Tzatziki
Thick yogurt, cucumber and garlic dip (τζατζίκι)
Tzatziki is on every Greek table in summer: scooped up with bread at the start of a taverna meal, spooned over fried courgettes and chips, and tucked into pitta wraps. It is cool, thick and sharp with raw garlic, made with strained yogurt so it holds its shape on a spoon. Grated cucumber gives it crunch, a little vinegar lifts it, and olive oil makes it rich. It also goes well with gemista, fritters and grilled halloumi. Chef's tip: salt the grated cucumber and squeeze it dry; leaving the water in is the common mistake that turns tzatziki runny within an hour.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 1 cucumberabout 300 g
- ¾ tsp salt
- 2 cloves garliccrushed to a paste
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp olive oilplus extra to serve
- 2 tbsp dillchopped, or mint
- 4 black olives (optional)to garnish
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Method
0/5 doneStep 2: Squeeze the cucumber hard in your hands or a tea towel until it stops dripping.
Step 3: Stir 2 cloves garlic into 1 tbsp white wine vinegar and leave for a minute; this softens the raw bite. Then mix with 1 ⅛ lb Greek yogurt (full fat, strained), the cucumber, 3 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp dill.
Step 4: Taste and add more salt or garlic. Chill for at least 30 minutes so the garlic mellows into the yogurt.
Step 5: Spoon into a bowl, swirl the top, drizzle with olive oil and add 4 black olives if you like. It keeps 3 days in the fridge.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 150 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 5 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tzatziki take?
- About 15 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of cucumber?
- Courgette, same weight (in salads, use young ones).
- What can I use instead of greek yogurt (full fat, strained)?
- Sour cream or buttermilk, same amount.
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