Homemade Tzatziki
Homemade Tzatziki is a delicious mediterranean dip that is healthy and totally refreshing. The tangy, garlicky flavor is perfect with fresh veggies, warm pita bread, or grilled meat and is so easy to make with just a handful of ingredients.
Why We Love Homemade Tzatziki Dip
When the weather warms up and the garden is bursting with fresh produce, I turn to simple, delicious and refreshing meals that make the most of the season’s bounty. Tzatziki is loaded with fresh cucumber and dill and makes such a delicious and satisfying summer meal when served with grilled vegetables and warm pita bread. It’s amazing how such a simple combination of flavors can truly make an extraordinary meal!
This classic mediterranean dip is also delicious served with falafel, roasted chicken, grilled meats, loaded into wraps, or served with a platter of fresh veggies. It’s incredibly easy to make, too- with ingredients I regularly keep on hand. Did I mention it’s healthy and offers a decent amount of protein too? If you’re not already making this incredible dip on repeat, here is my suggestion that it is high time you start!
Ingredients You Need to Make Homemade Tzatziki:
- English Cucumbers– We always use english cucumbers because they aren’t as seedy as regular cucumbers and don’t need to be peeled before shredding.
- Plain Greek Yogurt– We use whole milk Greek yogurt.
- Fresh Garlic– We start with one clove, but you can add more to taste if you like a stronger garlic flavor.
- Fresh Dill– We love fresh dill, but you can substitute dried if necessary. If using dried dill, you only need 1 teaspoon.
- Lemon Juice– Lemon juice adds a bright, citrusy flavor to the dip.
- Sea Salt– Helps pull excess moisture from the cucumber.
How to Make Homemade Tzatziki:
- Shred the cucumber. If using an english cucumber, simply rinse and grate. If you are using regular cucumbers, you will need to peel and remove the seeds before grating.
- Remove excess moisture from the cucumber. Pour the grated cucumber in a bowl and sprinkle with sea salt. Allow to sit while you combine the other ingredients. Remove the cucumber to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much liquid as you can.
- Combine the rest of the ingredients. In a medium bowl, add the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, dill, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Add the prepared cucumber and stir again.
- Chill. Chill the dip until ready to serve. Drizzle with olive oil if desired and enjoy!
Tips & Suggestions
How long does homemade tzatziki last?
Leftover tzatziki dip will last up to 4 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
What should I serve with tzatziki?
We serve this mild, refreshing dip in so many ways! Here are a few of our favorite ways to eat it:
- With warm pita bread
- With fresh veggies like cucumber, bell peppers, or carrots.
- Over grilled meats
- With wheat crackers or bread cubes
- Over roasted potatoes
- In a wrap
- With this Roasted Chicken Shawarma
- On gyros
- With falafel
Variations
For a creamier dip, you can stir in a bit of heavy cream or olive oil. For a thicker dip, drain the yogurt using a strainer lined with cheese cloth. You can also try adding a variety of fresh herbs like basil, mint, or parsley.
More Delicious Dip Recipes:
Homemade Tzatziki
Ingredients
- 1 medium English cucumber peeled and grated
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp minced fresh dill
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Instructions
- Rinse cucumber and shred with a box grater. If you are using an English cucumber, there is no need to peel it. Place in a bowl with sea salt and let it sit while you mix the other ingredients.
- In a medium bowl, mix yogurt, lemon juice, dill and garlic. Squeeze out as much excess liquid as possible from cucumber and salt mixture with a clean towel. Stir cucumber into yogurt.
- Season with pepper and additional salt if needed. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Serve with grilled veggies, pita triangles, fresh raw veggies, or as a sauce on your favorite gyro!
Nutrition
www.superhealthykids.com
Natalie Monson
I'm a registered dietitian, mom of 4, avid lover of food and strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you will find lots of delicious recipes full of fruits and veggies, tips for getting your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters and lots of resources for feeding your family.
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Will definitely be trying this–for me! I have a kid who refuses dips or sauces of any kind, but this sounds good to me.
Thanks so much for linking to me & I’m glad you found the article helpful! Teaching the kiddos how to use a knife can be scary but once they learn it’s such a useful tool to have! 🙂
Thank you Paula – above!!!! I am sorry for your position, but I’m so glad to not feel alone! 🙂 My two daughters also do not like to dip. I often ask them where they came from! 🙂
My 8 1/2 yr old has always been picky, but has gotten better as she has gotten older. Actually, I tried to get her (again) to dip veggies in ranch tonight but she acts like the world is over. Haha she will eat a few select veggies, but not many. My 2 yr old is a case! — She just doesn’t eat period! She seems to be very sensitive to texture, and she just outright refuses food. Often. Regularly. I’m serious! She just likes to make messes and play w food, rather than consume it. Though she has no reservations about eating non -foods (ie: hair, lint, strings, paper, garbage, fabric, anything else she puts in her mouth from who-knows-where!). 🙂
I want to beg you, to come to my house and help me know how to convince my kids that foods, and healthy foods, aren’t gross or scary etc!!! 🙂
Ps-Thank you for your info, recipes, help, and everything! I enjoy the blog very much!
– Janelle
I laughed when I read “I’ve never met a kid who doesn’t love to dip” The true picky eaters. So I’m grateful to see the comments above. I am also going to make this recipe for myself, let my 8 yr old watch me eat it, and once again offer him a bite….
your title is very useful for our kids
http://www.stories2kids.com/
I would never peal a cucumber! That is where all the nutrition is. Most veggies and fruits have their nutrition in their skin and the inside is where the sugar is. We only peal carrots.
We only peal carrots. Most veggies and fruits have their vitamins and minerals in the skin. The inside is where the natural sugar is. I would never peal a cucumber.