TZATZIKI
Tzatziki is a classical Greek cucumber and yogurt dip or sauce. It is easy to make, refreshing, flavourful and healthy too.
Ingredients
FOR THE TZATZIKI
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small cucumber about 1/2 cup when grated
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tbsp fresh dill finely chopped
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper powder
SOME IDEAS FOR SERVING
- carrot sticks
- cucumber sticks
- celery sticks
- pita bread or any flat bread
- pita chips or any other chips
- baby tomatoes
- olives
- bell pepper strips
- falafel
Instructions
- Peel the cucumber if the skin is thick. Also scoop out the seeds.
- Grate the cucumber.
- Sprinkle a generous pinch of salt and leave it for 10-15 minutes.
- Squeeze out the water from the cucumber.
- Add cucumber, oil, garlic, dill, salt, pepper, lemon juice to the thick yogurt. Mix well and the sauce or dip is ready.
Notes
- If you are using normal plain yogurt you may need about 1½ cups of it. Take a thin cotton cloth (I find using a man's hankerchief the best). Place the cloth over a strainer or sieve. Place the strainer over a bowl to catch the water. Pour the yogurt into the cloth. Cover it up with the cloth. Put some weight like a mortar and pestle or a small brick. This helps to remove the water from the yogurt faster.
- Peel the cucumber if the skin is thick. Scoop out the seeds.
- Be careful with how garlic you use. You want a subtle and not an overpowering taste of the garlic.