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    Home » Recipes » Sauce Recipes

    Easy Greek Tzatziki Sauce

    Published: Jul 5, 2023 · Modified: Jul 22, 2023 by Chef Dennis Littley

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    5 from 28 votes
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    Pinterest image for tzatziki sauce.

    My homemade Tzatziki Sauce recipe is a delicious accompaniment to anything your planning on cooking up this summer! Tangy, rich, and creamy with a hint of mint, this yogurt cucumber sauce is perfect for dipping and as a sauce for grilled meats and pita bread.

    tzatziki sauce in a white bowl with a sprig of mint and carrots, and celery on a white plate.

    This authentic tzatziki sauce recipe was shared with me at at little restaurant in Nafplio where I was fortunate enough to dine with friends from the area. This creamy sauce made with thick Greek yogurt was served along side of all the delicious Greek food we enjoyed that evening.

    Kafta Kababs  with a bowl of tzatziki sauce on a white plate.

    This Greek Tzatziki sauce recipe also goes perfectly with beef, chicken or lamb gyros but is equally delicious with your favorite Middle East or Mediterranean recipes like my Beef Kofta Kabobs.

    Table of Contents:

    • Ingredients to make Tzatziki Sauce
      • Made with simple ingredients
    • How to make Tzatziki Sauce
    • Recipe Faq’s
    • More Recipes You’ll Love!
    • Easy Greek Tzatziki Sauce
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Notes
      • Nutrition

    Ingredients to make Tzatziki Sauce

    ingredients to make recipe.

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Tzatziki Sauce. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”

    Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    Made with simple ingredients

    • Plain Greek Yogurt
    • grated cucumber
    • fresh lemon juice
    • fresh mint
    • garlic
    • salt

    For the best flavor, I suggest using full-fat Greek yogurt. You can use low-fat Greek yogurt, but the Tzatziki sauce just won’t be as thick and creamy. If your grocery store doesn’t stock Greek yogurt, you can use regular plain yogurt, just make sure to strain the regular yogurt to remove the excess water. I don’t advise using sour cream, but it can be used if you’d rather not use yogurt to make the cucumber sauce.

    I used regular cucumbers to make my tzatziki dip, but you can use English cucumbers if you prefer. Use a box grater to shred the cucumbers and squeeze out as much moisture as possible, using paper towels to dry out the cucumber.

    How to make Tzatziki Sauce

    ingredients to make recipe in a bowl.

    Add the plain Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, fresh minced garlic, lemon juice, and fresh mint to a medium bowl.

    finished recipe in a glass bowl.

    Whisk the ingredients to fully combine and season with salt to taste. Let the Tzatziki sauce chill for 2 – 4 hours before serving. The flavors will build as it sits.

    tzatziki sauce in a white bowl with a sprig of mint and carrots, cucumbers and celery on a white plate.

    My classic Greek tzatziki sauce makes a great dip for fresh veggies and pita chips. You can even thin it out a little with milk, buttermilk .

    Your whole family is going to love my Tzatziki Sauce and I Know that after tasting it, you’ll agree that it’s the best tzatziki recipe you’ve ever made!

    Recipe Faq’s

    What ingredients are used for traditional tzatziki sauce?

    Tzatziki is made from simple ingredients, including Greek yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, lemon juice, mint, and salt. Originally it was made from strained sheep or goat’s milk yogurt, but these days it’s almost always made with full-fat Greek yogurt.

    What can Tzatziki sauce be used for?

    Tzatziki sauce is commonly used as a dip for pita bread or vegetables, as a sauce for gyro sandwiches, or as a condiment for grilled meats and vegetables. It’s a versatile sauce and can be used in a variety of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes. The cool yogurt sauce is a compliment to spicy dishes.

    What does Tzatziki sauce taste like?

    Tzatziki sauce has a tangy, fresh, and slightly garlicky flavor. The cucumber adds a light and refreshing taste, the yogurt provides creaminess and tang, and the mint adds a punch of fresh flavor.

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    tzatziki sauce in a white bowl with a sprig of mint and carrots, cucumbers and celery on a white plate.
    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    5 from 28 votes

    Easy Greek Tzatziki Sauce

    Tangy, rich, and creamy with a hint of mint, Tzatziki sauce is a perfect sauce for roasted and grilled meats and as a dipping sauce for vegetables and pita bread.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time0 minutes mins
    Total Time10 minutes mins
    Course: condiment, Sauce
    Cuisine: Greek
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 34kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Greek yogurt full-fat or low-fat
    • ½ cup grated peeled cucumber squeezed dry
    • 1 teaspoon garlic finely minced
    • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon fresh mint finely chopped
    • ¼ teaspoon salt to taste
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    Instructions

    • Finely mince the garlic.
    • Use a box grater to shred the peeled cucumber. Squeeze out the excess water and use paper towels to finish drying the shredded cucumber.
    • Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and whisk together to combine.
    • Refrigerate the sauce until ready to serve. Keep any unused sauce in an airtight container, refrigerated for up to a week.

    Notes

    For the best flavor, I suggest using full-fat Greek yogurt. You can use low-fat Greek yogurt, but the Tzatziki sauce just won’t be as thick and creamy. If your grocery store doesn’t stock Greek yogurt, you can use regular plain yogurt, just make sure to strain the regular yogurt to remove the excess water. I don’t advise using sour cream, but it can be used if you’d rather not use yogurt to make the cucumber sauce.
    I used regular cucumbers to make my tzatziki dip, but you can use English cucumbers if you prefer. Use a box grater to shred the cucumbers and squeeze out as much moisture as possible, using paper towels to dry out the cucumber.
    Only use fresh lemon juice to make this sauce.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 34kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 164mg | Potassium: 98mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    My name is Dennis Littley or “Chef Dennis” as I’m known both at work and across the blogosphere. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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