Tzatziki Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (2024)

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Tzatziki

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star4.9 from 22 reviews

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 0 About 3 cups 1x
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Description

Greek tzatziki dip is easy to make with fresh ingredients and can be used in a wide range of dishes.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 2 cups full-fat plain Greek yogurt
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
  • 1 English cucumber, grated
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill or mint (or a mix)
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Instructions

  1. Stir all ingredients together until combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  2. Serve immediately, or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 2 days.

posted on August 18, 2014 by Ali

Appetizers, Dips / Salsas, Greek-Inspired, Vegetarian

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91 comments on “Tzatziki”

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  1. Sarafina March 31, 2018 @ 3:33 pm Reply

    Absolutely delicious! Reminds me fondly of the tzatziki I tried in Athens! I love how adjustable this recipe is, as well– I used a little less than a tablespoon of dill and it was perfect for me.

  2. Bonnie June 21, 2018 @ 3:37 pm Reply

    I have recently joined Weight Watchers in an attempt to shed 50 pounds. Fat free Greek yogurt has zero points. Have you ever made it with fat free yogurt or do you really need to use the full fat?

    • Kristn April 5, 2022 @ 9:22 pm

      I made it this evening with fat-free Greek yogurt because I picked it up by accident. It turned out great. No issues with consistency or flavor.

  3. Jolene August 29, 2018 @ 5:57 pm Reply

    Excellent! The whole family loved it! Thank you for sharing!

  4. Anne Davies August 11, 2019 @ 12:15 pm Reply

    A tablespoonful on grilled or poached salmon is fantastic

  5. Shea January 27, 2020 @ 4:27 pm Reply

    I never post reviews for recipes but this one is just too good! I am OBSESSED! It is seriously so delicious. Thank you!

  6. Dos April 13, 2020 @ 3:11 pm Reply

    I made this with some leftover greek yogurt I had in my kitchen, It turned out sooooo good. I love the taste of the garlic with the yogurt. I didn’t have any dill so I used cumin seeds instead, It made it even better. thank you so much for the recipe! <3

  7. Shikha April 16, 2020 @ 9:56 pm Reply

    Great recipe! I used a regular cucumber (seeded), less garlic (personal preference) and did find the fresh dill as a good component to the yogurt. Paired this with the (amazing!) Chicken Soulvaki recipe – excellent dinner! Thanks Ali!!!

  8. Lindsey April 18, 2020 @ 2:51 pm Reply

    Perfect, delicious, simple Tzatziki!!

  9. Steven April 19, 2020 @ 4:17 pm Reply

    Thank you. Your recipe is my go to. I add just a little mint though.

  10. Cari May 19, 2020 @ 3:06 pm Reply

    Yikes! I just ran out of lemons. What can I use instead? I can’t go out to the market… : (

    • Joey June 9, 2021 @ 10:26 pm

      Wine vinegar

  11. Kimberly A McWain May 26, 2020 @ 5:50 pm Reply

    Perfection! Made this a few time to serve as spread on a greek style wrap with seasoned grilled turkey patties, chilled chopped lettuce, red onion and feta cheese…yum.

  12. Dacidalva de Moraes Herzeg June 15, 2020 @ 4:56 am Reply

    Adoro! Vou fazer com certeza! Obrigada!

  13. Ken June 22, 2020 @ 9:09 pm Reply

    Great, easy,delicious recipe. I’ve found that letting all the ingredients “marry” overnight really deepens the flavor. I have also found that after finely dicing the cucumber if you hit with some salt it helps draw out the water. I then put it all in a cheesecloth and squeeze as much water out of it as possible. The cucumber has lots of water in it. If you leave this step out,if you have any of the sauce left and leave it overnight it will be very puddly the next day. Hope these suggestions help.

  14. Brenda July 16, 2020 @ 6:06 pm Reply

    Just made this and loved as super easy, quick and tasty! I did half the recipe, and still lots. I used the small cucumbers, drained them for thicker dip & extra dill. I will make again for sure.

  15. Rachel July 30, 2020 @ 7:18 pm Reply

    So delicious! I added pickled jalapenos and kept in the cucumber seeds. Also a bit of lime juice too. Had tons of compliments thank you for sharing! Will definitely make again.

  16. Lana P August 19, 2020 @ 12:05 pm Reply

    Wonderful! Used a regular cucumber (peeled and seeded) and kosher salt, but otherwise followed the recipe as written. Served with Chicken Souvlaki skewers and Ali’s Greek salad for an incredible Mediterranean dinner on a hot summer night. Cooking for just two, there’s a ton left over even though I halved the recipe – we’ll be enjoying it with crudités today. Thanks again for another fantastic recipe!

  17. James September 24, 2020 @ 5:01 pm Reply

    Hi Ali
    I really enjoyed this post on tzatziki. I’m looking forward to whipping some up tonight. I can now spell and pronounce this sauce as well! Turns out I was pronouncing it correctly all along. Maybe because I am a vocal music teacher. No stranger to the IPA lol!
    I knew there was something extra creative about your site and perhaps it’s that wonderful musical background.
    We have loved your Tuscan bean, sausage and kale soup, your Quinoa, Brüssels sprouts and cranberry salad to name just a few recipes. And I enjoy keeping with your family adventures across “the pond” as they say.
    Keep cooking and singing,
    Sincerely,
    James Lowe

  18. Mandie Ryan January 9, 2021 @ 9:27 am Reply

    So glad I clicked on this recipe for tzatziki! Not only is the recipe amazing but the language lesson was very interesting. It makes prefect sense that an opera major would have to know several languages and be able to pronounce them but I had never thought about it! I really enjoyed the break down of the ten, sell, father… Thanks for being a head about the rest of recipe essays

  19. Lynn Weinberger March 8, 2021 @ 10:42 pm Reply

    Followed the recipe exactly except cut down just a tad bit on the lemon juice. My experience has been it’s hard to take (too much lemon juice) back. It was excellent and very easy to make. Important to squeeze the juice from the cucumbers first.

  20. Caprica March 24, 2021 @ 6:09 pm Reply

    Very delicious and fresh! If like me, you don’t have a food processor, the prep time may take a little longer. I finely diced instead of grating the cucumber as it was easier. Next time, I may try freezing the cucumber before attempting to grate it. This made a good amount of tzakiki sauce, which we will enjoy for more than one meal! Thanks!

  21. Linda October 28, 2022 @ 5:25 am Reply

    Hi Ali, Fabulous recipe and now I know exactly how to say Tzatziki! Just wondering why the recipe will only last 2 days and not as long as the life of refrigerated Greek Yogurt. Is it the lemon? Does it start breaking down the yogurt? Just curious because I am looking for a healthy sauce for wraps. This one has 1 weight watcher point for 2 tablespoons and 0 points for 1 tablespoon. Just an additional comment, I have been following your recipes for several years and have cooked many of recipes. I always come back over and over for your delicious recipes and I’m never disappointed. I know I can count on your recipes! Thank you for all the hard work on this site. I am always excited to put your food on the table for my family!

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Tzatziki Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (2024)

FAQs

How do you make tzatziki not runny? ›

No matter what method you've chose above, you'll need to drain the cucumbers of excess water so the tzatziki isn't watery. The most effective way to do this is in a fine mesh sieve with a sprinkle of salt and not just squeezing with a paper towel.

How to make tzatziki more thick? ›

You can thicken it by placing a piece of cheesecloth over the top of a wide mouthed jar and holding it in place with some rubber bands. Fill the cheesecloth with your sauce, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The excess water will drain out and the sauce will be thicker.

Why does my tzatziki taste bitter? ›

Your main ingredient – the cucumber – is often the culprit. To avoid this, make sure that you choose the right variety: English and Persian cucumbers have very little, or no, bitterness. Also sample a slice before grating and avoid using the ends as this is where the bitter compounds will be most concentrated.

What is real tzatziki made of? ›

Tzatziki is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs such as dill or mint. Traditionally, it is made from strained sheep or goat's milk yogurt, but a full-fat Greek yogurt works just fine in this dip.

How long does homemade tzatziki last? ›

Tzatziki sauce should be kept in a sealed container and stored in the refrigerator when you're not using it. As long as it's stored properly, you can expect homemade tzatziki to last about three to four days. This will depend on how fresh the yogurt was when you made the sauce.

Is homemade tzatziki good for you? ›

Yes, tzatziki is considered a healthier dip than hummus and sour cream. It contains several vitamins, a good amount of protein, and fewer carbohydrates and calories. The fat content of tzatziki is low too, which is not the case with other dips. Thus, you can opt for tzatziki dips over other dips.

Why does tzatziki get watery? ›

The watery sauce is due to the cucumbers, which hold lots of water. The best way to avoid a watery tzatziki sauce is to get the excess moisture out of the grated cucumber before it's added to the sauce mixture.

How do you get the water out of cucumbers for tzatziki? ›

Shred unpeeled cucumber with large holes of grater (I use this Microplane box grater) or food processor. Using a clean towel or paper towels, scoop a handful of shredded cucumber into towel and squeeze over sink. Allow the cucumber juice to drain out.

What goes well with tzatziki? ›

Tzatziki is good friends with grilled and roasted meats, especially juicy lamb chops. Serve it up with a crunchy fattoush salad – a combination of torn pitta, cooling cucumber, ripe tomatoes, sweet lettuce and refreshing mint – for a bonus hit of fresh, summer flavour.

Why is my tzatziki lumpy? ›

Pulse the cucumbers in the food processor or hand chop to desired texture. I like them chopped small, but not minced. Bigger chunks will result in chunkier tzatziki.

What spice takes away bitterness? ›

Spices mask bitter flavors, so don't be shy. Add some spicy peppers or powders to your cooking, or sprinkle some onto your dishes for a little bit of extra heat. Black pepper in particular has compounds that counteract bitterness. Some other great spices include cayenne, red pepper, paprika, and chili powder.

What to do if tzatziki is too garlicky? ›

Preferably swap garlic for finely chopped red onion. Soak the onion in a little water before adding to the mixture. If you have already made the dish, then take out some of the garlicky yogurt (NOT sour cream as suggested in another answer) and replace with more fresh yogurt.

What neutralizes bitter taste? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

What's the difference between tzatziki and dill dip? ›

The only difference is that a Tzatziki Sauce has a tablespoon of lemon juice and a couple of cloves of minced garlic added to these same ingredients I used below. The ingredients need for this Cucumber Dill Sauce for so simple. It's just cucumber, Greek yogurt, milk and chopped fresh dill.

Is tzatziki healthier than hummus? ›

Yes, tzatziki is considered a healthier dip than hummus and sour cream. It contains several vitamins, a good amount of protein, and fewer carbohydrates and calories. The fat content of tzatziki is low too, which is not the case with other dips.

What do Greeks eat with tzatziki? ›

Tzatziki is good friends with grilled and roasted meats, especially juicy lamb chops. Serve it up with a crunchy fattoush salad – a combination of torn pitta, cooling cucumber, ripe tomatoes, sweet lettuce and refreshing mint – for a bonus hit of fresh, summer flavour.

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