This tzatziki recipe shows you how to make a creamy, refreshing Greek tzatziki dip with Greek yogurt, lemon, garlic, dill, and mint. It’s quick to whip up, healthy, and so versatile — serve it with pita, veggies, grilled meats, or as a spread for wraps and sandwiches. Once you try this easy homemade version, you’ll never want store-bought again!
Get the printable recipe here👉🏻 https://www.garlicandzest.com/greek-tzatziki/
Greek Tzatziki
INGREDIENTS:
1 cucumber peeled
1½ cups Greek yogurt, preferably whole milk, but can use non-fat
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon lemon zest from about ½ lemon
1½ tablespoons fresh mint leaves, chopped
1½ tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS:
Using the large holes on a box grater, grate 1 cucumber, leaving the center column of seeds intact. Discard the seeds.
Line a mesh sieve with a coffee filter (if you have one) and set it over a bowl.
Transfer the grated cucumber to the sieve to drain for about 20 minutes.
MAKE THE GARLIC LEMON PASTE:
Add 2 cloves of garlic and ½ teaspoon of lemon zest to a mortar and pestle, and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon of kosher salt. Work the pestle over the mixture, pressing and grinding to form a thick paste. Set aside.
Gently gather the sides of the coffee filter together and firmly squeeze to remove as much excess liquid as possible. The cucumber should be pretty dry.
ASSEMBLE THE TZATZIKI
In a small bowl, combine 1 ½ cups of Greek yogurt, lemon-garlic paste, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add 1½ tablespoons of fresh mint leaves, 1½ tablespoons of fresh dill, the remaining ¼ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, and stir to combine.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes for the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.
👉 If you love this Greek tzatziki dip, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and check out my other homemade sauces and dressings for more delicious ideas.
This healthy creamy Greek dip is so easy to make you’ll never buy store-bought again. Classic Tzatziki is a cucumber dip that’s very healthy and very simple to make. Start by peeling a cucumber. Trim the ends with a sharp paring knife and then grate the flesh. You want to avoid the seeds by stopping just before you reach the soft center. Line a fine mesh sieve with a coffee filter and add the cucumber pulp to drain. Then add chopped garlic and lemon zest to a mortar and pestle and just grind it together until you have a nice thick paste. Then drain the cucumber. You can see that a little bit of liquid has leaked out but to really get it you need to squeeze a little packet of cucumber and you’ll be amazed at how much juice it releases. Set the cucumber aside and let’s assemble the tzatziki sauce. It starts with Greek yogurt and you can use whole milk or non-fat style. Then we add the lemon and garlic combination along with some olive oil and give it a good stir. Make sure it’s very well blended so that the flavors are even throughout. Season with salt and pepper and then add fresh herbs. Mint and dill are the classic combination for this sauce. Mix the herbs well and then stir in the cucumber. This tzatziki sauce isn’t just for heroes. Try it as a dip with pita chips or serve it alongside my Greek lamb meatballs recipe. If you enjoyed this give it a like and subscribe for more delicious recipes. Enjoy!
Dining and Cooking