Tzatziki Sauce
Homemade Tzatziki Sauce is a refreshing, creamy and tangy herbed yogurt and cucumber dip that is perfect as a sauce on grilled meats or a dip alongside vegetables. It’s a classic Greek recipe that can be whipped up in less than 10 minutes at home.
Best Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
First, let’s get the pronunciation of this recipe out of the way.
A lot of people (and even Google) will tell you that tzatziki is pronounced “tuh-zee-khee” but really you want to make a “tsuh” sound through your closed teeth and not a “tuh” with an open mouth: “tsuh-ZEE-khee.” (I was a waitress at a Greek restaurant all through high school, the owner ensured I pronounced everything on the menu properly.)
What is tzatziki sauce? It’s a classic Greek condiment with a yogurt base that features diced or shredded cucumbers, fresh herbs, lemon and garlic. It’s punchy, creamy, tangy and refreshing.
This classic Greek condiment is one of my favourites year-round but it especially lends itself well to summer meals (especially grilled ones) and is a great way to put fresh summer herbs to use.
The acidity of the lemon and garlic cut the richness of the yogurt, making this a perfectly balanced dressing.
How to Serve Tzatziki:
- as a dip for bread or fries
- serve as a dip with crudités (raw, cut up vegetables)
- serve with grilled vegetables
- serve with grilled or roasted meats
- serve with seafood
- use as a sandwich spread
- thin out to use as a salad dressing
Tzatziki isn’t exclusively a Greek condiment. It’s used across the Mediterranean and Middle East, sometimes by different names or slight change in ingredients. So don’t feel limited in when you can enjoy tzatziki – and feel free to play with this recipe. Spice it up, serve it on burgers – make this recipe uniquely your own.
Tzatziki Sauce Variations:
- Vinegar: some people use vinegar instead of lemon juice – personally, I love the brightness and citrusy tang that the lemon juice adds. Feel free to experiment and see what you prefer… but if you use vinegar, I would recommend a white balsamic vinegar and not traditional white vinegar.
- Sheep Milk Yogurt: traditionally, it’s authentic to use sheep or goat yogurt to make tzatziki – so if this is available to you, feel free to swap it for the conventional Greek yogurt we call for
- Mint: add a teaspoon of dried mint or a Tablespoon of fresh mint
- Feta Cheese: add a couple Tablespoons of salty, crumbled Feta cheese for a twist
- Sour Cream: use sour cream or low-fat yogurt in place of the Greek Yogurt, if desired
How to store tzatziki sauce: tzatziki sauce is best stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. It can be stored for up to a week but towards the end of the week, the sauce will separate more (simply drain off the extra water and then stir before serving).
Can tzatziki sauce be frozen? I do not recommend freezing tzatziki sauce.
More Easy Greek Recipes
- Greek Beef Kebabs
- Greek Cucumber Salad
- Lemon Olive Oil Salad Dressing
- Spanakopita
- Loaded Greek Fries from Kylee Cooks
- Sheet Pan Greek Chicken from The Soccer Mom Blog
Ingredients for Tzatziki Sauce
- Shredded Cucumber
- Greek Yogurt
- Fresh Dill (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- Minced Garlic
- Lemon Juice
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: you may enjoy drizzling olive oil over the tzatziki sauce before serving.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Box Grater
- Fine Mesh Strainer
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Wooden Spoon or Spatula <– I like these spatulas because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.
How to Make Tzatziki Sauce
Grate the cucumber and place in a fine mesh sieve over a bowl.
Cover and let sit out for one hour to allow water to drain out.
Squeeze the cucumber to remove as much water as possible.
In a large bowl, beat the greek yogurt until smooth and no lumps remain.
Stir in the grated cucumber, fresh dill and minced garlic.
Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to serve.
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Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup Shredded Cucumber
- 1 cup Greek Yogurt
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Dill (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 1 teaspoon Minced Garlic
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Grate the cucumber and place in a fine mesh sieve over a bowl.
- Cover and let sit out for one hour to allow water to drain out.
- Squeeze the cucumber to remove as much water as possible.
- In a large bowl, beat the greek yogurt until smooth and no lumps remain.
- Stir in the grated cucumber, fresh dill and minced garlic.
- Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to serve.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 16Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 38mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 2g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
I hope your family loves this easy tzatziki sauce recipe as much as my family does!
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omg, it’s so easy to do
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