Garlic Tzatziki Sauce, sometimes called cucumber sauce, is a mouth watering dip made up of yummy, fresh ingredients! It’s the perfect combination between tangy, and tart.
What is Tzatziki Sauce?
Garlic Tzatziki Sauce is a refreshingly delicious tzatziki dip made from simple ingredients like greek yogurt, cucumber, fresh dill, lemon juice, and garlic. Use it as a sauce for meat, dip for chips or veggies, or even as a dressing for salad.
While it can be used on nearly any food, it most well known for Greek food! This tzatziki dip is a super, simple, no-cook condiment used in Greek and Turkish cuisine but is a great compliment to many other dishes, such as Egyptian Red Lentil Soup , Spanakopita or even gyros.
Gather This
All you need is a handful of ingredients to make this easy homemade tzatziki sauce. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Plain Greek yogurt – Using full-fat Greek yogurt is ideal for the best results, but you can substitute a low-fat variety with fewer calories or even use sour cream, but it isn’t the same as thick yogurt.
- Fresh lemon juice
- Dill
- Cucumber
- Kosher salt
- Fresh garlic cloves
5S Philosophy 👩🏻
- Salt – I like to use coarse Kosher salt to help bring out the other flavors of this tzatziki sauce.
- Seasonings – If you want to take the flavor up a notch, try adding more fresh herbs, onion powder, or even freshly ground black pepper to spice things up.
- Swaps – Instead of using plain greek yogurt, try swapping it out for low fat greek yogurt or even sour cream.
- Senses – Cool and creamy, homemade tzatziki awakens the senses with tangy Greek yogurt, crisp cucumber, and a burst of fresh garlic and dill. Each spoonful is refreshing, zesty, and velvety smooth.
Perfect Pairings
Here are some popular ways to serve tzatziki sauce.
- As a Dip: Tzatziki is often served as a dip with pita bread, pita chips, or vegetable sticks. It’s a great appetizer or party snack.
- With Gyros: Tzatziki is a classic accompaniment to gyros, a Greek sandwich typically made with sliced or shredded meat (often lamb, chicken, or beef) wrapped in pita bread. Drizzle tzatziki inside the pita along with the meat and vegetables for a creamy and cooling contrast to the savory meat.
- As a Sauce: Tzatziki can be used as a sauce for grilled meats such as chicken, lamb, or kebabs. It adds a refreshing flavor and helps balance out the richness of the meat.
- With Falafel: Tzatziki pairs wonderfully with falafel, a deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas or fava beans. You can use it as a drizzle or spread it inside a pita sandwich with falafel.
- On Souvlaki: Souvlaki is a Greek dish consisting of skewered and grilled pieces of meat, usually served with pita bread and toppings. Tzatziki is a fantastic topping for souvlaki, adding a creamy and tangy element to the dish.
- As a Salad Dressing: Tzatziki can be thinned with a bit of water or lemon juice to make it into a Greek salad dressing. It works particularly well on Greek salads, cucumber salads, or as a dressing for a simple lettuce and tomato salad.
- With Grilled Vegetables: Drizzle tzatziki over grilled vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers. It adds a burst of flavor and a cool contrast to the smokiness of the vegetables.
Garlic Tzatziki Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons fresh dill , coarsely chopped
- 1/3 cup cucumber , finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3-4 large garlic cloves , finely minced
Instructions
- Combine the 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 3 tablespoons fresh dill, 1/3 cup cucumber, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and minced 3-4 large garlic cloves in a small bowl, stir until combined. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know in the comments and star ratings.
Notes
Nutrition
Storage and Freezing
You can store this tzatziki sauce in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay for up to four days.
Technically you can freeze this sauce, however there will be excess moisture when thawing and the consistency will change.
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Do I remove the skin of the cucumber?
Tracey
You don’t have to, however if you prefer to, go ahead!
Very flavorful as a dip. Have also used on gyros and it was perfect!