Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Wholesome Yum (2024)

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Wholesome Yum (1)

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Table Of Contents hide

  • How To Make Tzatziki Sauce
  • Easy Tzatziki Sauce Ingredients
  • What Is Tzatziki Sauce?
  • Can You Make Greek Tzatziki Sauce Ahead?
  • How Long Does Homemade Tzatziki Last?
  • What To Serve With Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
  • Tools To Make Easy Tzatziki Sauce
  • Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

You NEED to learn how to make tzatziki sauce. Yes, it’s that important. And good news for you, my Greek tzatziki sauce recipe is beyond easy (just 7 ingredients and 5 minutes!) and can be used in so many different ways. You’ll want to dip, slather, and top just about everything with this easy tzatziki sauce. Seriously, it’s so delicious and so, so versatile.

So, are you in? Are you ready to make your own homemade tzatziki sauce?

YES! I’m so glad you’re still here and ready to make tzatziki sauce yourself. I’ll walk you through all of the steps below.

If you’ve been reading for a long time, you may know that I used to work at a Greek restaurant! It was there that I fell in love with Mediterranean foods and I haven’t looked back. I make tzatziki sauce all the time, I can’t believe I’ve never shared my version here before. But I’m sharing now, and I hope you love it as much as we do!

How To Make Tzatziki Sauce

Thishomemade tzatziki sauce recipe couldn’t be easier. Here’s how to make tzatziki sauce in three easy steps:

  • Whisk together yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, dill, parsley, garlic, and sea salt. But wait, we’re not done quite yet! 😉

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  • Grate the cucumbers. Squeeze the cucumbers in a kitchen dish towel over the sink to remove as much water as you can.

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  • Stir cucumbers into the yogurt sauce. Taste the sauce and add more salt to taste, if necessary.

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Easy Tzatziki Sauce Ingredients

This easy tzatziki sauce requires just 7 ingredients:

  • Full-fat Greek yogurt – Make sure you grab plain yogurt! If you can’t find full-fat, plain Greek yogurt, buy the highest fat content you can find. Using the full-fat gives the dip more flavor and gives it an even creamier taste.
  • Extra virgin olive oil – We’re using extra virgin here so that the olive oil doesn’t overpower the bright flavors of the easy tzatziki sauce.
  • Lemon juice – Tzatziki dip shines with a hit of acid and that’s just what the lemon does here.
  • Fresh dill – The classic Greek tzatziki sauce flavors. Don’t skip it!
  • Fresh parsley – The addition of parsley helps to add a bright, herby flavor.
  • Garlic – Not that we need a reason to add garlic to anything, but here it adds a pungent, savory flavor.
  • Sea Salt – Add sea salt to taste until the homemade tzatziki sauce is just right.
  • Cucumber – Adds vegetables, and cool, green cucumber flavor.

What Is Tzatziki Sauce?

Tzatziki sauce is a yogurt and cucumber sauce, which is typically found in Southeast Europe and the Middle East. Most versions include strained yogurt (aka Greek yogurt!), cucumbers, garlic, salt, and some versions include fresh herbs and a bit of acid like lemon juice or vinegar.

It’s creamy and cool and goes well with so many dishes! You won’t run out of ways to eat this.

Can You MakeGreek Tzatziki Sauce Ahead?

Yes, you can definitely make Greek tzatziki sauce recipe ahead of time. In fact, I like to make mine ahead of time so that the flavors have time to meld together.

Ideally, make it at least 30 minutes before you want to serve it, though you can certainly serve it immediately if need be.

TIP: If your tzatziki sauce is watery after being in the fridge for a while, simply drain off any extra liquid.

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Wholesome Yum (5)

How Long Does Homemade Tzatziki Last?

Homemade tzatziki sauce will last 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Because it includes fresh vegetables (cucumbers!), they begin to lose a lot of moisture and make the Greek tzatziki sauce runny.

This easy tzatziki sauce recipe makes 1 1/2 cups, so you can always cut it in half if you won’t eat it within a few days…but I don’t think that will be a problem!

What To Serve With Homemade Tzatziki Sauce

Anauthentic tzatziki sauce recipe can be used in so many different ways. Of course,tzatziki dip can be eaten as a dip, a spread, or a topping for sandwiches and/or salads.

Here are some low carb recipes to pair with easy tzatziki sauce:

  • Lamb Kofta Kebab– Serve as a dipping sauce for the kebabs or Greek souvlaki.
  • Roasted Cauliflower Hummus – Serve the hummus,tzatziki recipe, and kalamata olives as a Mediterranean platter
  • Chopped Mediterranean Salad– Add a dollop of protein-richeasy tzatziki sauce
  • Baked Lamb Chops – For a fancier Greek meal.
  • Peri Peri Chicken – Cool down the spices in this chicken recipe with slather of tzatziki sauce.

Tools To Make Easy Tzatziki Sauce

Tap the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.

  • Box Grater – I prefer to make Greek gyro sauce with grated cucumbers (though minced will work). Just use a good old box grater!
  • Glass Mixing Bowl Set – Add yourtzatziki ingredients to the bowl, and mix them up. These glass bowls are perfect for using and storing.
  • Porcelain Dip Platter – Serve up the best tzatziki sauce recipe with a variety of vegetables, olives, and low carb crackers or naan bread.

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Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Wholesome Yum (7)

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Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

Learn how to make tzatziki sauce - it's EASY and versatile! This healthy Greek tzatziki sauce recipe can be made in 5 minutes and is perfect for meats, appetizers, and more.

Prep: 5 minutes

Total: 5 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 12 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them.

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together all ingredients except the cucumber.

  2. Wrap the minced cucumber in a kitchen towel and squeeze over the sink to release as much water as possible.

  3. Stir the cucumber into the bowl.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 2 tbsp. Makes 1.5 cups.

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories29

Fat2g

Protein1.6g

Total Carbs1.3g

Net Carbs1.1g

Fiber0.2g

Sugar1g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course:Condiment

Cuisine:Greek

Keywords:easy tzatziki sauce, Greek tzatziki sauce, homemade tzatziki sauce, how to make tzatziki sauce, tzatziki sauce recipe

Calories: 29 kcal

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We'd LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂

Easy Greek Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

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FAQs

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe - Wholesome Yum? ›

Tzatziki is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs such as dill or mint. Traditionally, it is made from strained sheep or goat's milk yogurt, but a full-fat Greek yogurt works just fine in this dip.

What is tzatziki sauce made of? ›

Tzatziki is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs such as dill or mint. Traditionally, it is made from strained sheep or goat's milk yogurt, but a full-fat Greek yogurt works just fine in this dip.

What are 5 dishes that you could put tzatziki on? ›

Once you've got that covered, check out our favourite ways to use tzatziki, and bring a bit of The Med to your kitchen.
  • Lemon-tzatziki chicken.
  • Gorgeous greek chicken with herby vegetable couscous & tzatziki.
  • Grilled lamb chops with fattoush.
  • Crispy barbecued side of salmon with cucumber yoghurt.
  • Souvlaki (Wicked kebabs)
Sep 8, 2023

How do I thicken my tzatziki sauce? ›

You can thicken it by placing a piece of cheesecloth over the top of a wide mouthed jar and holding it in place with some rubber bands. Fill the cheesecloth with your sauce, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The excess water will drain out and the sauce will be thicker.

What does everyone use tzatziki for I just discovered it's delicious? ›

Ten Favorite Dishes to serve with Tzatziki:
  • Baked Greek Meatballs with Feta.
  • Grilled Middle Eastern Turkey Burgers.
  • Ground Beef Gyro Meatball Lettuce Wraps.
  • Greek Salmon with Tzatziki Sauce.
  • Low-Carb Lamb Shish Kabobs.
  • Chicken Souvlaki.
  • Greek Lamb Souvlaki.
  • Kalyn's Pork Souvlaki Recipe.
Aug 19, 2023

How long does homemade tzatziki last? ›

Tzatziki will last about four days in the fridge before it starts to go bad. While you can freeze it, it will change a bit in regards to texture and consistency when it comes time to thawing it out.

What is a good substitute for tzatziki sauce? ›

Raita is commonly used to tame the fiery heat of Indian food, and Turkish cacik is similar to tzatziki but more herbaceous and sometimes served as a soup.

What meat goes best with tzatziki? ›

Tzatziki makes a very nice condiment for gyros or kebabs. It goes very well with pork or lamb. It's also very nice served as a dip with pita bread triangles.

What do Greeks eat with tzatziki? ›

A platter of salted raw tomatoes and cucumbers becomes an instant salad when topped with tzatziki as a dressing. Bread is smeared with tzatziki and topped with grilled meats or vegetables for a crostini or bruschetta style snack that pairs well with Greek wines, like these Artichoke and Eggplant skewers.

Can you eat tzatziki everyday? ›

Eating tzatziki can help add a variety of healthy nutrients to your daily diet, maintain a robust microbial system, and maintain blood glucose levels. If you suffer from high blood pressure, use tzatziki often as it contains less sodium and carbs than hummus.

Why is my tzatziki watery? ›

Step 3: Drain cucumbers

No matter what method you've chose above, you'll need to drain the cucumbers of excess water so the tzatziki isn't watery. The most effective way to do this is in a fine mesh sieve with a sprinkle of salt and not just squeezing with a paper towel. Add cucumbers to a sieve.

Why does tzatziki get watery? ›

The watery sauce is due to the cucumbers, which hold lots of water. The best way to avoid a watery tzatziki sauce is to get the excess moisture out of the grated cucumber before it's added to the sauce mixture.

Why is my tzatziki so sour? ›

Some Greek yogurt brands are very tangy so you may wish to use less lemon juice. Also, some lemons can be very tart. Start with 1/2 a lemon and add more if needed. If your sauce is too tart, you can fix this by adding a little sweetener.

What country invented tzatziki? ›

More than any other nation in the Ottoman Empire, the Greeks enjoyed this dish immensely. However, they also experimented with this classic cucumber and yogurt dip until its Indian roots were almost invisible. Tzatziki (derived from the Turkish word cacık) was born.

What is baba tzatziki? ›

This Greek dip is made from yogurt, cucumber, dill, lemon juice, garlic, & spices, often served with pita bread as the first course of a meal, with black olives on top. It is one of the standard components of the Turkish kebab or Greek Souvlaki and gyros.

Is tzatziki healthy to eat? ›

Tzatziki is not only a tasty, multi-use sauce, it's also a smart food pick. Its blend of yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, garlic, lemon, and herbs delivers key nutrients, which are proposed to support heart health, gut health, and may even lower diabetes risk.

Is tzatziki healthier than hummus? ›

Yes, tzatziki is considered a healthier dip than hummus and sour cream. It contains several vitamins, a good amount of protein, and fewer carbohydrates and calories. The fat content of tzatziki is low too, which is not the case with other dips.

What does tzatziki sauce taste like? ›

Cucumber Freshness: Tzatziki is typically made with grated or finely chopped cucumber, which adds a refreshing, slightly sweet taste and a subtle, light and crisp texture. Herbaceous: Fresh dill adds the signature vibrant, citrus-like taste, with a slightly grassy undertone.

Do Greeks eat tzatziki by itself? ›

It is served as a cold appetizer (meze), a side dish, and as a sauce for souvlaki and gyros sandwiches and other foods.

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