Creamy Tzatziki Sauce
This tzatziki recipe is a creamy, garlicky, and incredibly refreshing Greek sauce that goes with everything! It's easier than you think to master this classic in your own kitchen.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Total Time15 minutes mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Greek
Keyword: Greek tzatziki sauce, how to make tzatziki, tzatziki recipe
Servings: 6
- 2 cups plain Greek yogurt see note
- 1/2 English cucumber grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced (or more to taste)
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional add-ins: fresh chopped dill and/or mint (up to 1 tablespoon each), and/or a pinch of dried oregano to taste
- Olive oil optional, for drizzling on top
Grate the cucumber using the large holes in a box grater. You can either grate it into a sheet of paper towel and then wring it out to remove the excess liquid, or simply grate it into a bowl and then squeeze out the excess liquid with your hands.
Add the Greek yogurt to a bowl and stir in the cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and the optional add-ins if using. I am quite generous with the salt. Be sure to taste & adjust ingredients to your liking (I've included a bunch of tips/suggestions in the recipe notes).
Let it sit for at least 10 minutes, up to a few hours so the flavors mix and intensify. Serve with olive oil drizzled over top.
- 2 cups Greek yogurt = 16 ounces (this is half of a 32 oz. container). Here in Canada, I just buy the 500g containers and use the whole thing.
- You can use full-fat Greek yogurt to make this tzatziki extra rich and delicious (I highly recommend it). I often make this with 2% Greek yogurt, but I've also made this with plain yogurt instead of Greek yogurt. It's not as thick a consistency but it still tastes great.
- This will keep in the fridge for a few days.
- Customization tips:
- Fresh mint and dill add some amazing flavor if you get get some. If using dried dill, use 1 teaspoon.
- Dried oregano adds another layer of flavor if you want to try something a little different (start with adding 1/4 teaspoon or so).
- If you prefer a less tangy tzatziki, skip the lemon juice.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Calories: 45kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 136mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 29IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 1mg