Greece · Sauces and Dips
Tzatziki
Tzatziki (τζατζίκι, also written zaziki) is a cold Greek sauce of strained yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, olive oil and dill.
Ingredients
- Greek yogurt, full-fat300 g
- medium cucumber1
- garlic, finely grated2 cloves
- fresh dill1 tbsp
- lemon juice1 tbsp
- olive oil1 tbsp
- saltto taste
Method
- 1Grate the cucumber (about 200 g) on the coarse side of a box grater. Place the grated cucumber in the center of a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth.
- 2Gather the towel into a bundle and squeeze hard over the sink. Twist and squeeze until almost no liquid comes out — you should extract at least 3–4 tablespoons of water. This is the single most important step.
- 3In a bowl, stir together the Greek yogurt, squeezed cucumber, garlic, chopped dill, lemon juice, and olive oil. Garlic gets stronger as the sauce sits; if you like it mild, start with 1 clove.
- 4Season with salt (start with ¼ teaspoon), stir once more, and taste.
- 5Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. The flavors need time to meld. Tzatziki is better the next day.