Best Ever Authentic Tzatziki Recipe (Gyro Sauce)! (2024)

FAQs

What is real tzatziki made of? ›

Tzatziki is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs such as dill or mint. Traditionally, it is made from strained sheep or goat's milk yogurt, but a full-fat Greek yogurt works just fine in this dip.

Your main ingredient – the cucumber – is often the culprit. To avoid this, make sure that you choose the right variety: English and Persian cucumbers have very little, or no, bitterness. Also sample a slice before grating and avoid using the ends as this is where the bitter compounds will be most concentrated.

Some Greek yogurt brands are very tangy so you may wish to use less lemon juice. Also, some lemons can be very tart. Start with 1/2 a lemon and add more if needed. If your sauce is too tart, you can fix this by adding a little sweetener.

No matter what method you've chose above, you'll need to drain the cucumbers of excess water so the tzatziki isn't watery. The most effective way to do this is in a fine mesh sieve with a sprinkle of salt and not just squeezing with a paper towel.

Greeks usually eat tzatziki with bread, it is also used for the famous souvlaki wrapped in a pita and ofcourse in gyros. Almost all Greeks love dipping bread and Greek fries in tzatziki that is served at every traditional restaurant.

Tzatziki sauce is a creamy cucumber sauce that is most often made with simple ingredients including, Greek yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, fresh herbs, olive oil and lemon juice. We've created the most delicious Easy Tzatziki Sauce made with sour cream instead of full-fat Greek yogurt.

Tzatziki sauce should be kept in a sealed container and stored in the refrigerator when you're not using it. As long as it's stored properly, you can expect homemade tzatziki to last about three to four days.

Add Fresh Fruit

The natural sweetness of the fruit balances the tartness of the yogurt. Fresh fruits are a great source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.

Tzatziki will last about four days in the fridge before it starts to go bad. While you can freeze it, it will change a bit in regards to texture and consistency when it comes time to thawing it out.

Add Sweetness

Sweetness has the magical ability to balance out acidity. Depending on the dish you're making, consider incorporating ingredients like honey, sugar, maple syrup, or even a splash of fruit juice. These sweet companions will help to tame the excessive lemon tang and create a harmonious flavor profile.

How do you make tzatziki thicker? ›

You can thicken it by placing a piece of cheesecloth over the top of a wide mouthed jar and holding it in place with some rubber bands. Fill the cheesecloth with your sauce, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The excess water will drain out and the sauce will be thicker.

Authentic Greek tzatziki is most often made with sheep or goat yogurt, but my tzatziki recipe calls for regular full-fat Greek yogurt. It's easier to find in the store, and it still has the creamy, thick consistency you want in tzatziki sauce.

Shred unpeeled cucumber with large holes of grater (I use this Microplane box grater) or food processor. Using a clean towel or paper towels, scoop a handful of shredded cucumber into towel and squeeze over sink. Allow the cucumber juice to drain out.

Perfect for serving along with all of your favorite vegetables for dipping, tzatziki (​​pronounced tsah-see-key) is the most classic of all Greek dipping sauces. Cooling and creamy, tzatziki is all about a refreshing combination of grated (yes, grated!) cucumber and tangy yogurt, plus (of course) plenty of garlic.

Perfect for serving along with all of your favorite vegetables for dipping, tzatziki (​​pronounced tsah-see-key) is the most classic of all Greek dipping sauces. Cooling and creamy, tzatziki is all about a refreshing combination of grated (yes, grated!) cucumber and tangy yogurt, plus (of course) plenty of garlic.

While store-bought tzatziki may be healthy, always look at the label. Be cautious of added sugars, heaps of salt, or unhealthy fats. Pick a brand using simple, fresh ingredients to enjoy tzatziki's health benefits.

The only difference is that a Tzatziki Sauce has a tablespoon of lemon juice and a couple of cloves of minced garlic added to these same ingredients I used below. The ingredients need for this Cucumber Dill Sauce for so simple. It's just cucumber, Greek yogurt, milk and chopped fresh dill.

Yogurt is at the heart of tzatziki, which means that it is naturally probiotic! Unfortunately, not all store-bought yogurts are bursting with probiotic cultures. Having tested a bunch of brands in my grocery store, I've found that only about 1/3 contain lots of active cultures.