Simply preparing this Tzatziki Sauce instantly transports us back to warmer months. Fresh cucumbers, tangy Greek yogurt, bright lemon, and oh so summery dill, create the perfect sauce to be used on a classic gyro, Chicken Gyro, Gyro Bowl, these Greek Chicken Bowls or a simple dipping sauce for veggies and pita bread. However you decide to devour it, you won’t be disappointed with its fresh flavor or simple assembly.
The Best Tzatziki Recipe
Sometimes the best recipe is the simple recipe. And that’s the case with this easy Tzatziki sauce recipe. With a few fresh veggies, herbs, and a food processor, you’ll have yourself the perfect condiment for your next Greek meal, a tasty dip, or an easy appetizer.
What Is Tzatziki Sauce
Hard to spell, but oh so delicious, Tzatziki is a refreshing Greek creamy sauce and/or dip made from a base of Greek yogurt and accompanied by crisp cucumbers, garlic, lemon juice, and fresh herbs. Its traditionally served on gyros, but it can also be used as a simple appetizer dip for veggies or pita bread. Whether you’re using it as an easy appetizer, sauce, or dip, this Tzatziki sauce recipe will bring refreshing, light flavors to your dish.
What You Will Need
- plain Greek yogurt – With so many options out there, we need to point out that the type of yogurt does matter here. Greek yogurt has a distinct tanginess that makes a truly delicious sauce. You’re welcome to use goat yogurt, but it’s a bit harder to find. Regular yogurt isn’t as thick and just wouldn’t make this an authentic tzatziki recipe.
- English cucumber – We prefer this variety due to its lower water content, which keeps your sauce from getting soupy.
- lemon juice – For the best flavor, use fresh lemon juice. It brings a nice zing of flavor and tartness to cut the creaminess from the yogurt.
- fresh garlic – A little bit goes a long way to add a bit of a bite and a rich flavor.
- ground black pepper – You won’t need much to add just a bit of heat and smokiness.
- dried dill – Even when it’s dried, this herb brings freshness and a mild citrus flavor.
- fresh mint leaves – The ultimate refreshing herb to make this sauce light and bright.
Cucumbers
Yeah, these are important enough to get their own headline. After some trial and error, we’ve found English cucumbers to be the best cucumber variety for this recipe as they have less water content than regular cucumbers. This makes the water removal process easier and leaves you with the perfect sauce consistency. Try to avoid large cucumbers as these also tend to have more water content than the medium or smaller varieties.
How To Make Tzatziki Sauce
Start by gathering and prepping your ingredients. For best results, be sure to peel your cucumber. If you leave the skin on you’ll end up with green Tzatziki sauce. Squeeze out as much water from your cucumbers as possible.
The most effective way to do this is to gather your peeled and cut cucumber pieces in the middle of a cheesecloth and squeeze the cloth around your cucumbers in order to remove the water. Paper towels will work if you don’t have a cheese cloth.
Next, place all of your ingredients in a food processor.
Blend all of your ingredients together until you see a smooth consistency.
Now taste and adjust the seasonings as desired. Once the flavor is just right, pour your sauce in a small bowl, cover, and place it in the fridge for about an hour to let it firm up.
Drizzle your Tzatziki sauce on our favorite Chicken Gyro Recipe or on our famous Greek chicken meatballs. We’re pretty confident that you’ll never go back to the grocery store variety after your first bite.
Recipe FAQs
- cucumbers: English cucumbers are our favorite for this recipe as they have a lower water content than the regular variety, making less work for you and a better dip consistency.
- dairy-free: We got you! We have a delicious dairy-free tzatziki sauce recipe that uses mayo.
- storage: Place the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
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Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: Approx. 2 cups
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Counter Top
- Cuisine: Greek-Inspired
Description
Tzatziki Sauce – an easy, delicious homemade Tzatziki Sauce recipe that is perfect for your favorite gyro recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 cup English cucumber, peeled, remove seeds and diced
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2–3 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
- 2 teaspoon fresh mint leaves
Instructions
- Prepare cucumber by remove seeds, peeling and dicing. Squeeze out as much water from the cucumber as possible.
- Add all ingredients to a food processor. Blend until consistency is smooth.
- Taste and adjust any seasoning, as-desired.
- Place in refrigerator so that sauce can thicken, approx. 1 hour.
- Use in your favorite recipe – we love it on our Chicken Gyros!
Notes
- Cucumber: we recommend using English cucumbers because they are a little less watery. Definitely peel your cucumbers or your sauce will end up green in color.
- Dairy-Free: we have a dairy-free version on the blog if that is what you prefer!
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