Easy Homemade Tzatziki Sauce From Scratch

Tzatziki Sauce is a Greek and Mediterranean Yogurt based sauce with fresh herbs, citrus, and cucumber. Easy Homemade Tzatziki Sauce is healthy, pairs well with meats, bread, and veggies, and it leaves you feeling refreshed. Find out how we make our tzatziki from scratch.

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What is the History of Tzatziki?

The primary ingredient of tzatziki sauce, yogurt, played a pivotal role in the sauce’s history. Yogurt was already a cherished food in ancient Mesopotamia and Persia, dating back thousands of years. The process of fermenting milk to produce yogurt allowed for its preservation, making it a valuable and widely consumed dairy product in many ancient cultures.

Modern tzatziki sauce comes from Greece, where dairy farming has had a long tradition. Coupled with the abundance of fresh cucumbers, garlic, and herbs such as dill or mint, the combination of these ingredients makes for a refreshing condiment to many meals

What is Tzatziki made of?

The ingredients for Easy Homemade Tzatziki Sauce from Scratch are relatively consistent with classic recipes. Yogurt, Cucumber, Lemon Juice, Garlic, Olive Oil, Dill, Mint, salt and pepper. Whenever possible, use FRESH ingredients for the best result.

Why use Greek Yogurt when Making Tzatziki?

Greek yogurt is best for several reasons. Nutritionally it’s going to have the most protein. Texturally Greek yogurt also wins for its thick and creamy consistency. Tzatziki is a tangy sauce, be sure to buy plain Greek yogurt. Anything with added flavor or sweetener will not work when making tzatziki. Full-fat Greek yogurt is the best choice for texture, flavor, and In my opinion nutritional profile. I buy Fage 5%, though 2% can work just fine too.

The Best Way to Prepare Cucumber for Tzatziki

I’m not picky about the cucumber variety here, but the key with cucumber in tzatziki is in the technique. Grate it with a box grater with the skin on and remove as much of the liquid as possible. This will give you an end result that is thick, creamy, and rich, not watered down or runny. I like 2 different methods for draining my shredded cucumber. The first method is a wire strainer over the sink, and press the cucumber against the mesh to squish out the liquid. I prefer method two, put the grated cucumber in a dish towel and wring it over the sink.

Other Ingredients to Make Tzatziki

Lemon Juice: Fresh squeezed is essential here.

Garlic: Fresh garlic that you finely dice is pretty important. The finer the dice, the more garlic flavor you will have permeating the sauce.

Olive Oil: Extra Virgin Olive Oil is best but Avocado Oil will also work.

Herbs: Dill and Mint are the classic herbs. Fresh mint is essential, dry or fresh dill will work. I rarely have fresh dill on hand, but I always have dry dill.

Salt and Pepper: Add these to tune your sauce to your taste. A little salt goes a long way especially if you are serving this with meat which will also be salted. The recipe calls for 1/2 tsp, I find this is plenty for a balanced sauce.

What do you eat with Tzatziki?

This Easy Homemade Tzatziki Sauce From Scratch is an incredibly versatile and delicious sauce that pairs well with Meats, Veggies, and Breads. Its cool and refreshing taste makes it a popular accompaniment to numerous Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes, but it also works on a burger and fries.

Tzatziki with Grilled Meats

Tzatziki complements various grilled meats, such as our Easy Greek Chicken, steak, or lamb chops. Grill your meat as a steak or cut it up and grill it as a skewer like Kebabs or Souvlaki. Simply spoon some sauce over your grilled meat for an instant boost of flavor and freshness.

Tzatziki with Vegetables

Tzatziki makes for a fantastic dip for fresh vegetables like cucumber, carrot sticks, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes. You can also use it as a dip for cooked veggies. Honorable mention in the veggie category goes to Falafel. I enjoy Tzatziki with my baked falafel recipe. If you are feeling crazy, use Tzatziki as a salad dressing replacement.

Tzatziki with Pita Bread

My favorite use for Tzatziki is dipping fresh baked Pita bread in it. Another fun way is opening up your pita bread and stuffing it with classic Greek Gyro fixings including a dollop of Tzatziki for some Greek on the go.

How do you make Easy Homemade Tzatziki Sauce From Scratch?

Making Tzatziki sauce is really simple, takes very little time, and elevates your meal in a big way. Simply combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. This recipe is good to serve immediately, but it’s better after a day in the fridge when all of the herbs and garlic flavors have had enough time to permeate.

Grate Cucumber: With a box grater, grate one whole cucumber with the skin on. Remove the liquid by straining or place your grated cucumber in a dish towel and squeeze over the sink.

Add Yogurt: In a large bowl, add 2 cups of Greek yogurt to your ground cucumber.

Add Lemon Juice and Olive Oil: juice 1 lemon and add it with the olive oil to your bowl.

Add Garlic and Herbs: Finely dice 2 garlic cloves and fresh mint leaves. Add garlic, mint, and dill to the bowl.

Mix well: Thoroughly mix all ingredients in a bowl until well combined.

Salt to Taste: Start with 1/2 tsp of salt, taste, and adjust as needed.

Easy Homemade Tzatziki Sauce From Scratch is simple, healthy, convenient, and delicious. Once you try it, you won’t be able to do Greek night again without it.