Tzatziki Yogurt Sauce Recipe

Classic Greek Style Condiment with Cucumber, Dill, Garlic and Lemon

© Lynn Smythe

Apr 2, 2009

Tzatziki, sometimes also spelled tsatziki, is a classic Greek condiment made with thick Greek style yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, lemon and lots of fresh dill. Greek style yogurt has the consistency somewhat like a thick sour cream or ricotta cheese. This recipe makes a total of 2 1/2 cups of tzatziki sauce.

In addition to being used as a meat sauce, tzatziki can also be used to make potato salad, and as a dip along with pita bread and fresh vegetables.

Greek Tzatziki Sauce Ingredients

• One 16 oz. container Greek style yogurt
• 1 medium cucumber
• 3 cloves garlic - grated
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill - chopped fine
• Zest from one lemon
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons salt

Greek Tzatziki Sauce Directions

1. Peel the cucumber.
2. Cut the cucumber in half, and remove the seeds.
3. Use a hand grater, or food processor, to grate the cucumber
4. Place the cucumber in a double thickness of paper towel, and gently squeeze out the moisture.
5. Replace the wet paper towel with dry paper towel, and continue squeezing the cucumber until most of the moisture has been removed.
6. Add the cucumber to a medium bowl.
7. Stir in the garlic, dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar and salt.
8. Add the Greek yogurt and stir until well blended.
9. Cover the tzatziki sauce and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Fage Yogurt

Fage is a brand of Greek style yogurt that can be found in many grocery stores and specialty markets. Fage yogurt is all natural and contains no preservatives or artificial additives. There is even a fat-free variety of Fage yogurt which contains zero percent fat. Fage Greek yogurt is also available in 2% and 5% fat varieties and flavors such as cherry, peach and strawberry.

Making Greek Style Yogurt

Regular yogurt can be used to make Greek style yogurt.

Ingredients for Greek Style Yogurt

• One 16 oz. container plain yogurt
• Stainless steel strainer
• Stainless steel bowl
• Cheese cloth

Directions for Greek Style Yogurt

1. Place the strainer on top of the bowl.
2. Drape a couple of layers of cheese cloth across the stainer.
3. Place the yogurt in the strainer, on top of the cheese cloth.
4. Gather up the sides of the cheese cloth and tie together.
5. Place the bowl in the refrigerator and let drain for 24 hours or overnight.
6. Open the cheese cloth and use the strained yogurt, which should now have the consistency of ricotta cheese, in the tzatziki sauce recipe.

Recipe Suggestions and Tips

1. White wine vinegar can be substituted for the red wine vinegar.
2. 2 small, or 1 medium zucchini can be substituted for the cucumber.
3. For a change from traditional tsatziki sauce, used finely chopped fresh mint in place of the dill.

Additional Greek and Mediterranean Style Recipes

For a complete Greek style meal, serve tzatziki sauce along with a Greek Vegetable Salad, Taboule Salad and Eggplant Moussaka.

Tzatziki Sauce

Grated & Drained Cucumber

Minced Shallot

Potato Salad with Tzatziki Sauce

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