I LOVE this sauce!
I love Greek/Mediterranean flavors, plus this sauce is naturally low carb and keto-friendly, so I am like that lady from the Frank’s Red Hot commercial, I put this shizz on everything!
Use it in/on things like Greek Chicken Salad, Grilled Chicken Kabobs with Greek Salad, Mediterranean Meatballs, Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad, and Greek Burgers, just to name a few delicious ideas.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE TZATZIKI SAUCE?
- Greek yogurt
- Cucumber
- Redmond’s real salt
- Garlic
- Fresh dill
- Cracked black pepper
- Fresh lemon juice
WHAT IS TZATZIKI SAUCE?
If you are like me and love Greek food, you are probably very familiar with tzatziki sauce and, again if like me, always order extra to slather all over your kabobs and gyros.
Tzatziki (pronounced tsaht-zee-key) is traditionally made from strained sheep or goats yogurt and mixed with cucumbers, garlic, dill, salt, and lemon juice. Some recipes call for olive oil and other herbs like mint, parsley, or chives can be added.
TIPS FOR MAKING THE PERFECT TZATZIKI SAUCE
What yogurt do I use to make Tzatziki? Traditionally it is made with sheep or goats yogurt, but storebought Greek yogurt is perfect and makes for a deliciously creamy sauce. If you use traditional plain yogurt your sauce will end up too runny, even if you strain it, ask me how I know ?
What kind of cucumbers should I use? You can use regular cucumber or English cucumbers. If you use the former you need to peel and seed it. By using the English cucumber I eliminate a few steps. Some people still prefer to peel and seed them as well but I find that by using the food processor and straining the mixture, most of the liquid is removed.
Can I use bottled lemon juice? I know it seems like a quick and easy thing to do but I beg you to grab a fresh lemon and juice it. The difference is HUGE!
Do I have to use salt? Yes, the salt helps to draw the liquid out of the cucumber, plus it brings out the flavor. Salt is to flavors like an amplifier is to your stereo speakers. Most of the time I don’t need to add extra salt at the end as the amount used to draw the liquid out of the cucumbers usually enough. But always taste and adjust at the end.
Do I have to use fresh dill? This is am emphatic YES! Dried dill might be enough for many recipes that use heat, but the brightness of fresh dill is a must-have in this sauce.
HOW TO USE TZATZIKI SAUCE
- Vegetables – You can use Tzatziki as a dip for fresh veggies, or as a sauce for grilled or roasted veggies. Some of the vegetables it goes well with are cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, green beans, and zucchini.
- Spread – It is terrific spread on low carb bread in sandwiches, or low carb wraps, and the perfect condiment for burgers.
- Sauce – Tzatziki compliments grilled meats fabulously!
I also love to thin it a bit with water and pour it over my chopped salads!
MORE DELICIOUS RECIPE IDEAS
Authentic Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
Ingredients:
- 16 ounces of plain Greek yogurt
- 1 large English cucumber, chopped
- Redmond’s real salt
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- Cracked black pepper
- Juice of one lemon
Instructions:
- Place the chopped cucumber in a colander, sprinkle with salt and allow it to sit for at least 30 mins to let the cucumber to release its liquid.
- Add the drained cucumbers, garlic, dill, and black pepper to the food processor. Process until smooth.
- Using a fine-mesh strainer, drain the mixture to eliminate excess liquid which can make your Tzatziki runny.
- In a large bowl, combine the cucumber mixture with the yogurt and lemon juice.
- Taste and adjust your salt and pepper if needed. Place in an airtight container, THe sauce can be used immediately but, for best flavor results, I would and allow it to set in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to overnight. This will allow the flavors to meld.
- Tzatziki Sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It should be used as quickly as possible because the cucumbers will give off more liquid and the sauce will separate. If your sauce gets a little runny you can add more Greek yogurt to thicken it back up.
14.01
0.12
0.03
1.40
0.13
1.27
0.86
2.03
31.80
0.94
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