Tzatziki

Name: Tzatziki
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 English cucumber, peeled; 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste (half as much if using fine table salt); 1 cup Greek yogurt; 2 garlic cloves, minced or grated; 1 tsp lemon zest, grated; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 2 tbsp olive oil; 2-4 TBSP fresh herbs such as dill or mint, chopped, optioanl; freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Written by Ellen Published on June 16, 2019 in

DifficultyBeginner

The most important thing to keep in mind when making tzatziki is salting your cucumbers and letting them drain. Without this step, you will be making a tzatziki soup. While your cucumbers are draining in a strainer, combine the rest of the ingredients to let your flavours meld. Then after 30-60 minutes, combine both - yogurt and strained cucumbers, into a delicious Tzatziki sauce! So easy!

Yields4 Servings

1 English cucumber, peeled

1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste (half as much if using fine table salt)

1 cup Greek yogurt

2 garlic cloves, minced or grated

1 tsp lemon zest, grated

1 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp olive oil

2-4 TBSP fresh herbs such as dill or mint, chopped, optioanl

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Slice your cucumber lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Chop your cucumber or grate it on a grater as finely or as chunky as you like. I usually grate it, but today, I chopped it in under 1/4" cubes. Sprinkle your cucumber with 1 tsp of kosher salt. And let it sit in a strainer for about half an hour or up to an hour or so, shaking and tossing it to encourage for the water in the cucumbers to drain.

In the meantime, flavour your Greek yogurt with the rest of the ingredients and let it sit on the counter for the flavours to meld for 30-60 minutes. Be sure to add a pinch of kosher salt to the yogurt as well; but not too much as you will be adding salted cucumbers soon enough.

Squeeze your cucumber with a paper towel (or a clean dish towel) to get as much moisture out as possible. Then fold it into your yogurt until combined. Taste your tzatziki and adjust the flavour with any of the ingredients (more salt, pepper, lemon juice or even another garlic clove) to fit your taste. Serve!