Greek Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
It’s a dip, it’s a spread, it’s a sauce….it’s versatility is unlimited! This super easy Greek Tzatziki Sauce Recipe is light and refreshing, the perfect addition to a number of meal ideas. A fantastically flavorful sauce that you’ll make every week!
Originally published on August 16, 2016 and updated on June 16, 2019.
When I worked in the corporate world, I had a handful of favorite places to grab a quick lunch. My favorite Chinese place, a great burger joint (with ultra thick milkshakes), the “secret” coffee shop.
But my number one go-to was a little greek joint just down the street run by a husband/wife team that would put the soup nazi to shame. They were old school….no frills and all business. Know what you want when you get to the counter and don’t dilly dally.
The line was always out the door unless you got there super early and their gyros were seriously on point. What put them over the top (besides that perfectly seasoned lamb thingy they shaved their meat from) was their freshly made, totally garlic-y Authentic Tzatziki Sauce.
Greek Tzatziki Sauce
So…..after I left the working world, I craved their menu like a pregnant woman craves her pickles. I decided to venture out to satisfy my gyro hankering only to find that they had closed. Unceremoniously, they locked their doors and packed up to go….hopefully somewhere amazing to retire.
Though, I was sad and disappointed…..I decided to try my hand at a few greek specialties myself. This homemade Tzatziki Sauce recipe was the first thing I made and it’s exactly how I remember their version being. Rich, creamy but still light and refreshing.
I like to whip up a batch to keep on hand to use as a Tzatziki Dip for carrots and celery to snack on. It’s also a great sandwich spread or burger topping. The options are limitless with this sauce/dip/sandwich spread, really.
What is Tzatziki Sauce?
Authentic Tzatziki Sauce is a traditional spread, sauce or condiment made of strained Greek Yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil and cucumbers. It’s a versatile sauce to be served alongside a variety of mediterranean dishes.
Pronounced ZAT-ZEEK-E, this easy to make sauce is also great spread on sandwiches or used as a healthy dip for vegetables.
How To Make It
Tzatziki Sauce couldn’t be easier to make….fresh cucumber is grated then squeezed dry before mixing with plain greek yogurt, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, sour cream, olive oil, dill and garlic.
I know a lot of my greek friends don’t add olive oil OR sour cream but this was something I recall in the George’s Greek Grill version. Always drizzled with a bit of olive oil and a kalamata olive before serving with a side of toasty, warm pita bread for dipping.
To make Tzatziki Sauce:
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Grate the cucumber using the large holes of a box grated and place in a fine mesh sieve. Sprinkle with salt and toss to coat.
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Allow the cucumber to sit in the sieve for 30 minutes, pressing down on the cucumber with a paper towel to release some of the water.
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Combine the yogurt, sour cream, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, dill, lemon zest and juice in a medium bowl.
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Fold in the drained cucumber and refrigerate for 1 hour covered with plastic wrap.
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Serve immediately, drizzled with olive oil, if desired. Or transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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Stir before serving.
That’s it….easy peasy and ready in minutes if you’re impatient. Sometimes I don’t even wait an hour….I just dig right in.
How do you peel cucumbers for Tzatziki Sauce?
Good news! You don’t have to! I like to leave the skin on because it adds fiber and nutrients to your sauce….and if you use an English Cucumber (the kind you find at the grocery store in plastic wrap) you won’t even have to worry about the skin being tough or waxy.
If you can’t find an English cucumber, be sure to scoop out the seeds before chopping up your cucumber because they’re harder to digest than the seeds in the English Cucumber.
How to Eat It
The very BEST Tzatziki Sauce recipe is super fabulous served on a mezze platter with a bowl full over my favorite homemade hummus. Or serve it as a dip for these Grilled Lamb Chops!
It’s also amazing on burgers, as a sandwich spread, dolloped on a few grilled lamb chops or stuffed into pita for these Grilled Chicken Gyros!
MORE EASY SAUCE RECIPES
- The Very BEST Horseradish Sauce
- Easy Avocado Ranch Dressing
- Super easy Basil Pesto Recipe
- Quick Roasted Garlic Aioli
- Easy Romesco Sauce
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Get the Recipe: Easy Cucumber Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 large English cucumber, unpeeled
- 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh minced dill
- zest and juice of one lemon
Instructions
- Grate the cucumber using the large holes of a box grated and place in a fine mesh sieve. Allow the cucumber to sit in the sieve for 30 minutes, pressing down on the cucumber with a paper towel to release some of the water.
- Combine the yogurt, sour cream, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, dill, lemon zest and juice in a medium bowl.
- Fold in the drained cucumber and refrigerate for 1 hour covered with plastic wrap.
- Serve immediately, drizzled with olive oil, if desired. Or transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Stir before serving.
2 Comments on “Greek Tzatziki Sauce Recipe”
Really VERY TASTY,
Definitively better without sour cream, however good quality olive oil makes a big difference. I also don’t peel the cucumbers and use a lot of garlic, and s bit of other ingredients as in your recipe.
I like tzatziki with potatoes and saute.
Thanks for the inspiration with olive oil and lemon zest.
Thank you for your comment!