Tzatziki

Tzatziki is the refreshing, cooling counterpoint to rich, grilled meats in Mediterranean cuisine. Made with thick Greek yogurt, fresh garlic, crisp cucumber, and fragrant dill, this sauce is simple to prepare but packed with flavor. The key to a truly great Tzatziki is properly draining the grated cucumber to prevent a watery sauce, ensuring every spoonful is perfectly creamy. It's fantastic with grilled chicken, as a vegetable dip, or as a bright topping for our Mediterranean Smashburger Tacos.

Yield: About 1.5 cups
Prep Time: 15 minutes, 30-minute chill time
Chill Time: 30 minutes (optional)
Special Equipment: Grater, fine-mesh sieve or clean kitchen towel (for draining cucumber), whisk, small mixing bowls

Ingredients

• 1 cup thick, full-fat Greek yogurt

• 1 medium English Cucumber, grated

• 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced or grated

• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

• 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• 1 Tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped

• 1 tsp fresh mint, optional, finely copped

• 1 tsp kosher salt, divided, more to taste

• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Prep and Drain Cucumber: Grate the cucumber into a strainer lined with a cheesecloth or a kitchen towel over a bowl. Add ½ teaspoon of salt and toss. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes to draw out moisture. Squeeze out all the liquid you can. Discard the liquid.

2. Mix the Base: In a medium bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, remaining ½ teaspoon of salt, and black pepper.

3. Combine: Gently fold in the squeezed, dry cucumber and the chopped fresh dill and mint.

4. Chill: For the best flavor, cover and refrigerate the Tzatziki for at least 30 minutes to allow the garlic to infuse and the sauce to chill. Taste again before serving and adjust salt or lemon if needed.