How to make traditional Tzatziki dip

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Thick and creamy Tzatziki dip with fresh cucumber, herbs and zesty lemon. This is my go to side dish that triples up as a dip a sauce and a spread. It’s so good that you will want to put it on everything!

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Like most people, I was buying the Supermarket varieties of tzatziki dip. Until I went to Greece!! I want to show you how to make traditional Tzatziki dip just like they make it in Greece.

The first time I tasted authentic Greek Tzatziki I was on a Contiki tour in the Greek island of Corfu. Let me tell you it blew my mind! For anyone who has done a Contiki tour and has been to Corfu you will remember the unforgettable experience of Georges boat!

I don’t recall much about the lunchtime spread but I remember the tzatziki!

Being a Contiki tour we were unfortunately only there for 2 days but that was enough to get me hooked! As soon as I got home I couldn’t wait to recreate this amazing dip! And let me tell you when we returned to Greece a few years later I was ordering it every chance I got!

The difference between store bought and home made tzatziki dip is its much thicker, creamier and chunkier. Its packed with fresh herbs and grated cucumber. Then it has the hit of garlic and the zest of fresh lemon juice. I can guarantee that once you have tried this recipe the supermarket stuff will taste bland and look watery in comparison!

Tzatziki Dip

Tzatziki dip is a Mediterranean Goddess because it is so versatile and if your as obsessed with it as I am then you are going to want to put it on everything!

Tzatziki can be used as a sauce for grilled meats or as a dip and it is perfectly paired with warm flatbread.

It’s incredibly simple to make and has big flavours of garlic, lemon and herbs which are perfectly balanced with natural greek yoghurt.

What Tzatziki can be used for

Because I am in love with this Greek yoghurt dip/sauce I will find a way to use it on anything and everything! But here are some of my favs!

• Gyros of course!!! who doesn’t love a generous serve of garlic sauce in their Gyros! (Minus the garlic breath!!)
• Tzatziki always makes an appearance at our BBQ’s its so good with lamb chops or lamb cutlets!
• As a dip with warm flatbread! So good!!
• In wraps; Yoghurt is full of protein and a lot healthier than mayonnaise. It will also keep you fuller for longer
• Serve it with falafels or in a falafel wrap
• Over salads such as Tabbouleh or Greek salad
• With your Souvlaki
• Served with raw vegetables for dipping

What you need to make this traditional Tzatziki dip at home;

• Natural Greek Yoghurt; This forms the base of the dip and its what gives it the thick creaminess
• Cucumber gives it a beautiful texture. Ensure that you squeeze out as much water from the grated cucumber so that the dip is not watery.
• Garlic: you can add more or less depending on the intensity you like. The trick is if you make this ahead of time and give the garlic a chance to settle in the yoghurt it reduces the sharpness of the garlic taste.
• Dill and Mint add a really nice freshness to the Tzatziki
• Lemon juice; the zest and acidity of the lemon goes so well with the other flavours
• Extra virgin olive oil and salt/pepper to taste

How to make Tzatziki Dip

• Start by grating a cucumber using a box grater. Using your hands, squeeze as much of the water out of the grated cucumber as you can and transfer to a bowl.
• Crush your garlic using a garlic press (make sure It’s super fine as you don’t want any big chunks in there). Add the garlic with the yoghurt, herbs, olive oil and lemon. Season well with salt and pepper and mix until combined
• Best served immediately or refrigerate for later.

It’s seriously so easy to make and that the little effort goes such a long way. It will seriously up the flavour at your BBQ’s and parties and transform your pitas and salads into something extra special!

So before I sign off I just have to say it…give this recipe a try and Get tzatziki with it lol! hope that made you smile and not cringe! And if you want to know how to pronounce it properly here it is! Click to listen

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If you have made this traditional Tzatziki dip, as always I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave me a comment below or email me

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Print Recipe

Traditional Tzatziki

Quick and Easy recipe for traditional tzatziki! This healthy and versatile dish can be used as a dip, a sauce or a spread. perfect with gyros or grilled meats, in pitas and wraps, dolloped over salads or simply served with pita chips.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time0 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, sauce, Side Dish

Cuisine: greek, Mediterranean

Keyword: Dip, greek, sauce, spread, tzatziki

Servings: 2 cups

Calories: 70kcal

Author: Marie Muccio

Ingredients

• 2 cucumbers coursley grated
• 1 ½ cups Natural Greek Yoghurt
• ¼ cup Dill finely chopped
• ¼ cup Mint Finely chopped
• 1 small garlic clove crushed
• 2 tbsp Extra virgin oive oil
• juice of 1 lemon

Instructions

• Using your hands, squeeze as much of the water out of the grated cucumber as you can and transfer to a bowl.
• Add the yoghurt, herbs, garlic, olive oil and lemon. season well and mix until combined
• best served immediately or refrigerate for later.

Notes

Tips:

*keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days

*I find making this the day before allows the garlic to settle as well as allowing the other ingredients to infuse. 

Have you made this? Don’t forget to tag me on Insta @mrsfoodiemumma and use the hashtag #mrsfoodiemumma 

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