Tzaziki
A Traditional Greek Yogurt, Cucumber & Garlic Dip
This tzatziki recipe is so quick and easy to make I do wonder why people buy the ready-made versions and let’s be honest, you can’t beat homemade! Having said that if you don’t have a tried and tested recipe why wouldn’t you buy it? As you will see from my tzatziki recipe it is so simple you will never contemplate buying it again.
For those that don’t know, Tzatziki is a traditional side dish in Greece. It’s served on its own as part of a meze, as a side on a plate of grilled meat or dolloped on gyros or souvlaki pita. I’ll often make it when we cook meat on the barbecue. I’ve even been known to enjoy leftover tzatziki mixed into a bowl of hot pasta. It may sound odd, but it works, I promise.
There are versions of the recipe where grated carrot, mint and even mayonnaise (really??) is added. In my humble opinion, none of them is needed to tart up this basic side dish.
Why buy ready-made tzatziki when it's so simple to make? #recipe Click To Tweet
All you need are four ingredients plus salt to taste to make this tzatziki recipe.
Once grated you just squeeze out and add the cucumber to the yogurt along with the crushed garlic.
Tzatziki makes the perfect side dish to a plate of grilled meat but can be enjoyed with just a few slices of fresh bread as a dip too.
Tzatziki - A traditional Greek appetiser that's easy to make #recipe Click To TweetNow For The Recipe…
Why buy tzatziki when this creamy Greek yogurt, cucumber and garlic dip is so quick and easy to make?
15 minPrep Time
Ingredients
- 500ml Strained Natural Greek yogurt - I prefer full fat as gives it a creamier taste
- 1/2 a large cucumber - grated
- 4 or 5 cloves of garlic - you can use more or less depending on how much you like garlic
- Olive oil - preferably virgin as it has a better taste
- Salt
Instructions
- Put the yogurt into a bowl.
- Grate the cucumber into a colander using a wide grater (not the fine grater use).
- Let the grated cucumber sit for five minutes before gently squeezing out the excess liquid and add to the yogurt.
- Crush or very finely chop the garlic and add to the yogurt and cucumber.
- Give the ingredients a good mix together.
- Add 3 or 4 tablespoons of olive oil or to taste. We are so lucky to have fresh virgin olive oil from my parents trees and it really does make a taste difference.
- Add salt to taste.
- Serve as a side with grilled meat or as an appetiser drizzled with olive oil.
Notes
This recipe isn't an exact science. It's a rough guide until you get to know how you prefer it. I recommend strained Greek yogurt over unstrained as unstrained is less thick and will make for a watery tzatziki.
Have you tried tzatziki before? Is it a dish you would make?
© 2020, Debbie. All rights reserved.
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