Description
Luscious Greek gyro sauce is cool, creamy, and healthy. It’s the ideal dip and spread for parties. Make this easy tzatziki in 15 minutes!
Ingredients
- 3/4 English cucumber (long/large)
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
- 2 cups plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
- 2 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 1/4 teaspoons red wine vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons finely-chopped fresh dill leaves
- 1 tablespoon finely-chopped fresh mint leaves
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- Freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
VEGAN TZATZIKI: Substitute cashew sour cream for Greek yogurt.
Instructions
- Peel the cucumber. Slice it in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds. Grate the cucumber on the largest holes of a box grater. Then use a knife to mince it. In a small bowl, toss the cucumber with sea salt. Let it sit 10 minutes. The salt will help draw out the moisture.
- Over the kitchen sink, use your bare hand or a cheesecloth to squeeze out and expel as much of the cucumber juice as possible. Squeeze hard. We don’t want any of the water. Discard the liquid.
- Transfer the drained cucumber to a medium bowl. Add remaining ingredients: yogurt, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, dill, mint, dried oregano, and black pepper.
- Stir to combine. Taste the sauce. If needed, adjust herbs and spices. Cover and chill 1 hour. Before serving, garnish the surface with a drizzle of olive oil and a light scattering of dill.
Notes
CUCUMBER PEEL: ON OR OFF? It’s a matter of personal preference. If you prefer a smoother sauce with less chunkiness, remove the peel. If you like the added texture (and bitterness) of the fibrous peel, leave it on.
WHY SCRAPE OUT THE CUCUMBER SEEDS? They’re fibrous, stringy and contain pockets of water. They can give tzatziki an unpleasant texture and make it runny. Removing seeds will keep the mixture smooth and thick. The best way to remove them: cut cucumber in half lengthwise, then scrape them out with a spoon. It’s super quick and easy!
HOW TO MAKE VEGAN TZATZIKI: Replace Greek yogurt with cashew sour cream, coconut yogurt, or plain soy yogurt. If thinning is needed, use lemon juice.
HOW LONG DOES GYRO SAUCE LAST IN THE FRIDGE? Stored in an air-tight container and refrigerated, tzatziki stays fresh 2 to 3 days. After that, it becomes watery and loses texture. This sauce actually tastes best on the second day once the flavors have had time to meld.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 0 Minutes
- Category: Appetizers, Condiments
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean