Easy Tzatziki Recipe
on Nov 23, 2021, Updated Apr 24, 2024
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My Easy Tzatziki Recipe is a constant staple in my house. Tzatziki, also known as tarator or cacık, is served as a dip, soup, or sauce and is found in the cuisines of Southeast Europe and the Middle East. It is made of thick yogurt (usually strained or diluted), mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, sometimes with vinegar or lemon juice, and fresh herbs such as dill, mint, parsley, or thyme. It takes 5 minutes to make and is the most refreshing dip or side to any dish. 🤤
When my family and I lived in Greece 🇬🇷 we ate tzatziki with every meal and it’s one dip I will never get sick of. In Bulgaria, we have our own yogurt dips, salads, and cold cucumber soup known as Tarator, so our cuisines are very similar. Most countries around the Balkans, Mediterranean, and Middle East have their own take on yogurt dips and salads that are similar. It makes me incredibly happy to see similar versions shared around the world. Food is love and food is what unites us all 🌎❤️.
Why You’ll Love My Easy Tzatziki Recipe
There are good reasons that so many cultures across the world have a version of this beloved recipe: it’s easy, refreshing, healthy, budget-friendly, versatile, and is the perfect accompaniment alongside so many dishes. You can’t go wrong serving this easy tzatziki recipe in sandwiches 🥪, wraps 🌯, on burgers 🍔 and gyros, and alongside grilled fish, meats, vegetables.
How to Prepare My Easy Tzatziki Recipe
🥒 Grate the cucumber. Then squeeze out all the excess moisture using a cheesecloth, nut milk bag, or clean hands.
🥣 Add the yogurt to a large bowl, along with the grated cucumber, garlic 🧄, lemon juice 🍋, and dill, and season with salt. Stir well.
🫒 Drizzle the olive oil and garnish with olives, if you like, then serve and enjoy!
Nonna’s Tip
Squeeze the cucumbers over a bowl to catch the excess moisture. Save the cucumber juice for enjoying as a healthy drink 🥤. Cheers!
Variations and Substitutions for Easy Tzatziki Recipe
- In place of of dill you can also use other fresh herbs 🌱, such as mint, parsley, or thyme, or a combination of all three.
- Instead of grating the cucumber, try a chunky tzatziki and cut the cucumber into small bite-size pieces.
- Try red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or sherry vinegar instead of lemon 🍋 juice.
- If you can’t find thick Greek or Balkan-style yogurt, you can make your own by straining plain yogurt overnight in clean cheese cloth or a nut milk bag.
- Rather than store-bought pita chips, serve with homemade warm pita bread.
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Best Served With
- Tzatziki is a must-have alongside Greek Chicken Gyros.
- Use as a dressing or garnish on Easy Greek Bowls.
- You can’t have Chicken Souvlaki Skewers without tzatziki!
- Use as a dip with Parmesan Smashed Potatoes.
Common Questions
Grating the cucumber adds delicious texture and distributes the ingredient evenly throughout the tzatziki. It’s important to grate on the largest holes of a cheese grater; anything smaller will yield a soupy mess. You can certainly cut the cucumber into small cubes instead, but that will change the texture of the dish.
Yes, you can certainly make this recipe vegan by using plain vegan yogurt.
If you don’t have a lemon, or you prefer to use vinegar, use about 1 tablespoon of vinegar instead of lemon juice.
This dip thickens up after about 24 hours in the fridge. It’s best served freshly made or after 24 hours, but leftovers can also be stored for over a week.
I like using peeled English cucumbers, but you can also leave the skin on. Any variety of cucumber is fine, and I also like Persian.
Easy Tzatziki Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Grate the cucumber using the largest holes on your cheese grater. Squeeze all the excess moisture out of the grated cucumber. You can squeeze it out using a nut milk bag, a kitchen towel, a cheese cloth, or just clean hands. This step will ensure a thicker dip. Alternatively, you can finely chop the cucumber.
- Add the yogurt to a large bowl, along with the grated cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, and dill, and season with salt. Stir well.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the dip for presentation and garnish with olives, if you like. Serve right away or store it in the refrigerator in a glass Tupperware. The dip should last up to 10 days. Enjoy!
My Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My family loves this! We make it often!
Easy recipe and delish! Thank youuuu
Thank you for sharing this recipe. We loved it.
You’re very welcome. I’m so glad you loved it! ❤️