The cool and creamy tzatziki is (not without reason) one of the most famous Greek dishes.
It is the perfect complement to grilled meat and vegetable. It is served on the side with warm bread for dipping. It is the best combination for dolmades. It is the usual sauce for the traditional souvlaki or finally, it is always included on a meze platter.
Tzatziki is the salad or the sauce or the dip (call it what you want) that is rarely missing from the Greek menu.
What you will need:
- 1 big or 2 small cucumbers, seedless.
- 300 g strained Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1-3 garlic cloves mashed or grated (depends on how strong you like it)
- 1 tablespoon wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill or peppermint finely chopped
- a pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper
The recipe step by step:
1. Prepare the cucumber:
Remove the skin and the seeds (if any) of the cucumber and grate it into a colander (use the large holes of your box grater).
Season with salt add 1 tablespoon vinegar, mix, and leave it for 10 minutes.
2. Prepare the yogurt sauce:
In a bowl add the yogurt, olive oil, garlic, dill or peppermint, salt, and pepper and stir to blend.
3. Assemble the tzatziki:
Working with one big handful at a time, lightly squeeze the grated cucumber between your palms over the colander to remove excess moisture. Transfer the squeezed cucumber to the bowl with yogurt sauce, and repeat with the remaining cucumber.
Blend using a spoon until the ingredients are combined.
Store the tzatziki in the fridge for about 1 hour.
4. Always, serve it cold in a small bowl, and if you want to add lemon zest and olives on top.
tips and tricks
- If you are not afraid of the smell use a little extra garlic
- For best results, prefer to use strained Greek yogurt, as it is smoother and creamier than other yogurts. If your yogurt has needless moisture spoon it into a cheesecloth, set it into a mesh sieve, and let the excess moisture drip out.
- Squeeze the cucumber and remove as much of the moisture as possible, so that the tzatziki sauce can remain creamy.
- You also do not need to peel the cucumber. You can just wash it thoroughly
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