Homemade tzatziki sauce tastes better than anything store-bought and only takes a few minutes to make. The tzatziki is delicious as a dip for fresh vegetables, grilled meats, OR Pita bread.

Plenty of garlic, dill, and other spices make this a memorable tzatziki sauce. The creaminess of this dip is well balanced by the tang of the fresh lemon and the heat of the cayenne.

Without fail, this tzatziki recipe works every single time and the people who try it, have all agreed.

What is Tzatziki Sauce

Tzatziki, cacık or tarator is a dip, or sauce found in the cuisines of Southeast Europe and the Middle East. It is made of salted strained yogurt(also known as greek yogurt) mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs such as dill, mint, or parsley.

Tzatziki is Healthy For You

Tzatziki sauce is an excellent source of calcium, which can help improve bone health. It also contains probiotics, which support a healthy bacterial balance in the gut

While it’s very creamy, tzatziki is pretty low in calories, with about 35 calories in two tablespoons of tzatziki sauce. Also, greek yogurt makes this sauce higher in protein.

What Goes In Tzatziki Sauce?

English cucumber (peeled and grated)
Plain Greek yogurt
Extra-virgin olive oil (optional)
Fresh mint and dill (finely chopped)
Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
Garlic (minced)
Salt

A full list of the measurements is in the recipe box below.

The Best Yogurt for Tzatziki Sauce

Because of it’s thick texture, greek yogurt is the best yogurt to use for tzatziki (wether full fat or fat reduced). However, it can be substituted with sour cream since they both have similarity in texture and taste.

Making Tzatziki Sauce

FIRST: Peel cucumber and grate using the large hole of your box grater. Transfer the grated cucumber into a large bowl and sprinkle ½ tsp salt and mix thoroughly. Set aside for 5 to 10 minutes.

SECOND: After the resting time, lightly squeeze the grated cucumber between your palms to remove excess moisture. Alternatively, use a clean cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel. Transfer the squeezed cucumber to a serving bowl.

THIRD: Add greek yogurt, olive oil, chopped herbs, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, cucumber and the remaining salt to the bowl, and stir to mix. Taste and add additional seasoning if necessary

FOURTH: Chill tzatziki for at least 30 minutes for better taste.

How To Serve Tzatziki Sauce

Tzatziki sauce is often served as a dip with pita bread and fresh vegetables. It is also added to grilled meats.

Storing Leftover

If stored properly in an air-tight container, tzatziki will stay fresh for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Freezing tzatziki sauce is a perfectly fine thing to do, and it will extend its shelf life by several months. The health benefits will stay exactly the same, however, freezing it does have an effect on the texture and the cucumber will become mushy.

To thaw, leave overnight in the fridge or for a couple of hours on the kitchen countertop.

PIN IT FOR LATER

More Tips

Substitute greek yogurt with sour cream.
Also, cucumbers can be substituted with celery.
Make sure to squeeze out the water from the cucumbers.
Chilling tzatziki enhances the overall flavor.

Print Pin

5 from 2 votes