Tzatziki
A cool, creamy dip of thick strained yogurt with grated cucumber, garlic, olive oil and herbs. It is served with grilled meats, pita and as part of a meze.
Cacik-1: Rainer Zenz, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Where it comes from
Tzatziki is a Greek staple and has relatives all across the eastern Mediterranean, Balkans and Anatolia. It is a cooling companion to souvlaki and gyros.
Explore the cuisine of Greece.
Recipe
Make Tzatziki at home
Ingredients
- 2 cups (480 g) thick Greek yogurt
- 1 large cucumber
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice or white vinegar
- 1 tbsp chopped dill or mint
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Pita to serve
How it's made
- Grate the cucumber, salt it lightly and let it drain 10 minutes.
- Squeeze the cucumber hard in a clean towel to remove water.
- Stir together yogurt, cucumber, garlic, oil, lemon and herbs.
- Season with salt.
- Chill at least 1 hour so the garlic mellows.
- Drizzle with more olive oil and serve.
Variations
- With mint instead of dill.
- Garlicky skordalia-style version.
- Cacik, a thinner soupy version.
Cook’s tip: Squeeze the cucumber really dry; otherwise it will thin the dip.
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Related dishes
SouvlakiStreet food · Greece
GyrosStreet food · Greece
Greek saladSalads · Greece
AjvarSnacks and dips · Serbia
About this page
Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.
Photo credit
- Cacik-1: Rainer Zenz, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)