

What to Eat with Tzatziki Sauce

Tzatziki is a wonderful sauce to pair with many different foods. We love it with warm pita bread and almost all Mediterranean dishes. But it’s also great as a burger or sandwich spread (especially lamb burgers), as a topping for fish, on a baked potato, or even on a bagel with smoked salmon. And don’t forget to dip your fries in it, too!

Here are some recipes and ways we use our homemade tzatziki sauce with:

  • Dipping sauce for Spanakopita, Meatballs, , Chicken Wings, Fries, Portobello Fries or Baked Potato Wedges
  • As an additional layer in Greek Hummus Dip
  • Served alongside an appetizer spread with plain or Lemon & Roasted Garlic Hummus
  • As a topping with Greek Chicken Pitas, Gyros, Shawarma, Falafel, Kebabs (souvlaki), Salads, Hamburgers, Fish, Bake Potatoes, or Roasted Vegetables or Meats
  • Stuffing for a Greek omelet
  • As a pizza dipping sauce or a topping on Greek-style pizza
  • Mix in with quinoa, chickpeas, lentils, orzo or rice
  • Marinade for lamb or chicken
  • Dipping sauce for veggies, pita chips or crusty bread
  • As a side on a Mediterranean or mezze platter

How Long Will Tzatziki Last?

Tzatziki won’t spoil within the first week of refrigeration, but for best results, it should be eaten in the first three to four days. It tends to get a bit watery after sitting in the fridge, but just give it a good stir and it will be fine.

Best Greek Tzatziki Sauce

Is Tzatziki Sauce Healthy?

Tzatziki is a very healthy sauce, especially when you consider that similar sauces tend to be made with mayonnaise and other high-fat ingredients. If you purchase it pre-made, be sure to check the ingredients as many times there are additional, unwanted ingredients.

If you make your own, you can control the ingredients and make sure that your Tzatziki sauce only contains the healthy ones!

a closeup of a bowl of tzatziki sauce with fresh lemon, garlic cloves, and fresh dill and mint around the bowl on a table

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

Yield: 8 servings, about 2 cups
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Homemade Tzatziki is simple to make and can be used as a topping or a dipping sauce.

Ingredients

  • 1 8-oz container Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup grated, deseeded cucumber (about 1 small cucumber)
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
  • 1 tsp fresh dill, chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp coarse salt
  • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Place a fine-mesh strainer or coffee filter over a bowl and add the yogurt. Place it in the refrigerator and allow the liquid to drain out for 1-2 hours.
  2. Squeeze the liquid from the grated, deseeded cucumber using a tea towel, thick paper towel or a potato ricer. You can also place it in a colander first and sprinkle it with salt to help draw out the liquid.
  3. Mix all of the ingredients together and store it in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld. Keeps for up to one week in the fridge.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 20Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 156mgCarbohydrates: 2gNet Carbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 3g

This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.

© Kristy Bernardo
Cuisine: Greek / Category: Appetizers
Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
Kristy Bernardo
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