Thread: Tzatziki; The best, un-bastardized, recipe you'll ever try!

I love this stuff. If you can put ketchup on a food, you could probably put tzatziki on it instead.

1- large size Fage FULL FAT Greek Yogurt. Fage is the real-deal so don't substitute.
1- large cucumber. The low-seed variety is my favorite, but any cucumber will do.
1- Lemon, juiced
1- clove garlic, or as much as you can bear.

First, peel the cucumber. Then, grate the cucumber down to the seedy part. Discard seedy part. Here's the important part. Squeeze out as much of the juice from the grated cucumber using cheese cloth, a clean cotton towel, paper towl, or your fists, as possible.

Smash the garlic clove and remove the "germ" (that's the middle part that causes indigestion and the horrible "garlic burp").

In a bowl combine all of the ingredients. Refrigerate for about an hour. That's it. No dill, and no oregano.

Enjoy it over grilled, shredded chicken breast in a pita with tomotoes and onions; or whatever else you want.

thanks man...I was actually looking for a good recipe for that to use with my home made naan.

+1 to "Squeeze out as much of the juice from the grated cucumber "

most people forget that step; the most important.

in tzatziki we put lot of olive oil and dill (anethum gr.)... fits perfect with potatos and meat ... but no lemon juice in tzatziki, never

yes i m greek

so thats how they make it.. i had some today on a gyros, and was thinking about it

Originally Posted by crgray

so thats how they make it.. i had some today on a gyros, and was thinking about it

Me too! From Athens. Of course every family, city, region has its own recipe. Have a meal around Plaka, Glyfada, or the fish taverns along the way to Sounion. They all serve theirs with lemon and without dill, but with plenty of olive oil.

I can't stand the flavor of dill. That style is more Middle Eastern in my opinion. The lemon is what makes tzatziki have a "cool" or refreshing mouth feel. Dill is used for the same effect but adds a bit of dull bitterness to it. I'll stick with lemon.

^ I hate dill too! Dry is passable but fresh, shot me! fresh parsley is amazing in tzatziki.

Is this the "white sauce" the street vendors use?

Originally Posted by ashok

Is this the "white sauce" the street vendors use?

Well, it's what they intend it to be, but I don't feel it passes for the real thing.

It's sooo good.

I've been on a tzatziki kick for the past couple weeks. So damn delicious with a ton of foods.

Thanks for posting this up!!!