By SweetnSpicyLiving on August 17, 2019• ( 2 Comments )
A simple fresh dip perfect anytime of the year. This Tzatziki has a nice subtle lemony taste and a thick creamy consistency and a taste of freshness from dill and cucumber.
What is Tzatziki?
Tzatziki is a kind of dip made of strained thick yogurt mixed with shredded cucumber, crushed garlic, lemon juice and herbs such as dill, mint, parsley and thyme.
Do you need to peel cucumber when making tzatziki?
No, you do not have to although it would compromise that taste if you do. I like having the skin on to retain the nutrients in the skin, plus it adds a nice texture and color to the Tzatziki. You can however remove the seeds before grating the cucumber to remove extra moisture. The center of the cucumber which is partly seed have a lot of moisture. Grate the cucumber with a large cheese grater then transfer it in a strainer with cheese cloth and sprinkle some salt on it. The salt helps draw out water from the cucumber.
What yogurt do you use to make tzatziki?
I always use only plain Greek yogurt because when making Tzatziki because it is more concentrated. Greek yogurt is strained three times to remove most of the liquid thus giving it a thicker consistency and stronger flavor compared to regular yogurt. This is the kind on consistency that is best for sauce, dressing and dip. Greek yogurt also have more protein than regular yogurt, so this makes it even more an appealing choice.
What are the ingredients for Tzatziki?
- Cucumber – Depending on the size of the cucumber you are using, you may need more or less what is suggested below in the measurement section.
plain Greek Yogurt – I do not recommend any other type of yogurt but plain Greek yogurt
Salt - Black Pepper
- Dill – Use fresh for better flavor
- Garlic – Use fresh for stronger flavor
- Lemon Juice (or white vinegar) – If you like a strong lemon taste, add also the lemon zest, adding more lemon juice could make the tzatziki watery so the lemon zestis the better option to increase the lemon flavor.
How do you make Tzatziki?
Making a Tzatziki is such a simple and easy process. You will start by preparing the cucumber. Remove the seed by cutting the cucumber in half and scarping the center to get the seed out. Once that is done, simply grate the cucumber with the skin on then transfer the grated cucumber into a cheese cloth and sprinkle with salt, then toss. The salt will help draw out moisture from the cucumber, the goal is to remove as much moisture as possible to avoid having a runny Tzatziki. Leave for few minutes (about 10 minutes) while you prepare the yogurt mixture. To make the yogurt mixture, simply mix Greek yogurt, salt, pepper, lemon juice and lemon zest. Mix to combine and do not forget to taste so that you can adjust the taste as needed. I like mine with subtle lemon flavor, so I only used 1/2 juice of the lemon. If you like a stronger lemon taste, you can add more lemon zest, but not so much on lemon juice as too much liquid could make the tzatziki runny. Then go back to the cucumber, twist the cheese cloth and squeeze until you remove as much water as possible. Transfer the squeezed cucumber in the yogurt mixture. I would suggest chilling the dip for at least 30 minutes to help the favor develop. This gets even better the following day. That’s it! easy, right?
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup shredded and squeezed Cucumber (about 1/2 large size cucumber)
- 1/2 cup plain Greek Yogurt
- 3/4 teaspoon Salt (Divided 1/2 tsp for the cucumber, 1/4 tsp for the yogurt mixture
- 1/8 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon minced freshDill or 1/2 tsp dried Dill
- 1 clove minced Garlic or 3 cloves roasted Garlic
- 1 teaspoonLemon Juice
Instructions:
- Prepare the Cucumber: Slice the cucumber in half then use a spoon to scrape the center. Grate the cucumber then transfer in a strainer with cheese cloth or strong paper towel on top. Sprinkle with salt and massage the cucumber to distribute the salt. Leave for at least 10 minutes to draw out the moisture. Using the cheese cloth, twist and squeeze to remove as much water as possible. If you do not have a cheese cloth, you can just use your hands to squeeze the water out.
- Yogurt Mixture: Mix together yogurt, cucumber, dill, garlic, lemon, salt and pepper.
- Serve: Serve as a dip or as a salad dressing.
Makes 1/2 cup
Enjoy! If you make this, share and tag me in Instagram #SweetNSpicyLiving. I would like to see your creations too.
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