Tzatziki is a yogurt cucumber sauce which is often served in Greek restaurants in Germany and has found its way into German backyard and party culture. Easy to make, fresh and savory, this yogurt cucumber mixture is a good accompaniment to spicy meats and fried vegetables. Tzatziki is also eaten on bread in Germany. This tzatziki recipe is for two, but is easily doubled.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 1 cup or 2 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 c. Greek yogurt or yogurt cheese (start with 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 c. shredded cucumber (about 1/2 of a cucumber)
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 2 tsp. olive oil
- Dill, for garnish (optional)
Preparation:
If you do not have Greek yogurt (very thick yogurt), line a colander with paper towels and place regular yogurt into it. Cover with more paper towels to drain excess liquid for 15 minutes or longer.
Shred a half a cucumber, place in a colander, sprinkle with salt and let sit for 15 minutes. Press excess liquid out.
Mix yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil. Refrigerate until ready to serve. The longer it sits, the more the garlic melds with the other ingredients. If the sauce looks runny, stir the liquid back in.
Garnish with dill (German presentation) or drizzle a little extra olive oil over the dish.
