Greek dish tzatziki. Greek Tzatziki Sauce: Homemade Recipe

Tzatziki sauce is a cold addition to food that came to us straight from Greece. It is usually prepared on Greek yogurt with the addition of crushed garlic, lemon juice and cucumber pulp. In addition to this composition, other ingredients may be included in the sauce: fresh herbs, wine vinegar, onions and olives. If you want to cook thick tzatziki, then you need to take fatty sour cream, kefir or yogurt as a basis. Below we will consider several recipes for this dish.

classic sauce recipe

This is the traditional option. The following ingredients are involved in the cooking process:

• natural unsweetened yogurt - 150-200 grams;
• cucumber - 200 grams;
• garlic - 2-3 cloves;
• olive oil - 30 ml;
• table salt - half a tablespoon

The number of listed ingredients can be changed. If desired, you can do without adding olive oil or garlic, or on the contrary, add more ingredients. To prepare a quality homemade tzatziki, follow the step-by-step instructions:

1. Remove the skin from the cucumber and rub the vegetable on a fine grater. Squeeze out the juice.
2. Add yogurt, add salt and mix thoroughly.
3. Peel the garlic and pass through a press. In the absence of the latter, you can cut the vegetable into small pieces. Once the vegetable is chopped, add it to the already prepared composition.
4. Add olive oil.
5. Mix all the ingredients, if desired, using a mixer or blender.

Serve the tzatziki sauce immediately or after chilling in the refrigerator. In the second case, it will thicken and acquire a brighter taste.

Sauce with lemon juice and herbs

To make this tzatziki sauce, you will need:

• lemon juice - 1 tbsp;
• chilled fat sour cream - 2 tbsp;
• dried dill and parsley - 1 tbsp each;
• sea ​​salt - a pinch;
• cucumber - 150 grams;
• garlic - 2-3 cloves;
• natural yogurt - 500 ml.

The step-by-step recipe for making this sauce looks like this:

1. Boil the sieve over a pot of hot water, covering it with a napkin or towel.
2. Put yogurt on a sieve and leave overnight, previously covered with a cloth or film.
3. Peel the cucumber, remove the seeds and grind the vegetable in a blender or on a grater. Squeeze out the juice.
4. Add the resulting mixture to the yogurt. Pour lemon juice there and sprinkle greens with salt.
5. Peel the garlic from the peel, chop in the way you can and add to the already prepared mixture.
6. Mix all the ingredients in a blender or in any way convenient for you.

Cool the tzatziki and serve.

Tzatziki with wine vinegar

To prepare tzatziki according to this recipe, you will need:

• natural yogurt - 500 ml;
• olive oil - 3 tbsp;
• cucumbers - 150 grams;
• fresh herbs - 1 bunch;
• garlic - 1-3 cloves;
• wine vinegar - 1 tsp;
• salt and black ground pepper - a pinch.

Tzatziki sauce with wine vinegar is prepared according to the following recipe:

1. Grate the cucumbers, after removing the peel from them. Squeeze out the juice.
2. Peel the garlic from the peel and pass through a press.
3. Mix cucumbers and garlic and pour over everything with yogurt.
4. Cut the greens into small pieces and add to the finished mass.
5. Add vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour in the olive oil.
6. Blend until smooth with a blender.

Serve cold tzatziki sauce. Add it to potatoes, meat, fish.

pickled cucumber product

Traditionally, tzatziki sauce is made with the pulp of fresh cucumbers. However, there is an alternative recipe that uses pickles. This sauce contains:

• Pickled cucumbers - 100 grams;
• Thick yogurt or natural unsweetened sour cream - 300 grams;
• Dill or parsley - 1 bunch;
• Salt and black ground pepper - 1 pinch;
• Garlic - 2 cloves (can be replaced with asafoetida - half a teaspoon).

Cooking tzatziki is carried out in a few simple steps:

1. Put sour cream in a deep plate.
2. Grate the cucumbers on a coarse grater and squeeze the juice. If desired, you can simply cut the vegetables into small pieces.
3. Chop greens.
4. Pass the garlic through a press and add to the already existing mass.
5. Add salt and pepper. Choose the amount of ingredients based on your preferences.
6. Thoroughly mix all the products together and put the finished composition in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Tzatziki with lemon juice and mint

To make this sauce you will need:

• coarse salt - 1 tbsp;
• natural or Greek yogurt - 500 ml;
• cucumbers - 200 gr;
• dill - 1 bunch;
• mint - 10 gr;
• lemon juice - 2 tbsp;
• garlic - 3 cloves;
• shallots - 100 gr. (1 medium head);
• ground black pepper - to taste;
• olive oil - 2 tbsp;
• paprika - to taste.

Tzatziki sauce is prepared according to the following recipe:

1. Peel the cucumbers from the skin and pass through a coarse grater. Put the resulting pulp on a sieve placed over a plate. Wait until excess liquid drains and put in a separate deep bowl. Add salt and stir.
2. Peel the garlic from the peel and pass through a press. Add to cucumbers.
3. Finely chop the dill and mint. Transfer the greens to a bowl with the rest of the food.
4. Clean and chop shallots into cubes. Add to the rest of the mass.
5. Pour everything with yogurt, pour in lemon juice, add black pepper, olive oil and paprika.
6. Beat the resulting mass with a mixer or blender.

If all the points are followed correctly, you will get a homogeneous Tzatziki sauce with a delicate taste. Serve the product with salads, potatoes, meat and fish. Chill the sauce in the refrigerator first.

Tzatziki with olives

To make this tzatziki, you will need the following ingredients:

• fat sour cream - 500 ml;
• fresh cucumbers - 200 g;
• garlic - 6 cloves;
• olive oil - 4 tbsp;
• vinegar - 3 tablespoons;
• dill - 1 bunch;
• salt and pepper - to taste.

To prepare the sauce, follow the instructions below:

1. Peel cucumbers from peel and seeds, pass through a grater.
2. Peel the garlic and crush with a press.
3. Dill cut into small pieces.
4. Mix all ingredients and pour over sour cream.
5. Add vinegar, olive oil, dill and spices.
6. Blend until smooth and sprinkle with olives.

The tzatziki sauce is ready to serve.

23.04.2019

If you have not heard about tzatziki sauce or, in other words, tzatziki, interesting information awaits you on the site. This is a very tasty and healthy yogurt-cucumber Greek seasoning. It's time to find out what's in tzatziki so you can make it at home!

Tzatziki (Tzatziki, Tzatziki, Tzatziki) is a refreshing chilled sauce made with Greek yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, fresh herbs (usually mint or dill), garlic, lemon juice, and salt. It is versatile and goes well with many dishes: vegetable, meat, fish.

The word tzatziki literally means "herb salad with yogurt".

Traditionally in Mediterranean cuisine, tzatziki is served as a sauce for grilled meats, as well as for dipping pita bread. It can also be used as a salad dressing.

What does tzatziki sauce look like - photo

Compound

The basic recipe for tzatziki sauce includes:

• Plain Greek Yogurt- more creamy and thicker than regular because all the liquid whey has been removed from it. It is high in protein and low in sugar, making it an ideal dietary option.
• Cucumber - high in fiber, healthy carbohydrates, it helps maintain energy throughout the day.
• Dill - useful for digestion, depression and menstrual cramps.
• Mint - increases the secretion of bile and stimulates its outflow, which helps to speed up and facilitate digestion.
• Garlic - strengthens the immune system and also protects against common brain diseases.
• Lemon juice - high in vitamin C, good for digestion and weight loss.
• Salt contains minerals important for our body, including potassium, iron, zinc and calcium, which help maintain fluid balance and muscle function.
• Pepper - stimulates the production of gastric juice and helps with the digestion of proteins.
• Olive oil - contains antioxidants that support energy and performance.

What smells and tastes

Yogurt gives the tzatziki sauce a nice creamy flavor, while cucumber, lemon and fresh dill add a cool and refreshing taste.

How to choose and where to buy

Buying tzatziki in supermarkets and grocery stores is no longer a problem, but finding a natural composition is not easy. Read the label carefully when buying. Most tzatziki sauces will have mayonnaise instead of yogurt.

Also in the composition there are many additional ingredients that are not found in this recipe: vegetable oils, gum, starch, flavor enhancers and preservatives.

Most often, store-bought sauce looks more like lemon mayonnaise than tzatziki.

Classic tzatziki sauce recipe

This yogurt and cucumber mix is ​​fresh, savory and easy to make.

• Cooking time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 1 glass

Ingredients:

• ½ medium sized cucumber;
• 0.5 cups of thick yogurt without additives;
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil;
• 2 teaspoons fresh mint and dill;
• 1.5 teaspoons of lemon juice;
• 1 minced medium garlic clove;
• ¼ tsp fine sea salt.

How to cook:

1. Peel the cucumber, cut in half and remove the seeds with a spoon, then grate on a fine grater.
2. Place the grated mass in a sieve suspended over a bowl, sprinkle with ½ tsp. salt and stir. Place a saucer on top and drain the liquid from the cucumber.
3. Transfer the squeezed cucumber to a bowl.
4. Add yogurt, olive oil, herbs, lemon juice, garlic and salt and stir to combine.
5. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving and sprinkle with dill or garnish with a sprig of mint.

• If you don't have Greek yogurt, buy some plain yogurt and strain it overnight through a couple of layers of cheesecloth.
• You can take regular yogurt and mix it with 20% sour cream in a 1:1 ratio.
• Use cucumbers without seeds and peel them before chopping.
• It is very important to squeeze the moisture out of the grated cucumber well so that excess liquid does not affect the taste and texture.
• It is better to take fresh dill and mint, rather than dried ones.
• To spice up the tzatziki, add paprika or sumac to the sauce.
• The garlic should be very finely chopped.
• The flavors will blend better if the finished sauce in a sealed container is left in the refrigerator overnight.

How and how much to store

Freshly made tzatziki sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

The store-bought (with preservatives in the composition) has a much longer shelf life, check the dates on the package.

The nutritional value

For 1 tablespoon classic tzatziki:

• 17 calories;
• 1 g of protein;
• 1 g of carbohydrates;
• 1 g fat;
• 1 mg cholesterol;
• 182 mg sodium.

What is eaten and what is served with tzatziki

• Tzatziki sauce goes well with all types of meat - chicken, beef, pork and lamb. Especially good with grilled meats!
• It also tastes great with fish.
• Tzatziki sauce goes well with baked potatoes instead of sour cream.
• Falafel (deep-fried balls of chopped chickpeas) and tzatziki taste like they were made for each other.
• The sauce will replace mayonnaise in sandwiches and hamburgers.
• An unusual use of tzatziki: add it to mashed potatoes, and the puree will acquire a unique taste and aroma.
• The sauce can be used as a delicious salad dressing.
• It is often served with vegetables - carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower and cucumbers.
• The traditional way to use tzatziki sauce is to dip lavash in it.
• It is often served with chips, similar to salsa.

Tzatziki sauce is a classic Greek appetizer. It is distributed in Turkey, Cyprus, the Balkan countries, Iran. There are many variations of this sauce. But the base is grated cucumber, thick yogurt, garlic, fresh dill and olive oil.

It is served with lamb, pork, dressed with salads, eaten with a piece of lavash.

What is tzatziki sauce

A firm favorite of summer picnics, parties and outdoor barbecues, tzatziki appetizer sauce has become a favorite all over the world. In Greece it is called zadjiki. In Turkey - Jadzhik. In Cyprus - talaturi.

The name of the sauce comes from the Turkish word cacık, which in turn is supposed to have been borrowed from the Armenian word cacıg.

In Greece, it is made from thick, salty yogurt (usually sheep's or goat's) mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, and dill. Sometimes lemon juice, natural apple or grape vinegar are added.

In addition to dill, thyme, mint, parsley are used. Serve chilled.

In Turkey, the basis of tzatziki is made up of the same ingredients as in Greece, with the only difference that mint is added instead of dill. There are recipes with sumac, hot pepper, fresh or dried thyme.

It is served thick with the main course as an appetizer. As a side dish or sauce - dilute with water to the desired consistency.

It can be served with fried meat along with flavored anise aperitif, boiled or raw carrots and other vegetables are seasoned with it.

In Cyprus less garlic is added and mint instead of dill.

In Iran, where it is called masto-o-khiar (which literally means yogurt with cucumber) and some other Arab countries, it serves as an appetizer for alcoholic beverages, put on the table like a meze. Sometimes chopped nuts or raisins can be added to it.

In the cuisine of the Balkan countries, such as Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia, there is a similar dish called tarator. Unlike the cold soup of the same name, the sauce is based on cucumbers, garlic, chopped walnuts, salt, and vegetable oil. Whereas yogurt is added to the soup.

How to cook tzatziki

Tzatziki sauce is very easy to make. It only needs a few ingredients that are easy to buy in the summer. And it only takes a few minutes to cook. True, there are some subtleties.

Cucumber is known to contain a lot of water. The essential step is to remove this fluid. To do this, the grated mass is placed in gauze and suspended. Or they leave it on the sieve for a while, sometimes all night. Of course, you can just squeeze out.

It is better to grate garlic on a fine grater or pass through a press.

The thicker the yogurt, the better. Liquid is not suitable for him. The best option is to buy a real sheep or goat.

To make the sauce more fragrant, first combine all the ingredients with the exception of cucumber and dill, and refrigerate overnight.

Dill should be added last, just before serving.

How to make tzatziki sauce

Now two classic dressing sauce recipes.

Tzatziki sauce recipe with dill and mint

You will need:

0.5 large cucumber

2 garlic cloves

500 grams Greek thick yogurt

1 bunch dill

Several sprigs of mint

How to cook:

1. Cut the cucumber in half and clean out the seeds. Grate on a fine grater.
2. Place the grated cucumber in a sieve, put it on a bowl and add salt. Stir and leave for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Stir again, squeezing out the liquid with a spoon.
3. Peel and finely grate or crush the garlic. Combine with oil in a large bowl. Can be left in oil for several hours. But not necessarily.
4. When most of the liquid has drained, spread the mixture on a clean kitchen towel and pat dry.
5. Mix in garlic mixture. Add yogurt and stir.
6. Finely chop the dill and mint leaves. Add to sauce.
7. Squeeze lemon juice (to taste), add oil and mix well.

Sprinkle with dried mint if desired.

Serve with meat as an appetizer, season salad with tomato and other vegetables. Yes, and just put a spoon on a piece of loaf or pita bread - very tasty.

Classic recipe for tzatziki sauce

You will need:

0.5 cucumber

1.5 cups yogurt

2 garlic cloves

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon white grape vinegar

0.5 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon chopped dill

How to cook:

Grate the cucumber and squeeze out the liquid.

Mix yogurt, minced garlic, oil and salt. Cover with a lid and put in the refrigerator. Maybe overnight.

In the morning, add the cucumber mass and dill. Mix and serve.

You can get creative and add other herbs, paprika or hot peppers to it.

Surprise your guests by serving it with fried chicken, kebabs or grilled vegetables.

To prepare tzatziki sauce at home, take fresh crispy cucumber with dense pulp. Rinse well in running water and pat dry with paper towels. If the skin is tough, remove it with a vegetable peeler. Young cucumbers can be used with the skin on. Grind on a medium grater. Lightly salt and leave for 8-10 minutes for the cucumber to release its juice.

Throw the grated cucumber into a colander and let the resulting liquid drain so that the finished sauce is not liquid or squeeze the juice with your hands.


To the squeezed cucumber add greek yogurt. It can be bought at any supermarket. It differs from Russian yogurt in its velvety structure and dense texture. In the process of preparation, it is filtered from whey, achieving the desired density. Greek yogurt is very healthy, it is obtained by bacterial fermentation of natural goat or sheep milk. It contains a lot of vitamins, microelements, high content of protein, calcium.

If you don't have Greek in your fridge but do have classic unflavoured yogurt, pour it into a colander with cheesecloth. Fold the gauze in 3-4 layers and leave for a couple of hours so that all the whey is gone.

Mix yogurt with cucumber.

Thick Greek yogurt can be replaced with rustic fat sour cream, Armenian matsoni, ayran, curdled milk or kefir.

Garlic clean off the husk. Grate on a fine grater or pass through a garlic press. Adjust the amount of garlic to your taste. Add to yogurt mixture. Pour in lemon juice. Stir.


Wash and dry dill sprigs. Do not use dense stems. Chop finely and add to the rest of the ingredients.

Pour olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Mix well and taste. If necessary, adjust to your liking.


Tzatziki is ready. Place in a container with a lid and send to brew in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. After, serve with cold cuts, grilled meat, fish, french fries, potato pancakes, fried zucchini, eggplant or a slice of bread. Greeks often snack on a glass of cool ouzo, raki, tsipouro with sauce. The method of serving can be different - in bowls, gravy boat, or put on unfolded lettuce leaves, Chinese cabbage.

It is a pity, but the sauce is not prepared for a long time, it is not canned. In the refrigerator, the treat can be stored in a sealed container for no more than 2-3 days.

On a note

• There are a lot of recipes for Greek tzatziki yogurt sauce, and they all have a right to exist. For example, instead of dill, some housewives put parsley, basil, mint, or both at the same time. Lemon juice is often replaced with wine vinegar, and in addition to cucumbers, olives, sweet peppers, white cheese (brynza) made from goat or sheep's milk are added.
• There is a modification of tzatziki, where pickles are used instead of fresh ones.
• Compared to mayonnaise, tzatziki is considered a low-calorie sauce.

Tzatziki is one of the symbols of Greek cuisine, along with such dishes as souvlaki, feta, moussaka. We will teach you how to make the right snack - you can diversify your everyday menu with a light and healthy dressing!

Composition and features

Tzatziki sauce, as we have already said, came to us from Greece - it owes its triumphal procession around the world to its unique taste features. The taste of the dressing is fresh, light and delicate, perfectly complementing and highlighting any ingredients.

The original composition of dzadziki includes the following components:

• cucumbers;
• Greek yogurt;
• Salt;
• Olive oil;
• Garlic.

One hundred grams of the product contains about 150-180 kcal, depending on the fat content of the fermented milk dressing.

This is a healthy dish that facilitates digestion! Garlic protects against colds, cucumber provides the necessary liquid, olive oil stimulates the brain.

It's time to discuss where you can add dressing - you will be surprised at the number of dishes available. This is the best option for a family dinner, a meal with friends or a fun party.

What do you eat the sauce with?

When looking for an answer to the question of what tzatziki sauce is eaten with, you will come across a variety of options. A cold appetizer will be a great addition to a variety of dishes!

• Baked and fried fish;
• Fried or grilled meat;
• Boiled potatoes;
• vegetable salads;
• Vegetable stew;
• French fries;
• Chips, crackers and other snacks;
• Baked zucchini and eggplant, tomatoes;
• Cutlets and chops;
• Various snacks;
• Vareniki and dumplings;
• Fresh vegetables;
• Slices of bread, tortillas and pita bread;
• Burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches.

Refueling can be served in two different ways:

• Serve in a separate gravy boat so that each guest can take his portion;
• Refuel the dish during cooking.

Let's talk about how to cook a dish on your own?

Cooking Yourself: A Classic Recipe

Not everyone can go to Greece right now. What to do if you want to try a delicious dressing? There is only one answer - make satsiki sauce at home!

We will tell you the classic Greek tzatziki recipe - you can reproduce the legendary product yourself in a few minutes. We will give a couple of useful tips, teach tricks, and give extended original recipes. Shall we start?

First, let's talk about how to prepare Greek tzatziki (tzatzika) sauce according to the classic method adopted in the homeland of the product. Stock up on the following ingredients:

• One fresh cucumber;
• 300-500 grams of fresh yogurt;
• 50-100 ml of olive oil;
• 3-4 cloves of garlic.

To get a delicious tzatzika dressing, you need:

• Wash the cucumber and peel it, chop on a fine grater;
• Transfer to a bowl and let sit for about ten minutes;
• After a specified period of time, drain the juice;
• Add Greek yogurt, stir ingredients;
• Peel the garlic cloves, chop them and put in a bowl;
• Pour in a little oil, add salt and mix thoroughly again.

Tzatziki in Greek will sparkle with new colors if you remember the following helpful tips:

• Take only a natural fermented milk product, now it is sold in all stores;
• Salt only the cucumber during the cooking process, and not the finished dish;
• To achieve a unique taste, you should first prepare the vegetables and spices, and only then pour in the yogurt.

Nobody is stopping you from experimenting! The classic recipe for tzatziki sauce can be changed to your liking - and we will teach you how to do it right.

Other Sauce Recipes

If you want to make the dressing more spicy, gourmet, catch a new recipe for Greek tzatziki sauce:

Can't make Greek tzatziki with yogurt? Didn't find it in the store? Let's replace the ingredient with the usual sour cream, which is in every refrigerator.

A word of advice: it is better to take sour cream with a fat content of at least thirty percent.

• Grate the cucumber on a fine grater, salt it and let it lie down for 5-10 minutes;
• Squeeze out excess juice and add two cloves of garlic, previously grated and sprinkled with lemon juice;
• Finely chop a few sprigs of dill;
• Mix all the ingredients with sour cream - 400 grams is enough;
• Leave the bowl in the refrigerator for 1.5-2 hours.

See the detailed recipe in the video:

Greek tzatziki sauce can be prepared even with mint - this recipe is perfect for hot days and summer meals:

• Prepare a gruel of two medium cucumbers, as already described above;
• Don't forget to salt the vegetables;
• Add three minced garlic cloves;
• Squeeze a quarter of a lemon, mix with chopped mint;
• Combine all the products together, season them with 300 g of natural yogurt and beat well;
• Place the plate in the refrigerator for several hours.

Satsiki sauce can be cooked with cheese! With this recipe you will surprise all the guests and household members:

• Prepare a fresh cucumber, drain the juice - everything is as described above;
• Pour 300 grams of yogurt (or sour cream) into a bowl;
• On a fine grater, grate 100 grams of cheese, chop two garlic cloves and half a sweet pepper;
• Combine all the ingredients, add seasonings if desired, pour in a teaspoon of olive oil and beat thoroughly.

You already know that the recipe for tzatziki sauce can change depending on the preferences of the cook! A few small tips and tricks will not hurt you:

• You can replace a fresh vegetable with pickles;
• If you are worried about fresh breath, a small amount of parsley will help neutralize the garlic flavor;
• Didn't find classic yogurt? Take ayran or matsoni, you can use yogurt;
• It is not necessary to peel cucumbers - but if the vegetable is “sluggish”, middle-aged, then it is better to remove the skin.

We taught you the classic recipe for Greek tzatziki sauce at home, introduced you to the available variations. Now you can diversify boring meals with an original cold appetizer that will appeal to every household.