¾cupfinely grated cucumber1 large cucumber, peeled and grated
1 ½cupswhole milk Greek yogurt
1-2tablespoonschopped dilloptional but recommended
1-2tablespoonschopped mintoptional
2garlic clovesgrated
1-2tablespoonslemon juice
1teaspoonlemon zest
½teaspoonsea salt
¼teaspoonfresh ground black pepper
1tablespoonextra-virgin olive oil
Dried oreganooptional garnish
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Instructions
Place the cucumber on cheesecloth or a towel and gently squeeze out the excess water.
In a medium bowl, combine the cucumber, yogurt, dill, mint, garlic, lemon juice and zest, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Chill until ready to use. Garnish with dried oregano, if using.
Notes
If you aren’t a fan of dill and/or mint, these can be left out of your tzatziki. The stars of the sauce are the cucumber and garlic, so feel free to adjust the other ingredients according to your preferences.
Use 1-2 garlic cloves for a mellow garlic flavor and 3 (or more) garlic cloves for a spicier punch.
Use the cheesecloth to squeeze as much liquid as possible from the cucumber. This will help prevent the final sauce from having too much liquid. Storing the sauce with a clean paper towel for 1-2 hours also helps draw out some of that excess moisture.