Importance Score: 20 / 100 🔵
Easy Homemade Tzatziki Recipe: A Refreshing Greek Dip
Preparing homemade tzatziki is a cost-effective and simple way to enjoy this classic Greek dip. While a standard 200g container of store-bought tzatziki typically costs between £1.05 and £1.25 in most supermarkets, crafting it at home allows for larger quantities and eliminates unnecessary additives. This versatile and easy tzatziki recipe is perfect as a healthy snack or appetizer, and can be scaled to serve a crowd or enjoyed throughout the week.
Versatile and Flavorful
Traditionally made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and mint, this authentic tzatziki recipe serves as a delightful accompaniment to an array of foods. Enjoy it as a sauce for fresh vegetables, pita bread, chips, crackers, and more. Inspired by a BBC Good Food recipe praised for its “fresh and simple” approach by creator Barney Desmazery, this version is ideal with toasted pita bread or slow-roasted lamb. For optimal freshness, store the dip in a sealed container and consume within three days.
Customize Your Tzatziki
The beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability. Adjust the ingredients to suit your taste preferences. For a more pronounced garlic flavor, simply increase the amount of garlic. Similarly, enhance the minty freshness by incorporating a few extra mint leaves.
Reader Suggestions
Positive feedback from home cooks highlights the recipe’s success. One BBC Good Food user, awarding it a five-star rating, recommended adding a touch of sugar and lemon for “an extra swing zing,” noting it “worked a treat.”
Another reviewer enthusiastically declared the tzatziki “so easy and delicious…you will never buy shop-bought again,” emphasizing the superior taste and simplicity of homemade.
Tzatziki Recipe: Step-by-Step Guide
Ingredients (6 Servings)
- Half a cucumber, halved and deseeded
- 170g pot Greek yogurt
- One small garlic clove, crushed
- A handful of mint leaves, finely chopped
Instructions
- Begin by washing the cucumber thoroughly. Coarsely grate it using a cheese grater onto a large plate.
- Sprinkle the grated cucumber with a pinch of salt. Using your hands, squeeze out the excess liquid to prevent a watery dip.
- Transfer the grated cucumber to a mixing bowl. Add the Greek yogurt, crushed garlic, and chopped mint leaves (discarding the stems). Mix all ingredients together until well combined.
- Serve immediately or chill for later. Garnish suggestions include a lemon slice served on the side or a sprinkle of paprika for added visual appeal and a hint of flavour.