published May 28, 2021, updated Jul 31, 2024 No matter what I order at a Greek restaurant, I’m ordering extra tzatziki sauce. That luxurious smoothness, tangy and fatty flavor, and coolness from the herbs and cucumber… I just can’t get enough! This is an authentic tzatziki sauce recipe. How can you tell? Well, it has plenty of garlic that’s been minced so finely you get all of the flavor with none of the texture! It’s also made with mint instead of dill, melding the cool, refreshing flavors of herb and cucumber. There are a few other qualities to my tzatziki recipe that make it unmistakably Greek, but I’ll get to those later on! If you’re a fan of the yogurt and cucumber combination, try out this cucumber raita — it’s India’s cooling side dish, kind of like tzatziki without the mint and garlic. Persian Mast o khiar is great, too, and includes sweet raisins and walnuts for a truly unique dish.
Recommended Tools
Box Grater – To finely grate the cucumber and garlic for tzatziki. Cheese Cloth – This is a very effective tool for removing as much moisture from the cucumber as possible — which is very important for making this tzatziki sauce recipe as smooth and creamy as possible.
Storing and Serving
This tzatziki sauce recipe is most delicious fresh and cold, so I recommend keeping it in the refrigerator right up until serving. Give it a quick stir before serving to redistribute all of the ingredients.
Cucumber – Seedless cucumbers are best because regular cucumbers have large, watery seeds that will thin out the sauce. Seedless varieties also have thinner skin that make for a better texture. Plain Greek Yogurt – Greek yogurt has already been strained to remove the liquid and whey present in regular yogurt, but go ahead and strain it again anyway to make it as thick and creamy as possible. Garlic – Feel free to use more for a really garlicky dip! The fresh cloves should be very finely grated or minced for a smooth tzatziki sauce. Garlic powder is an appropriate substitute — use ¼ teaspoon per clove. White Vinegar – Not lemon juice — plain, neutral white vinegar makes an authentic tzatziki sauce recipe! Mint – While mint is the authentic choice for Greek tzatziki, some prefer this sauce mint-free. Feel free to omit it or substitute with dill if you still want a bit of fresh, herbal flavor. Seasonings – In addition to the always important salt and pepper, this dip is seasoned with: Cumin – This seasoning adds a touch of citrus and warmth to the sauce. Ground coriander is the best substitute. Cayenne Pepper – A little heat is perfect in this cool dip! Paprika is a good, milder substitute. You can also omit it entirely.
This homemade cucumber sauce will last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Love this recipe? Share it with the world on Pinterest.
