Tzatziki Sauce

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Tzatziki Sauce is a must-have condiment or dip made with yogurt, shredded cucumber, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and red wine vinegar. Add some herbs for a lively finish and drizzle it over some Air Fryer Falafel or in Chicken Gyros!

Overhead image of the Tzatziki Xauce in a bowl

What is Tzatziki Sauce?

Sometimes simply called cucumber and yogurt sauce, this creamy Greek condiment is made primarily with yogurt and shredded cucumbers. If you’re wondering what it tastes like, it is incredibly refreshing and light tasting with some tang. It has a mild, cool flavor which makes it the perfect pair to spicy or strongly seasoned mains.

Tzatziki Sauce is very versatile — there are practically endless ways to enjoy it — straight from the bowl to topping various mains.

QUICK TIP

How to pronounce tzatziki: tuh·zee·kee (listen to it here).

How To Use Tzatziki Sauce

Process shots-- images of the cucumber being shredded

Tzatziki Sauce Ingredients

  • Plain Greek yogurt.  Authentic Tzatziki Sauce is typically made with goat or sheep’s milk yogurt, but this recipe calls for full-fat Greek yogurt since that is more accessible in grocery stores. It’s important to use a thick and creamy yogurt to prevent a watery sauce and ensure a hearty structure. Our favorite is Greek God’s® plain traditional Greek yogurt (not sponsored).
  • English cucumber or Persian cucumbers. Regular cucumbers are too watery and lack flavor.
  • Lemon juice and zest. Bottled lemon juice won’t quite cut it here, because the sauce relies on the zest of the lemon. When zesting the lemon, avoid the white pith of the lemon — this is very bitter. Using a microplane (like this one), zest only the very outside yellow part of the lemon.
  • Garlic. Use fresh or save some prep time by using pre-minced garlic!
  • Olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is best.
  • Red wine vinegar. This adds a nice tang and touch of acidity.
  • Fresh herbs. The fresh herbs are optional — if you have access to them, throw ’em in and if not, the sauce is still tasty! We love fresh mint, dill, parsley, or a combination of any of the above in our Tzatziki Sauce.

Process shots of tzatziki sauce-- images of the cucumber liquid being blotted with a paper towel.

How To Make Tzatziki Sauce

This Tzatziki Sauce recipe is as simple as wringing the liquid out of the shredded cucumbers and stirring all the ingredients together. Here are our top tips:

  • Make the sauce in advance. This homemade Tzatziki becomes more flavorful as it sits in the fridge. And if you’re adding it to a meal, having the sauce ready to go makes dinner assembly that much quicker later on.
  • Use full-fat plain yogurt to avoid watery or bland tzatziki. (We love Greek Gods plain Greek yogurt best — not sponsored!)
  • Squeeze the liquid out of the cucumber. Cucumber has a very high water content and will water down the sauce or make it bland. Wring out excess liquid a few times with paper towels or cheesecloth before adding to the mix.
  • To make Tzatziki sauce vegan use vegan Greek yogurt.

Process shots-- images of all the ingredients being added into the bowl

Tzatziki Sauce FAQs

1Is Tzatziki Sauce unhealthy?

Tzatziki Sauce is one of the most nutritious condiments available! There are loads of good-for-you ingredients, plus a good amount of protein (in the Greek yogurt) which is certainly a rarity for condiments.

Check out the Tzatziki Sauce Nutrition breakdown directly below the written recipe.

2What do you eat with Tzatziki Sauce?

Tzatziki Sauce is especially great with grilled meat — chicken, beef, pork, and lamb. One of the most popular ways to enjoy this condiment is on gyros. We love it as a dip for veggies too!

3How long does Tzatziki Sauce last?

Tzatziki will last about 3-4 days in the fridge before it begins to go bad. Give leftovers a good stir before serving! You’ll know Tzatziki is no longer good when it becomes overly watery or develops an off smell.

4Is Tzatziki Sauce healthier than ranch dressing?

Tzatziki is loaded with nutritious ingredients and typically the nutrition clocks in with much fewer grams of fat and overall calories than ranch.

They look similar and even have slightly similar flavors, but Tzatziki is based on Greek yogurt, whereas ranch uses mayonnaise and/or sour cream.

5What is the best Tzatziki Sauce to buy?

You can typically find Tzatziki Sauce at most large grocery chains. Check the refrigerated produce section. I’ve personally never purchased this sauce at the store (we love our homemade recipe that much and it’s that easy!), so instead, here’s a list of top-rated brands to browse through.

Overhead image of Tzatziki Sauce

STORAGE

Storage

Creamy Tzatziki Sauce will last about 3-4 days in the fridge before it begins to go bad. Give leftovers a good stir before serving! You’ll know it’s no longer good when it becomes watery or develops an off smell. Unfortunately, the sauce doesn’t freeze well.

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Tzatziki Sauce

5 from 4 votes
Tzatziki Sauce is a must-have condiment or dip made with yogurt, shredded cucumber, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and red wine vinegar.
Print Recipe

Tzatziki Sauce

5 from 4 votes
Tzatziki Sauce is a must-have condiment or dip made with yogurt, shredded cucumber, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and red wine vinegar.
Course condiment, Side Dish
Cuisine Greek, Healthy, Vegetarian
Keyword Tzatziki Sauce
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Chelsea Lords
Calories 50kcal
Cost $2.73

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup cucumbers Persian, English, or mini cucumbers
  • 1/2 cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt (we love Greek Gods!)
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 large lemon (1/2 tsp zest and 1 tbsp juice)
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • Salt & pepper
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon finely chopped herbs (Note 1)
  • Serving Suggestions: Note 2

Instructions

  • CUCUMBER PREP: Grate an unpeeled cucumber with the large holes of a cheese grater. Line a small bowl with a few paper towels (or a clean kitchen towel) and place the grated cucumber on top. Squeeze out as much extra moisture as you can from the cucumber (this keeps the sauce from being watery).
  • MIX: Once it's drained, add shredded cucumber to a medium-sized bowl along with the rest of the sauce ingredients. Add salt and pepper to taste (I add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper). Stir and cover the bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • STORAGE: Tzatziki will last about 3-4 days in the fridge before it begins to go bad. Give leftovers a good stir before serving! You'll know it's no longer good when it becomes watery or develops an off smell. Unfortunately, the sauce doesn't freeze well.

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Fresh herbs: The fresh herbs are optional -- if you have access to them, throw 'em in and if not, the sauce is still tasty! We love fresh mint, dill, parsley, or a combination of any of the above.
Note 2: Serving suggestions: Enjoy a spoonful straight from the bowl, enjoy with grilled meat -- chicken, beef, pork, and lamb on a gyro, enjoy as a dip for veggies (grilled or raw), enjoy with pita chips or fresh warm pita, spread on a sandwich or wrap.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 50kcal | Carbohydrates: 3.5g | Protein: 1.8g | Fat: 3.6g | Cholesterol: 2.3mg | Sodium: 7mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1.9g

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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5 Comments

  1. Cant wait to make this soon for me can i use coconut yogurt i never had tzatziki sauce before perfect for my snacks

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