I am not Greek, not even a little bit, but my kids are always disappointed when we eat Greek away from home because my tzatziki sauce is extra lemony, peppery, and garlicky. The meats and potatoes and pitas and other things are unparalleled at the restaurants but my sauce is ALWAYS better (according to my crew).
Extra is a-okay!
The lovely thing about a recipe is that you can add more or less of just about any of the ingredients and still have it turn out. This version is how I make it for my family–extra in all the good ways. If you want a milder version, cut down on the garlic or the pepper or the lemon but if you’re feeling up to the challenge, try it the Food Civilian way and see how your tastebuds sing!
Tzatziki Sauce
Garlicky, tangy sauce to accompany your pita faves or for dipping
Ingredients
- 16 oz plain Greek yogurt
- 2-3 mini Persian cucumbers or (1 regular one, peeled and seeded)
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp lemon juice fresh
- ½ tsp dill weed dried
- 1 tsp salt (more or less, to your taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste (or start with 1/2 tsp of ground black pepper and add more to your liking)
- olive oil to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Shred or grate cucumbers and blot with paper towel to get rid of as much moisture as possible.
Mix together:
- Greek yogurt, garlic, vinegar, lemon juice, salt and fresh ground pepper.
- Combine well. Add in cucumbers.
- Adjust seasonings, as needed.
For serving:
- Use generously for Greek Chicken pitas or Shameless Shortcut Mediterranean pitas or salads. Or dip veggies into it.
Notes
This recipe pairs perfectly with my Greek Chicken recipe but as a shameless shortcut I also love serving it with Trader Joe’s Mediterranean kabobs and all the same fixings as the Greek chicken pitas (sliced red onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, feta cheese) and some couscous, Greek orzo, or lemony rice.
This is a LARGE batch so for my small family, I usually cut it down the yogurt and cucumbers by half or 1/4 (and keep the other stuff as is) but you can easily adjust the seasonings to your preferences. We love this really garlicky and really lemony too with a generous amount of fresh ground black pepper. YUM!