Valentina's Corner
Tzatziki sauce is a creamy condiment with Mediterranean Greek origins. Combining thick Greek yogurt with grated cucumbers allows for the cucumber’s crisp essence to infuse the mixture. The addition of aromatic garlic, fresh dill, and a splash of zesty lemon juice creates a blend of flavors that taste both tangy and cool.
Homemade Tzatziki Recipe
Are you looking for an amazing dip for your fresh veggies, or chips? This homemade tzatziki sauce will perfectly complement just about anything! Originally a Mediterranean dish of Greek origin, tzatziki sauce is now known around the world. With super simple ingredients you most likely already have on hand, you can easily whip this dip up to serve!
Greek yogurt combined with grated cucumbers in addition to garlic, fresh herbs, lemon juice to create a blend of flavors and a unique texture. This is the best tzatziki recipe and you’ll want to make this on repeat!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make. The recipe comes together in a total time of 20 minutes and takes little to no prep time. Most of the ingredients can be found right in your home- no need to drive to the store!
- Versatile. This sauce is very versatile. It can be used as a dip, a spread for sandwiches and wraps, or even a topping for meat!
- Healthy option. Packed with dairy, and protein from the Greek yogurt, tzatziki sauce is a great healthy dipping sauce alternative.
- Time saver. This sauce can be made ahead of time, saving you time!
- Loved by all. The sauce is enjoyed by kids and adults alike.
Tzatziki Sauce Ingredients
The ingredients for the sauce are so minimal yet have such a powerful effect. Here is what you’ll need:
- Cucumber- freshly grated, peeled cucumber.
- Full-fat Greek Yogurt- greek yogurt is the most important ingredient!
- Lemon Juice- the lemon juice is best freshly squeezed.
- Seasoning- fresh garlic, lemon juice, dill, extra virgin olive oil, and salt add so much flavor to the sauce.
For a full list of ingredients and quantities, see the recipe card below.
Instructions on How to Make Homemade Tzatziki
- Prepare the Cucumbers.
- Peel the cucumbers- Optional: After washing the cucumber, peel it. Depending on your preference, you can completely peel, partially peel, or you can leave all of the skin on (which adds more fiber and nutrients to the sauce).
- Chop the cucumbers: There are two methods on how to do this. Both work great. Option 1- Grate the cucumbers: Grate the cucumber on the smallest side of your box grater. Option 2- Chop the cucumbers: Finely dice the cucumber into uniform pieces.
- Drain the cucumbers: Put them into a fine-mesh sieve and add ½ teaspoon salt to them. Let them sit for at least 10 minutes in the sieve, then press the cucumber into the sieve to remove excess moisture.
- These cucumbers can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance! After chopping the cucumber, place them in a sieve and salt them. Mix the cucumber, then place the sieve over a bowl and cover. Place the mixture in the fridge until ready to use.
- Combine. In a medium-sized bowl, combine all of the ingredients and give everything a good stir. Allow the tzatziki sauce to chill in the fridge for an hour in an airtight container before serving.
- Optional: Garnish with some fresh mint.
- Serve, and enjoy friends!
Substitutions and Variations
You can personalize the greek tzatziki sauce to fit your preferences.
- Greek Yogurt: If you don’t have Greek yogurt, you can use sour cream, or plain Yogurt, in a pinch. Both can be used in a 1:1 ratio for this recipe.
- Cucumber: If you don’t have an English cucumber, any other type of cucumber will work, but be sure to de-seed the cucumber.
- Lemon Juice: If you don’t have lemon juice on hand, lime juice will work but will yield a slightly different flavor.
- Vegan alternative: If you want to make your tzatziki dairy-free, you can substitute Greek yogurt for coconut yogurt. The taste will vary, but with the use of all the fresh herbs, you should still get a flavor that is incredibly similar to the authentic Greek yogurt sauce.
Serving Suggestions
There are endless possibilities on how to serve this sauce! You can also serve the tzatziki sauce as a dip on a charcuterie board with the following items:
- Use as a dressing on our greek salad.
- Lather it on some homemade pita bread and make gyros
- Tortilla Chips
- Crostini
- Bagel Chips
- Ritz Crackers
- Pita chips
- Saltine Crackers
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Bell Peppers
REcipe FAQs
The liquid in the lemon juice, and fat from the greek yogurt naturally separate. All you have to do is stir it back in and your tzatziki sauce is good to go!
Though tzatziki sauce may be served immediately after mixing, it’s best to let the sauce chill in the fridge for at least an hour.
Yes, tzatziki sauce can be stored in a fridge for up to 3 to 4 days in a sealed, airtight container.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: We do not recommend freezing this dip.
More Dip Recipes
If you enjoyed this Tzatziki Sauce recipe, be sure to try our other popular dips and sauces:
Homemade Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Grate the cucumber on the large holes of your box grater and toss with 1/2 tsp salt.
- Allow the cucumber to sit a few minutes then squeeze out excess water with a cheese cloth or kitchen towel.
- In a bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, dill, oil and season with remaining salt and pepper. Add cucumber and stir to combine.
- Chill for one hour in the refrigerator.
- Serve, and enjoy friends!