Classic Greek Tzatziki with Cucumber & Dill
Greek tzatziki is a cool yoghurt sauce with grated cucumber, garlic, white wine vinegar, olive oil and dill. Salting and squeezing the cucumber keeps the texture thick, fresh and spoonable.
Servings
Ingredients
- 300 g strained Greek yoghurt
- 1 cucumber
- ⅓ garlic clove finely grated
- 3 tbsp white wine vinegar divided
- ¼ bunch dill finely chopped, optional
- 2 tbsp olive oil plus extra to serve if liked
- 1 pinch salt plus extra for the cucumber
- 1 pinch black pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- Peel the cucumber and grate it on the coarse side of a box grater. Toss with a pinch of salt and 1 tbsp of the white wine vinegar, then leave for 10 minutes.1 cucumber, 3 tbsp white wine vinegar, 1 pinch salt
- Mix the Greek yoghurt, grated garlic, remaining white wine vinegar and olive oil in a bowl until smooth.300 g strained Greek yoghurt, 1/3 garlic clove, 3 tbsp white wine vinegar, 2 tbsp olive oil
- Squeeze the cucumber firmly in a clean cloth or sieve to remove excess liquid. Discard the liquid.
- Fold the drained cucumber into the yoghurt mixture with the dill. Season with salt and black pepper.1/4 bunch dill, 1 pinch black pepper, 1 pinch salt
- Chill until needed, then stir before serving. Finish with a little extra olive oil if liked.
Chef's notes
- Squeeze the cucumber well, otherwise the tzatziki will loosen as it stands.
- Use thick strained Greek yoghurt. Regular yoghurt should be drained first.
- Dill is optional, but it gives a classic fresh finish. Mint can be used instead.
- Keep covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Serve with pork gyros, grilled vegetables, warm pita or roast potatoes.
Drink pairing
Tzatziki suits clean, bright drinks that echo the cucumber, yoghurt, garlic and dill. Keep the pairing fresh rather than sweet.
Alcoholic
- Assyrtiko for sharp citrus freshness
- Sauvignon Blanc with herbaceous notes
- Crisp pilsner or Greek lager for a simple mezze pairing.
Non alcoholic
- Sparkling cucumber water with lemon
- Chilled mint tea with a squeeze of lime
- Kefir ayran with a small pinch of salt.
Nutrition per serving
Calories: 131kcal (7%) | Carbohydrates: 5g (2%) | Protein: 8g (16%) | Fat: 9g (14%) | Saturated Fat: 2g (13%) | Cholesterol: 4mg (1%) | Sodium: 43mg (2%) | Potassium: 108mg (3%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 4g (4%) | Vitamin A: 102IU (2%) | Vitamin C: 3mg (4%) | Vitamin E: 1mg (7%) | Vitamin K: 10µg (10%) | Folate: 11µg (3%)
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