Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
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This Homemade Tzatziki Sauce is so easy to put together! Made with thick greek yogurt, bright lemon, refreshing cucumber and herbaceous dill. Perfect for dipping, on gyros or as an easy snack!
The first time I had Tzatziki was years and years ago and I’ve never looked back. I simply love it, it’s so refreshing and easy to make! Say goodbye to overpriced store bought versions and hello to your new favorite recipe!
Easy Tzatziki
- Incredibly Easy To Make
- Simple Ingredient List
- Versatile & Delicious
- Healthier Than Most Dips/Sauces
Tzatziki is creamy, flavorful and very simple to make. It’s one of the only sauces I know of that uses cucumbers, which is what makes it really refreshing. Loaded with fresh herbs, garlic, bright lemon, and simple spices, you’re going to want to put this tzatziki on EVERYTHING!
Ingredient Notes
- Cucumber – I used an English cucumber, peeled and grated. An English cucumber is a cucumber that is generally sweeter than regular cucumber and it’s longer and sometimes thinner. Feel free to chop or blend your cucumber for different textures. I prefer grating because I find it creates the perfect consistency.
- Greek Yogurt – You can use regular plain yogurt, but I recommend using Greek yogurt, since it’s a bit thicker and I find that it tastes a lot better too!
- Spices – Cayenne pepper (optional), sea salt, & pepper.
- Garlic – Fresh is best! I usually use 2 small cloves for this recipe, but if you don’t like a strong garlic flavor, use less.
- Lemon Juice – I always prefer freshly squeezed, use what you have on hand.
- Dill – Fresh, chopped. Some people prefer to use mint, but I am dill’s #1 fan!
How To Make Tzatziki Sauce
- Prepare the cucumber: Use a grater to grate the cucumber in a small bowl. Add 1/4 tsp of salt to it and mix, then let it sit for about 10 to 15 minutes. This will help draw out the water from the cucumber, so that we don’t end up with a watery tzatziki sauce. I usually place it in a bowl over paper towels or cheese cloth, then squeeze the liquid out of it, this way you don’t end up with a watery tzatziki.
- Mix everything together: In a medium size bowl, combine the yogurt with the cayenne pepper, minced garlic, lemon juice, dill, salt, pepper and cucumber. Stir everything well and adjust with salt and pepper as necessary.
- Chill then serve: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
FAQs & Expert Tips
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Tzatziki?
Tzatziki is a Greek sauce made from yogurt, garlic and cucumbers. Other ingredients such as lemon juice, mint, dill or parsley are sometimes added. I also love it because it really is healthier than most other dips and sauces and that’s because it’s made with Greek yogurt.
How To Serve
Tzatziki works as a dip, a snack, but my favorite is with gyros or falafel! You can truly put this super sauce on anything! It’s that good.
Can I Make Tzatziki In Advance?
Yes! If you want to prepare this the night before, you can just cover it tightly or transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge overnight!
Tips
- You can use regular plain yogurt, but I recommend using Greek yogurt, since it’s a bit thicker and I find that it tastes a lot better too!
- A lot of people will tell you that they prefer mint over dill, and although I love mint, I really prefer dill in this sauce. Of course, if you want you can use mint instead, or why not use both!
- I also threw in a bit of cayenne pepper just so the sauce has a bit of kick but feel free to skip that.
- I like the thicker texture, and to be able to taste the cucumber! That’s why I choose to grate mine. If you want more of a smooth, less chunky, blended sauce – you can toss all of your ingredients into the food processor.
Storing Leftovers
Tzatziki sauce is best served when it’s prepared. However if you have some leftover sauce, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate it. It will last in the fridge about 2 days.
More Great Recipes To Try
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Homemade Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 English cucumber (peeled and grated)
- 2 cups Greek yogurt
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 2 tablespoon dill (fresh, chopped)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Prepare the cucumber: Use a grater to grate the cucumber in a small bowl. Add 1/4 tsp of salt to it and mix, then let it sit for about 10 to 15 minutes. This will help draw out the water from the cucumber, so that we don't end up with a watery tzatziki sauce. I usually place it in a bowl over paper towels or cheese cloth, then squeeze the liquid out of it, this way you don't end up with a watery tzatziki.
- Mix everything together: In a medium size bowl, combine the yogurt with the cayenne pepper, minced garlic, lemon juice, dill, salt, pepper and cucumber. Stir everything well and adjust with salt and pepper as necessary.
- Chill then serve: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
Video
Notes
- Recipe yields about 3 cups of Tzatziki sauce.
- An English cucumber is a cucumber that is generally sweeter than regular cucumber and it’s longer and sometimes thinner.
- You can use regular plain yogurt, but I recommend using Greek yogurt, since it’s a bit thicker and I find that it tastes a lot better too!
- A lot of people will tell you that they prefer mint over dill, and although I love mint, I really prefer dill in this sauce. Of course, if you want you can use mint instead, or why not use both!
- I also threw in a bit of cayenne pepper just so the sauce has a bit of kick but feel free to skip that.
- I like the thicker texture, and to be able to taste the cucumber! That’s why I choose to grate mine. If you want more of a smooth, less chunky, blended sauce – you can toss all of your ingredients into the food processor.
- Nutrition: Nutritional information is for about 1/3 cup of tzatziki sauce. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
Ive used a chopped up dill pickle if no dill on hand, works , still good. also good dip for potato wedges and fries.
Great recipe. I would hold off on the cayenne until I tasted the garlic if I
were using more than directed. My garlic cloves were large and quite hot.
Maybe as it mellows a little longer it will be fine and I think it might not be so pronounced if mint is used instead of dill which is my preference too.
This recipe was fantastic! I paired it with your recipe for chicken souvlaki and served it on Naan bread with a side of roasted asparagus. Instant hit in our house!
We love everything about that! So happy it was a big hit!
How long is the refrigeration life of the tzatiki sauce once made
It will last about 2 days in the fridge.
what ever the date that is printed on the yogurt container you use is how long it will last ,
Ummm, homemade Tzatziki sauce won’t last as long as the date on the yogurt container with fresh cucumber in the recipe…😳 Like Jo says, about 2 days in the fridge.
What do you have this served with, looks like home made pita bread?Do you have a recipe?
Yes! It’s my no yeast flatbread!
I’ve been making this exact same recipe for over twenty years, including using long English cucumbers. It only takes about 10 minutes!!
What can i substitute to make this non dairy?
Try to find a non-dairy plain yogurt!
I’ve been jones’ing for something different for a long while and always wanted to make my own Tzatziki sauce for a long long time. Thank you so much!!! Excellent!
Great sauce. Do recommend making. So good on our Gyros!
It was delicious!!!! Easy to make and made my Gyros perfect!
It was delicious!!!! Easy to make and made my Gyros perfect!
OMG!!! This tzatziki sauce is the BEST!! I couldn’t stop eating it.
Im such a huge fan of Jo Cooks
Glad you liked it, Nancy!
Loved it .easy peasy
Just wondering approximately what the shelf life would be
Check the expiry date on your container of yogurt, that’s how long I would keep the tzatziki.
Ummm, homemade Tzatziki sauce won’t last as long as the date on the yogurt container with fresh cucumber in the recipe…😳 Like Jo says, about 2 days in the fridge.
I never comment or review recipes I try but this is Absolutely Delicious! Tastes just like the Tzatziki sauce at the Gyro restaurant my daughter and I visit regularly. Love this easy recipe but more importantly, my family loved it and scarfed it down with our Greek Pitas. The only thing I changed was I used half the lemon juice, just because i don’t like a strong lemon flavor. Also added a little extra garlic.
There can never be too much garlic 🙂
I just made this for a cookout tomorrow! So good!