Secrets of the traditional Greek sauce tzatziki (tzatziki): how to prepare it and what to eat with it

What is tzatziki?

Tzatziki (tzatziki, tzatziki, tzatziki) is a refreshing, chilled sauce made from Greek yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, fresh herbs (usually mint or dill), garlic, lemon juice and salt. It is universal and goes well with many dishes: vegetables, meat, fish.

The word tzatziki literally means "herb salad with yogurt".

Traditionally in Mediterranean cuisine, tzatziki is served as a sauce for grilled meats and also for dipping pita bread. It can also be used as a salad dressing.

What does tzatziki sauce look like - photo

What do you eat the sauce with?

When looking for an answer to the question of what tzatziki sauce is eaten with, you will come across many options. A cold appetizer will be a great addition to a variety of dishes!

• Baked and fried fish;
• Fried or grilled meat;
• Boiled potatoes;
• Vegetable salads;
• Vegetable stew;
• French fries;
• Chips, crackers and other snacks;
• Baked zucchini and eggplant, tomatoes;
• Cutlets and chops;
• A variety of snacks;
• Dumplings and dumplings;
• Fresh vegetables;
• Slices of bread, flatbread and pita bread;
• Burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches.

Also recommended: Fish sauce

The dressing can be served in two different ways:

• Serve in a separate sauce boat so that each guest can take their own portion;
• Season the dish during cooking.

Let's talk about how to properly prepare the dish yourself?

Compound

A basic tzatziki sauce recipe includes:

• Plain Greek yogurt is creamier and thicker than regular yogurt because all of the liquid whey has been removed. It is high in protein and low in sugar, making it an ideal dietary option.
• Cucumber – high in fiber, healthy carbohydrates, helps maintain energy throughout the day.
• Dill – useful for digestion, depression and menstrual pain.
• Mint – increases the secretion of bile and stimulates its outflow, which helps speed up and facilitate digestion.
• Garlic – strengthens the immune system and also protects against common brain diseases.
• Lemon juice is rich in vitamin C, good for digestion and for weight loss.
• Salt – contains essential minerals for our body, including potassium, iron, zinc and calcium, which help maintain fluid balance and muscle function.
• Pepper – stimulates the production of gastric juice and helps with protein digestion.
• Olive oil – contains antioxidants that support energy and performance.

General principles of cooking

Tzatziki is added to fillings or sprinkled on many dishes. In addition, it is often served for dipping of various snacks and products. Tzatziki is considered an authentic element of Greek cuisine, but its name comes from the Turkish cacık, which means “mixture of herbs.”

Tzatziki sauce, prepared according to an authentic recipe, has a mildly sour, salty and refreshing taste.

To many, it resembles Indian Raita, but differs in that it contains only cucumber as a vegetable. In addition, it is flavored with unrefined olive oil, which gives it a special flavor. Since Tzatziki is so popular, it is produced industrially. The sauce is available commercially in canned form in small wide-mouth plastic bottles.

This product has a pleasant taste and is in demand, but in terms of its characteristics it is much inferior to freshly prepared versions (both in catering establishments and at home).

Making Tzatziki at home ensures that the sauce is made from fresh ingredients and free of synthetic industrial preservatives. In addition, this will help you save money, since all components are available everywhere at low prices. Properly prepared sauce has a creamy consistency and a mild taste with light sourness and refreshing notes.

The main composition must include the following ingredients:

• fresh cucumber, finely chopped;
• Greek or regular strained yogurt;
• chopped or granulated garlic;
• fresh chopped or dried dill;
• olive oil;
• table salt and seasonings;

• lemon juice or wine vinegar, or a mixture of both (optional).

cucumbers

For the base of Tzatziki, you can use any variety of fresh cucumbers - short, medium and long, smooth and pimply. However, the most recommended are the greenhouse fruits (also called English), as they have no seeds and their flesh is never bitter.

Before chopping, it is advisable to peel the cucumbers, as this will allow you to obtain a more delicate consistency of the sauce. If there is a large seed part inside the vegetable, it is recommended to remove it - this will avoid getting too liquid Tzatziki. To do this, you will need to cut the cucumber into 2 halves lengthwise and scoop out the middle soft part with a teaspoon. Then you will need to chop the prepared fruits.

This can be done in one of the following ways:

• Grate on a grater with small holes. This method is recommended in most recipes. However, some varieties of kitchen graters create an unpleasant texture that can be felt in the sauce. In addition, the process of grating vegetables takes a long time and can sometimes be traumatic. To make grating easier, it is recommended to first cut the cucumbers into several parts.
• Cut into very small cubes with a sharp knife. This gives a good consistency, but it will take quite a bit of time to cut really finely. In addition, cucumbers chopped with a knife remain crunchy in the sauce, which not everyone likes.
• Grind in a food processor. You just need to put the vegetables in the bowl of the electric appliance and start the beating process 2-3 times. This takes just a few seconds and produces smaller particles than hand chopping or grating, without a crunchy or chewy texture. Therefore, this method is the most recommended.

Regardless of the chosen grinding method, you will next need to remove excess moisture from them.

This can be done in different ways:

• Gradually scoop up all the chopped cucumbers with your hands and squeeze them over the sink between your palms. Then each handful will need to be placed on paper napkins until ready to use.
• Transfer the cucumber mixture to a small mesh sieve and press down with paper towels to squeeze out most of the liquid.
• Place the chopped cucumber pieces in a fine-mesh sieve set over a deep container, stir with salt and set aside for 15 minutes until all the liquid is released and flows out.

Yogurt

Traditionally, goat or sheep yogurt was used for Tzatziki, but the modern classic recipe recommends using plain Greek. Compared to regular yoghurt, it is thicker and richer in protein because the whey is filtered out during the preparation process. Its fat content does not matter and does not affect the taste and texture of the finished sauce. Therefore, you can take both whole milk and low-fat products.

If you replace the Greek dairy product with regular yogurt, Tzatziki will turn out runny. To avoid this, you need to first strain the fermented milk product - place it on a muslin cloth stretched over a bowl and leave for about 1 hour. During this time, all excess liquid will drain out and the yogurt will reach the desired thickness.

Another possible option for replacing a Greek fermented milk product is a mixture of plain yogurt or curdled milk with sour cream in a 1:1 consistency. This will result in a thick sauce, but the flavor will be slightly different.

Vegans can use cashew, coconut or soy yogurt. These products have a fairly thick consistency, suitable for preparing Tzatziki.

Garlic

Garlic is the main ingredient in this sauce. It is necessary to grind it immediately before use to get the best results. After mixing with yogurt, its taste will begin to improve over time, and its pungency and pungency will gradually decrease. Most recipes recommend adding 2-3 heavily minced garlic cloves to get 1.5-2 tbsp. sauce, but you can always add more or reduce the amount to taste.

It is advisable to always start with a smaller portion and gradually increase it. Fresh garlic is one of the main and essential components of Tzatziki. As a last resort, you can put garlic powder instead (0.25 tsp instead of each fresh clove).

Dill

Dill provides Tzatziki sauce with its characteristic flavor, so it should not be omitted from the recipe or replaced with anything. For best results, use fresh herbs. It is recommended to add chopped leaves to the sauce, starting with 1 tbsp. l., and then, if desired, increase their quantity to taste. It is important that fresh dill is added to Tzatziki right before serving, otherwise its pungent smell will overwhelm the flavors of the other ingredients.

If necessary, you can take dried dill, reducing its amount by about 1/3 of what is required in the list of ingredients. This is due to the fact that the aroma of dried herbs is more concentrated and pungent.

Olive oil and salt

Unrefined, extra virgin olive oil improves the creamy consistency of Tzatziki and adds a wonderful aroma, as well as making its taste richer. If desired, you can omit it, especially if you want to reduce the calorie content of the sauce. Salt is a necessary component not only to regulate taste, but also to separate excess liquid from grated or otherwise chopped cucumber.

Lemon juice and wine vinegar

Lemon juice and wine vinegar are often added both together and separately. They add a pleasant sourness and subtle aroma. It is recommended to use white or red wine vinegar or champagne. It is advisable to take freshly squeezed lemon juice - it has a brighter aroma and rich taste.

If desired, you can take bottled one instead, adjusting the quantity yourself. In any case, you should start by adding 1 tbsp. l. lemon juice and then add a little more to achieve a more sour taste.

How to choose and where to buy

Buying tzatziki in supermarkets and grocery stores is no longer a problem, but finding a natural composition is not easy. When purchasing, carefully read the label. Most tzatziki sauces will have mayonnaise instead of yogurt.

It also contains many additional ingredients that are not found in this recipe: vegetable oils, gum, starch, flavor enhancers and preservatives.

Most often, store-bought sauce is more similar to lemon mayonnaise than tzatziki.

Pickled cucumber product

Traditionally, tzatziki sauce is prepared with the pulp of fresh cucumbers. However, there is an alternative recipe that uses pickles. This sauce contains:

• Pickled cucumbers – 100 grams;
• Thick yogurt or natural unsweetened sour cream – 300 grams;
• Dill or parsley – 1 bunch;
• Salt and ground black pepper – 1 pinch;
• Garlic – 2 cloves (can be replaced with asafoetida – half a teaspoon).

Preparation of tzatziki is carried out in a few simple steps:

1. Place sour cream in a deep plate.
2. Grate the cucumbers on a coarse grater and squeeze out the juice. If desired, you can simply cut the vegetables into small pieces.
3. Chop the greens.
4. Pass the garlic through a press and add to the existing mass.
5. Add salt and pepper. Select the amount of ingredients based on your preferences.
6. Mix all the products thoroughly and place the finished mixture in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Tzatziki sauce is ready to serve.

Classic tzatziki sauce recipe

This yogurt and cucumber blend is fresh, zesty and easy to make.

• Cooking time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 1 cup

Ingredients:

• ½ medium size cucumber;
• 0.5 cups of thick yogurt without additives;
• 1 tablespoon olive oil;
• 2 teaspoons fresh mint and dill;
• 1.5 teaspoons lemon juice;
• 1 medium clove of garlic, minced;
• ¼ tsp. fine sea salt.

How to cook:

1. Peel the cucumber, cut in half and remove the seeds with a spoon, then grate on a fine grater.
2. Place the grated mixture in a sieve suspended over a bowl, sprinkle with ½ tsp. salt and stir. Place a saucer on top and drain the liquid from the cucumber.
3. Transfer the squeezed cucumber to a bowl.
4. Add yogurt, olive oil, herbs, lemon juice, garlic and salt and stir to combine.
5. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving and sprinkle with dill or garnish with a sprig of mint.

How to make a classic sauce?

The traditional dish of Greece is prepared according to a classic recipe, but has several secrets that are known only to local chefs. Luckily, they shared their experience and gave us the opportunity to make our own sauce.

To make the dish successful, you need to add salt and garlic to the cucumber puree, and not to the entire dish. When it cools down a little, you need to mix it with yogurt until it has a smooth, creamy consistency.

Many people think that preparing it is quite simple, but as practice shows, this is not at all the case. To make your own dish, you will need high-quality ingredients and a little time.

You can get real Tzatziki only from expensive, natural products that have high taste.

Even a beginner can cook this Greek dish, but to do this you need to get used to it and become more familiar with the classic recipe. As practice has shown, anyone can handle it, because the sauce recipe is very simple and the products are affordable. Therefore, you can safely go to the supermarket to purchase the necessary ingredients and after some time you will feel this pleasant aroma and unsurpassed taste.

Ingredients

In order to prepare the classic Greek sauce Tzatziki, or as it is also called, Tzatziki, we need only 4 ingredients:

• one cucumber;
• Greek yogurt (400-500 g);

• olive oil (60-100 ml);
• 3-4 cloves of garlic.

The important point of this recipe is to use high-quality yogurt. The best option would be to find a real one, consisting of sheep and goat milk. It is significantly different from other products that can be purchased in the store, as it is denser. It was also prepared according to a special recipe, thanks to which the product is of high quality and will bring more benefits.

But if you couldn’t find similar yogurt, don’t despair. You can use regular natural yogurt without additives, the same Activia. Yes, you won’t be able to get the original taste “like in Greece,” but it will still be very, very tasty. I guarantee you this.

The good thing about this recipe is that you can change it however you want. That is, if you don’t have any good fresh cucumbers, you can notice them for salted ones. Experienced chefs love to add herbs to the finished sauce; they not only serve as an interesting decoration, but also add flavor to the dish. And if you are confused by garlic or don’t like to eat it, feel free to experiment by replacing it with parsley, basil or mint.

Cooking steps

We know more about this sauce, now we just have to find out how to prepare it, right?

1. Wash the cucumber, wipe with a towel and finely grate using a grater. Place the mixture in a deep plate and leave for 10 minutes. Then squeeze it out of the juice, because excess liquid can make the sauce too liquid, and we don’t need that. Add Greek yogurt to the chopped cucumber and mix thoroughly.
2. Squeeze the peeled garlic into the mass using a press, do not overdo it with garlic, try the mixture as you add it, so as not to be disappointed later because the sauce turned out to be too spicy for you.
3. Pour olive oil over the resulting mixture, add salt, and mix everything again.

This sauce is often used for dipping meat, vegetables and fish. In Greece, they like to use Tzatziki sauce with bread and any savory pastries. In Russia, they can easily replace the long-loved mayonnaise. As mentioned earlier, the good thing about the recipe is that it can be modified and supplemented with other products. Let's look at a few options.

Cooking tips

• If you don't have Greek yogurt, buy some plain yogurt and strain it overnight through a couple of layers of cheesecloth.
• You can take regular yogurt and mix it with 20% sour cream in a 1:1 ratio.
• Use cucumbers without seeds and peel them before chopping.
• It is very important to squeeze the moisture out of the grated cucumber well so that excess liquid does not affect the taste and texture.
• It is better to take fresh dill and mint rather than dried.
• To spice up the tzatziki flavor, add paprika or sumac to the sauce.
• The garlic should be very finely chopped.
• The flavors will blend better if the finished sauce is left in a covered container in the refrigerator overnight.

Nuances of preparation

Like any dish, tzatziki has its own subtleties of preparation. Experienced chefs advise:

1. Add the amount of herbs and seasonings to taste.
2. It is recommended to use fresh young cucumber for the sauce, but if the vegetable already has rough or limp skin, it must be peeled.
3. You can use different greens - dill, parsley, mint and other options to taste.
4. If you can't find Greek yogurt, use a regular natural fermented milk drink without dyes or additives.

An excellent alternative to Greek yogurt would be Armenian matsoni, kefir, ayran, yogurt, homemade thick sour cream.

What do you eat with and what do you serve with tzatziki?

• Tzatziki sauce goes well with all types of meat - chicken, beef, pork and lamb. Especially good with fried meat!
• It is also very tasty with fish.
• Tzatziki sauce goes well with baked potatoes instead of sour cream.
• Falafel (deep-fried chickpea balls) and tzatziki taste like they were made for each other.
• The sauce will replace mayonnaise in sandwiches and hamburgers.
• An unusual use for tzatziki: add it to mashed potatoes and the mashed potatoes will acquire a unique taste and aroma.
• The sauce can be used as a delicious salad dressing.
• It is often served with vegetables - carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower and cucumbers.
• The traditional way to consume tzatziki sauce is to dip pita bread into it.
• It is often served with chips, just like salsa.

Sauce with lemon juice and herbs

To make tzatziki sauce for this recipe you will need:

• lemon juice - 1 tbsp;
• chilled fat sour cream - 2 tbsp;
• dried dill and parsley - 1 tbsp each;
• sea ​​salt - a pinch;
• cucumber - 150 grams;
• garlic - 2-3 cloves;
• natural yogurt - 500 ml.

The step-by-step recipe for making this sauce looks like this:

1. Boil the sieve over a pan of hot water, covering it with a napkin or towel.
2. Place the yogurt on a sieve and leave overnight, covered with a cloth or film.
3. Peel the cucumber, remove the seeds and grind the vegetable in a blender or on a grater. Squeeze out the juice.
4. Add the resulting mixture to the yogurt. Pour in lemon juice and add herbs and salt.
5. Peel the garlic, chop it in a way that suits you and add it to the ready-made mixture.
6. Mix all ingredients in a blender or in any way convenient for you.

Cool the tzatziki and serve.