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Tzatziki Sauce

This homemade tzatziki sauce takes just 10 minutes to prepare and tastes fresher than any store-bought version, making it perfect for gyros and as a dip.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Condiment, Dip
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Calories: 70
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Components
  • 2 cups Greek yogurt, full-fat For best flavor
  • 1 large English cucumber Or 2 small Persian cucumbers
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced Use fresh garlic for authenticity
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Provides acidity
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Adds richness
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped Traditional herb for tzatziki
  • 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar Enhances flavor
  • ½ teaspoon salt For seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper To taste
Optional Add-ins
  • 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves, chopped Adds freshness
  • extra cloves garlic For a stronger flavor
  • pinch cayenne For heat

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Grate the cucumber using the large holes of a box grater.
  2. Place the grated cucumber in a fine-mesh strainer or clean kitchen towel.
  3. Sprinkle the grated cucumber with ½ teaspoon salt and let it sit for 10 minutes.
  4. After 10 minutes, squeeze the cucumber hard to remove excess moisture.
  5. Add the Greek yogurt to a medium mixing bowl.
  6. Mix in the thoroughly squeezed cucumber.
  7. Stir in the minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and white wine vinegar until evenly distributed.
Seasoning
  1. Add chopped dill, salt, and black pepper, and adjust to taste.
Chilling
  1. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Overnight chilling is recommended for best flavor development.

Notes

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To prevent separate liquid, stir before serving. Avoid freezing.