• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Greek Foodie logo

  • MY GREEK PANTRY
  • ABOUT
    • Privacy Policy
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Hello!
  • My Greek Pantry
  • Recipe Index
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Easy Recipes » Perfect Tzatziki Sauce

    Perfect Tzatziki Sauce

    Last updated October 22, 2021. Originally posted August 30, 2021 By Jenny Skrapaliori-Graves. 2 Comments.

    Share
    Pin
    Share
    Email
    Tweet
    Yum
    WhatsApp
    161 Shares
    Go to Recipe Print Recipe

    This authentic tzatziki sauce recipe is fresh, creamy, and really easy to make. An ideal addition to the famous souvlaki, eggplant & zucchini fritters, or a crazing meze board.

    A bowl with tzatziki sauce, some pita bread and side view of tomato salad.

    What is tzatziki sauce?

    Tzatziki sauce is commonly served as a meze (a selection of small dishes served as appetizers) and is eaten with bread, fried eggplant, stuffed grape leaves, zucchini fritters, even french fries.

    It is an essential ingredient to Greek souvlaki with pita.

    Ingredients for tzatziki

    To make this authentic tzatziki sauce recipe you will need strained yogurt, cucumber, garlic, fresh dill, a little white wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, and pepper.

    A bowl with a strainer filled with shredded cucumber, next to garlic cloves, sea salt container and fresh dill.

    This is what you do:

    Grate the cucumber using the large grates of a grater. Place grated cucumber in a colander in the sink. Add a pinch of salt and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Let it rest to release its liquids for 15 minutes.

    Mix yogurt, minced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, and 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix well.

    Squeeze the cucumber to release the remaining liquid. Add it to the yogurt mix and mix well.

    Season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.

    Stir in most of the dill. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours (please see recipe notes). 

    Serve with some chopped dill on top and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

    A bowl with tzatziki dip.

    Tips

    • For a very garlicky tzatziki use 1 garlic clove per ½ cup yogurt. If you wish to reduce its intensity, you can use garlic paste, a little at a time until it reaches your desired flavor.
    • Most often strained yogurt is used. Regular plain yogurt is more watery and will release more liquid while the tzatziki is refridgerated. Yogurt from cow's mik is prefered due its mild aroma and taste. That does not mean you can't experiment with other types of yogurt. There is so much variety of yogurts with different fat content and types of milk, like sheep and goat's milk. Avoid fruit or vanilla flavored yogurts.
    • Instead of white wine vinegar use a little lemon juice.
    • If dill is not available substitute with mint, cilantro or parsley.

    What can I have with tzatziki sauce

    • Fried eggplant
    • Fried zucchini
    • Cauliflower fritters
    • Falafel
    • Keftedes - Greek meatballs
    • Souvlaki skewers
    • French fries (they are awesome with tzatziki!)
    • Serve with crusty baguette, olives, cut up tomatoes and cucumbers.
    • Pita bread
    • Crudités

    You may also like:

    • The traditional authentic Greek salad also known as peasant salad.
    • Delicious souvlaki gyro with pita.
    • These zucchini and feta fritters are fragrant and light. 
    • Tomato fritters are perfect with tzatziki. 

    Check out my Greek pantry staples 

    Cooked this? Rate this recipe! You can also leave a comment below. I love hearing from you!

    WANT TO EAT LIKE A GREEK? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

    A bowl with tzatziki sauce.

    Perfect Tzatziki Sauce

    by Jenny | The Greek Foodie
    This authentic tzatziki sauce recipe is fresh, creamy and really easy to make.
    4.72 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Resting time 15 mins
    Course Appetizer, Appetizer-snack, Side Dish
    Cuisine Greek
    Servings 6
    Calories 80 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1½ cups greek yogurt grated
    • 1 english cucumber
    • 1-2 garlic cloves minced
    • ¼ bunch of fresh dill finely chopped 
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
    • sea salt
    • freshly ground pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Grate the cucumber using the large grates of a grater. Place grated cucumber in a colander in the sink. Add a pinch of salt and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Let it rest to release it's liquids for 15 minutes.
    • Mix the yogurt, minced garlic clove, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar and 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix well.
    • Squeeze the cucumber to release all remaining liquid. Add cucumber to the yogurt mix. Stir well.
    • Season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Stir in most of the dill. Mix well and refridgerate for 1-2 hours (see notes).
    • Serve with some chopped dill on top and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

    Notes

    • For better results, after mixing the ingredients, the dip should be put in the fridge. It needs to be cool when served, and leaving it overnight will bind the aromas and flavors of the individual ingredients. The minimum time for tzatziki to be refrigerated is 1 hour.
     
    Nutritional Info – Please keep in mind that nutritional information provided is only an estimate and can vary based on the products used.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 80kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 5gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 20mgPotassium: 144mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 53IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 63mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @thegreekfoodie__ or tag #thegreekfoodie__
    Perfect Tzatziki SaucePerfect Tzatziki Sauce
    Share
    Pin
    Share
    Email
    Tweet
    Yum
    WhatsApp
    161 Shares
    « Greek Shrimp Saganaki - Baked Shrimp with Feta
    Homemade Traditional Greek Pork Gyros »

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi there!

    I am Jenny, a Greek expat living in the greater New York City area. I like to say I am a beauty art director turned foodie, aka the Greek foodie. Born and raised in Greece, my fondness for good food goes hand in hand with my heritage. My absolute favorite thing to do is cook delicious food to enjoy with family and friends.... Find out more about me here…

    EAT LIKE A GREEK!

    A black bowl with tomato confit, herbs and a spoon.

    Amazing Tomato Confit With Herbs

    A glass bowl with kourabides, Greek Christmas butter cookies, and Christmas lights at the back.

    Kourabiedes - Greek Christmas Butter Cookies

    A plate with Greek green beans with potatoes in tomato sauce, some fresh basil. On the table, a napkin, utensils and a piece of bread.

    Greek Green Beans In Tomato Sauce

    A small plate with olive oil and herbs, a gold spoon on a butcher block surrounded by pieces of bread.

    Bread Dipping Oil

    A white plate with tomato garlic pasta and herbs with a fork and spoon.

    Tomato Garlic Pasta

    Comfort Food

    Feta Cheese Puff Pastries With Leeks And Dill

    Vegetarian Moussaka With Plant Based Beef

    A plate with soutzoukakia-cumin meatballs.

    Cumin Meatballs In Red Sauce - Greek Soutzoukakia

    Low Carb Turkey Meatballs & Gravy

    A plate with spaghetti and greek tomato basil sauce

    Greek Spaghetti Sauce With Tomatoes & Basil

    Three pizza boats, peinirli on a platter.

    Easy Peinirli - Greek Pizza Boats

    Footer

    © 2023 · The Greek Foodie · All Rights Reserved