Tzatziki: A Greek dip, perfect for Gyros or Cooking!
Tzatziki is a great dip that can be served as a side dish at any meal. Add this greek ingredient to your next Greek salad or serve it on some pita bread with some veggies and hummus for a healthy snack!
What is Tzatziki
Tzatziki is a Greek dip made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic and dill. It’s creamy texture makes it perfect for scooping up lamb chops or as a veggie dip!
The best part of tzatziki is that it’s easy to make at home. You just have to peel and chop your cucumbers into small pieces before mixing all the ingredients together in a food processor or blender until smooth (about 30 seconds).
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber, peeled and diced
- 1 large Greek yogurt (or more if you like it thicker)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed through a garlic press
- 1 tsp dried dillweed or 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill leaves (optional)
- Juice from 1 lemon, about 2 tbsp. Add more if desired.
If using fresh herbs instead of dried ones: Use only half as much—about 1/4 cup—and add them along with the rest of ingredients except for water.
Instructions
To make the sauce, you’ll need:
- 1 cucumber (peeled and diced)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream (whisked together until smooth)
To assemble your tzatziki, add all ingredients to a bowl and mix well. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
Cooking Notes
- To make the cucumber, finely chop the cucumber with a good knife.
- Add the garlic, salt and pepper to the mix.
- Add yogurt and lemon juice to taste (about 2 tablespoons of each). Mix well! Let it sit for at least an hour before serving—it will get better as time goes on. You can also make this in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a day or two; just bring back to room temperature before serving
Tips
If you don’t have a food processor, it’s not the end of the world. If you do have one and want to make this dip in a blender, that’s fine too! But if not, don’t worry—you can use your mortar and pestle or hand blender instead.
- Use a food processor (or blender) to make tzatziki sauce: Combine all ingredients except olive oil in the bowl of a food processor fitted with an S-blade until smooth and creamy.
- Use a mortar & pestle: Combine all ingredients except olive oil in small bowl; stir together until well mixed.
- Use hand blender: Combine all ingredients except olive oil by hand until smooth.
Add-ins and Variations
There are so many ways to add flavor and texture to tzatziki, it’s easy to get lost in the possibilities. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Add cucumbers. Cucumbers are delicious with this dip, but they can also be a little overwhelming if they’re added at the beginning of cooking because they’ll pick up all the flavors from any spices you’ve added. To make sure your cucumbers stay crisp, remove them before adding them back into the mixture on top of everything else (and then mix/toss).
- Add mint leaves or dill weed for an extra punch! You can also try adding lemon zest instead; it will give your dip its signature bright color as well as add freshness and brightness that’s perfect when served alongside other summery salads like greens, lettuce wraps or balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
Storing
Tzatziki is a great dip to keep on hand, but you can also make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge. For best results, store tzatziki in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months (in small portions).
Yummy greek dip that is great with lamb or as a veggie dip.
Tzatziki is a Greek dip that is traditionally served with pita bread, but it’s also great with lamb. If you’re not sure where to start, try making an easy version at home!
Is it a dip or a sauce? Both. Its Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic and dill…yum! This recipe will have you wanting to make this dip every day!
