[With Video]

A creamy crunchy-salty and slightly sour sauce that pair with many dishes lifting the taste of the food.

What is Tzatziki Sauce?

In one sentence Tzatziki is a healthy sauce. It’s made with fresh ingredients and can be served cold or at room temperature. The key ingredients are Cucumber and Yogurt, slightly seasoned with Salt, Pepper Lemon and Garlic, finished with drizzle of Olive Oil and Dill. This sauce is the most popular sauce/dip in Greece. They serve it with a lot of dishes.

Tzatziki, also know as tarator or cacik was originated during the Ottoman Empire. This sauce is a refreshing dip which lightens up many main dishes and can be enjoyed with variety of side dishes as well. It can be a dippin sauce and also can be a filler sauce for wraps and more.

Recipe Video: Tzatziki Sauce

I have created a recipe video for making Tzatziki Sauce and have posted the video on my YouTube channel Bubli’s World Cuisine. It’s a step by step visual demonstration on how to make this flavourful simple sauce at home. To see the recipe in action from start to finish, please click on the video. And for a printable version of this recipe please check the recipe card at the end of the blog:

How does Tzatziki Sauce taste like?

Tzatziki is a very refreshing sauce. This sauce will make such a difference in your food. All the ingredients used in Authentic Tzatziki sauce are natural and healthy. Cucumber and Greek Yogurt has cooling effect and hence this is a great dipping sauce for the summer. Creamy Greek yogurt makes the sauce slightly salty and Lemon makes it slightly tangy. Both Garlic and Black pepper makes it aromatic and adds a kick to the simple sauce. In one sentence I can say it’s a sour, creamy, salty, crunchy sauce.

What to Eat with Tzatziki

The best pair with Tzatziki is Pita bread. It might seem boring but the pairing is awesome.

In Greece Tzatziki is served with Gyros or any sort of grilled meat. The sauce is dense but compared to meat it’s mild that makes the perfect balance.

Another great combination would be to serve with any sort of roast potatoes. 

Use as a dip for fresh vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli etc.

Use it as a sauce on kebab rolls or even as a dipping sauce with kebabs. In Greece it’s served with Souvlaki.

Serve it with heavy meat based appetisers as it takes the load off from meats.

You may also mix it with your salad dressing.

Ingredients

Greek yogurt: The recipe requires use of creamy Greek yogurt and I always use full fat. If you are watching your weight you may use a low fat one. It will still taste great.

Cucumber: Make sure to peel off skin as otherwise the skin will tint the sauce a faint yellow-greenish colour.

Garlic: Garlic makes the sauce extra special but if you don’t like the flavour of it, you may use less.

Lemon: Adds a kick to the sauce with its aroma.

Fresh dill: I like mine with a pretty pronounced dill flavor but you can cut back a little if preferred. Mint is another option here.

Salt: Although there will be salt in Yogurt, still some extra is required to balance Lemon. You can use sea salt, table salt or kosher salt.

Black Pepper: Try to use freshly crushed Black Pepper for better sharp taste.

Extra virgin olive oil: Adds bold flavour to the sauce and helps everything blends so well.

Please Scroll down below to recipe box for measurements.

Top Tips for the Best Tzatziki Sauce:

Always grate your Cucumber. I have heard people using a food processor which definitely saves time but to get the best texture and taste cucumbers must be grated for this sauce.

Try to use quality thick yogurt and strain it

Liquid is the enemy for this sauce and you must make sure you have squeezed out extra liquid from both Cucumbers and Greek Yogurt.

Chill before serving. It’s one of those food items that requires some time to build up the flavours.

HOW TO MAKE Tzatziki Sauce:

Ingredients

1 Cucumber

500 g Greek Yogurt

1 Lemon Juice

2-3 Cloves of Garlic

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Crushed Black Pepper

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

2 Tbsp Dill

Instructions

First take skin off from 1 large Cucumber and grate it with a grater.

Add 1/4 tsp Salt to it and leave for 10 minutes to ooze out liquid. 

Place Greek Yogurt in a cheese cloth and let it strain extra liquid.

In a bowl put strained cucumber, strained Yogurt, Salt, Pepper, Lemon juice, minced Garlic, Olive oil and Dill. Mix everything, cover and let rest for few hours or if you have time then overnight.

After chilling, drizzle some olive oil and enjoy.

Some Recipe Suggestions: