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Home » Homemade Condiments and Salad Dressings

How to Make Tzatziki

03/22/2019 Updated: 04/14/2021 By Karrie 6 Comments

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Tzatziki Sauce Recipe PIN

Learn How to Make Tzatziki!  A quick and easy garlic and cucumber yogurt sauce that's the perfect accompaniment to any Greek food.  Use as a healthy vegetable dip or salad dressing too.

Bowl of Tzatziki yogurt sauce with tomatoes and cucumber in background

Tzatziki Sauce

I'm always pronouncing tzatziki sauce wrong, so I call it "that Greek cucumber sauce".  To others, it's better known as"gyro sauce". 

Whatever you call it, this classic Greek garlic cucumber yogurt sauce is the MUST HAVE accompaniment to many Greek foods. 

I like to use it even when I'm not eating Greek food because it's delicious as a healthy vegetable dip, sandwich topping, or a salad dressing.

How to make the best Greek tzatziki recipe

  • Use a high quality yogurt (and sour cream) and use the full fat varieties, if possible, for the best flavor.
  • Take the time to remove the seeds from the cucumber and peel it, especially if it's not organic and is waxed.
  • Squeeze out all the water from the shredded cucumber with a kitchen towel.  No need to salt because removing the cucumber's seeds will remove a lot of it's water.
  • Store for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator before serving, but overnight is even better!
Step by step pictures on how to make Tzatziki

Greek yogurt vs regular yogurt

Greek yogurt is essentially regular yogurt with the excess whey strained off and the result is a thicker, creamier, and tangier tasting yogurt. 

It's more expensive and sometimes harder to find in some areas, so I use a regular plain yogurt in this recipe. 

I added a ½ cup of sour cream to add thickness and creaminess to the regular yogurt in the sauce. 

The sour cream can also be left over or leave it in to tone down the yogurt's tanginess.

If you prefer thick Greek yogurt, just substitute it for the plain yogurt. 

Close up photo of garlic cucumber yogurt sauce in a bowl

What to eat with tzatziki

  • Traditional Greek foods, such as falafels, gyros, souvlaki, and spanakopita
  • As a dip with pita bread and raw vegetables
  • Serve it as a sauce for grilled/baked/fried meats or vegetables
  • Top a burger with it
  • Add to salads as a dressing
  • Use it as a sandwich spread
  • Serve with fries and baked potatoes instead of ketchup
A Greek cucumber garlic yogurt sauce in a wooden bowl with vegetables on table

Hope you like this recipe on how to make Tzatziki and enjoy it next time you want a creamy, garlic yogurt sauce. 

Please tell me in the comments below what you served it with and don't forget to tag me on Instagram or Facebook in your food photos!

Bowl of Greek Tzatziki sauce

How to Make Tzatziki

Learn how to make a quick and easy garlic and cucumber yogurt sauce that's the perfect accompaniment to any Greek food!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Condiment
Cuisine: Greek
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 3 cups
Calories: 272kcal
Author: Karrie | Tasty Ever After

Ingredients

  • 2 cups full fat plain yogurt (can substitute Greek Yogurt)
  • ½ cup full fat sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 clove fresh garlic, finely minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 large cucumber, peel if waxed
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine yogurt, sour cream, red wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, salt, and white pepper.  Mix until well combined.  Set aside.
  • Cut cucumber in half and scrape out any seeds.  Pat the cucumber halves dry and shred using a cheese grater.  Place shredded cucumber on a flour sack towel and twist it up, squeezing out all of the liquid, until dry.
  • Add the shredded cucumber to the garlic yogurt mixture and mix well.  Cover the bowl and chill for at least 2 hours for the flavors to develop.

Recipe Notes & Tips:

  • Can substitute Greek yogurt for plain yogurt and leave out the sour cream, if desired.
  • Make the sauce the day before and store overnight, covered, in the refrigerator for the best flavor.
  • Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.  If it's a little watery, just stir well before serving.
Nutrition Facts
How to Make Tzatziki
Amount Per Serving
Calories 272 Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Fat 22g34%
Saturated Fat 9g45%
Cholesterol 41mg14%
Sodium 496mg21%
Potassium 443mg13%
Carbohydrates 11g4%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 475IU10%
Vitamin C 4.7mg6%
Calcium 254mg25%
Iron 0.4mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @tastyeverafter or tag #tastyeverafter
Tzatziki Sauce Recipe PIN

More Homemade Condiments and Salad Dressings

  • Easy Homemade Pico de Gallo
  • Slow Cooker BBQ Sauce
  • Spicy Pickled Fiddleheads Recipe
  • Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce With Fresh Herbs

 ©  Tasty Ever After  All images and content are copyright protected, so please do not copy or claim my work as your own.  Please do not use any images or republish this recipe without prior permission.  If you want to reference this recipe, link directly back to this post.  Thank you.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Karen (Back Road Journal)

    March 31, 2019 at 10:55 am

    I enjoy tzaziki with grilled salmon...the flavors in the sauce seem to brighten the fish.

    Reply
    • Karrie

      April 03, 2019 at 2:17 pm

      OMG, I love grilled salmon and definitely making some next time I make tzatziki!

      Reply
  2. mimi rippee

    March 27, 2019 at 2:52 pm

    Great tzaziki! Great tips! I'm usually not too patient squeezing out the water, but no one's complained yet!

    Reply
    • Karrie

      April 03, 2019 at 2:16 pm

      Thanks Mini and yay on not having to squeeze out the cucumber water!

      Reply
  3. Dawn

    March 20, 2019 at 11:19 am

    5 stars
    This is one heck of a tzatziki recipe! I love how easy and flavour packed it is. I enjoyed with falafel and used the leftovers with some fries (honestly, this is delicious eaten as is with a spoon, lol). Will definitely make this one again! Thanks for a delicious recipe

    Reply
    • Karrie

      April 03, 2019 at 2:13 pm

      I eat it with a spoon sometimes too! lol! Thank you Dawn and glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply

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Thank you for visiting Tasty Ever After and I'm Karrie! I hope you enjoy spending some time here finding easy scratch made recipes for the home cook.

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