Tzatziki

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This sauce combines Greek yogurt, cucumbers, lemon juice, and dill to make an incredibly versatile ingredient you can serve with toasted pita wedges as an appetizer, or pair with grilled lamb, chicken, fish, or vegetables.

Total Time:
15 mins
Yield:
makes about 2 cups

Tzatziki is a sauce made of salted and strained yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs with origins in southeastern Europe and the Middle East. In Turkey, the same sauce is called Cacik; it’s called Tarator in Bulgaria, and similar etymology variations exist in surrounding areas. Herbs in the sauce may vary, some variations may have tahini or use vinegar instead of lemon juice. This sauce is often served with a meze platter, alongside pita, baba ganoush, tabouleh, and more.


Tzatziki is now popular all over the world and while it’s wildly available in groceries in the U.S., it could not be easier to prepare. With just a handful of ingredients,  you will be ready to serve it in 15 minutes. It pairs well with roasted lamb or kebabs. Try it with this gorgeous vegetable flatbread, to elevate simply roasted carrots, or serve alongside a crudité platter.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Greek-style plain yogurt

  • 1 medium (12-ounce) cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped into 1/4-inch pieces

  • 1 clove garlic, finely grated

  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, plus extra for garnish

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

  • Toasted pita or pita chips, for serving

Directions

  1. Stir together the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, and dill in a medium bowl. Season with the salt and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Before serving, garnish with more fresh dill and serve with toasted pita.

    Cucumber-Dill Tzatziki
    © Guy Ambrosino

Make Ahead

The tzatziki can be made 1 day ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container (the garlic will become more pronounced the longer it sits).

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