This post may contain affiliate links.

Homemade Tzatziki is deliciously creamy and SO easy to make. Make this yoghurt and cucumber sauce as a side dressing or dip alongside lots of heavenly Greek-inspired dishes.

A bowl of Greek Tzatziki dip with olive oil and herbs on top, with sliced pittas to the side.

Tzatziki never fails to remind me of Greek holidays! It is the ultimate taste of summer. Make it fresh at home for a quick and easy side dish for meat and veggie main courses, or a dip for flatbreads or pittas.

This Greek-style cucumber yoghurt recipe has herbs and garlic for extra flavour, but it still takes just minutes to throw together.

There’s a simple trick that helps us get Tzatziki perfect every time – follow the tip below!


Why you’ll love this Tzatziki recipe

⭐️ Fresh and summery dip

⭐️ SO easy

⭐️ Fresher, tastier and healthier than shop-bought


Tzatziki dip in a bowl with a pitta being dipped.

Top Tip

To avoid the cucumber making the Tzatziki too watery, there’s a technique I would recommend…

➡️ Grate the cucumber and place it in a sieve over a bowl or sink. Sprinkle table salt over and mix a little, then leave it to stand for 10 minutes.

➡️ Discard the liquid from the bowl and mix the rest of the ingredients with the cucumber.

This trick helps to draw the excess water out of the cucumber and helps it to stay a little crunchy.  

This is an optional step, however I think it’s worth a few extra minutes for better results if you can.


Tzatziki Ingredients

The ingredients for making Tzatziki laid out in bowls on a counter.
  • Cucumber – English cucumbers (also known as ‘hot house cucumbers’) are ideal for tzatziki because they don’t have seeds and don’t need to be peeled. They’re also mild in flavour. These are the kind usually found in UK supermarkets. If you’re in the US or in another part of the world, your cucumber may have a thicker, waxy coating, in which case you will need to peel it before grating.
  • Salt – Simple table salt will do for this job as we’re using this to absorb moisture, rather than flavour.
  • Greek yoghurt – This recipe works with all types of Greek or natural yoghurt, but I like to use full fat Greek because it’s thicker, creamier and tangier.
  • Garlic – Peeled and crushed.
  • Olive oil – Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil for added flavour.
  • Herbs – Fresh dill and fresh mint make all the difference.
  • Lemon – Juice only here.

How to make Tzatziki

A sieve with grated cucumber inside, over a glass bowl with liquid drained into it, for step 1 in the recipe for Tzatziki.

1. Grate the cucumber, place in a sieve and sprinkle over table salt. Leave for 10 minutes. (Optional step as per the recipe below.)

The ingredients for learning how to make Tzatziki in a glass bowl, before being mixed.

2. Mix the cucumber with the rest of the ingredients in a bowl. Decorate with olive oil and herbs.


Storing

In the fridge Homemade Tzatziki is best eaten fresh or within a day or 2. However, it will keep up to about 3 days in a sealed container in the fridge. It may need a good stir before serving.

In the freezer This recipe isn’t suitable for freezing.

SErving suggestions…

FAQs

How do you pronounce Tzatziki?

It’s tsaht-zee-kee!

Can I chop the cucumber instead of grating?

Yes, if you’d prefer chunks of cucumber instead of grated, go for it.

Do you have any more easy Greek STYLE dishes?

Yes! Try out my Greek Salad, my 15-minute Orzo Pasta Salad or my quick Halloumi Wraps.

Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.

Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).

5 from 1 vote

Tzatziki {Easy Recipe!}

Creamy, delicious and so easy to make, this homemade Tzatziki recipe is perfect as a sauce or dip for those summery dishes that need a hint of fresh Greek flavour.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 Cucumber
  • 1/2 tsp Table salt
  • 350 g Greek yoghurt
  • 1 Garlic clove, Peeled and crushed
  • 1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp Fresh dill, Finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp Fresh mint, Finely chopped
  • 1/2 Lemon, Juice only

Instructions 

  • Grate the cucumber and place it in a sieve over a bowl. Sprinkle over the table salt and mix a little. Leave to stand for 10 minutes.
  • Discard the liquid from the bowl and mix the cucumber with all of the remaining ingredients.
  • Check for seasoning and add more salt if needed.
  • Sprinkle with extra chopped herbs and olive oil for decoration if you’d like.

Notes

Type of cucumber: English cucumbers (also known as ‘hot house cucumbers’) are ideal for tzatziki because they don’t have seeds and don’t need to be peeled. They’re also mild in flavour. These are the kind usually found in UK supermarkets. If you’re in the US or in another part of the world, your cucumber may have a thicker, waxy coating, in which case you will need to peel it before grating
Storing: Homemade Tzatziki is best eaten fresh or within a day or 2. However, it will keep up to about 3 days in a sealed container in the fridge. It may need a good stir

Nutrition

Calories: 70kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 6gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 219mgPotassium: 44mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 93IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 75mgIron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Like this? Leave a comment and rating below!Mention @myusername or tag #myhashtag!

new cookbook!

Featuring 100 delicious recipes that can be cooked in one pot, you can open any page in this book and find something that will give you not only a meal that the whole family will eat and enjoy, but also one that makes your life a little simpler in the process.

More Recipes

Sarah Rossi founder of TamingTwins.com and author of 'What's for Dinner?' books.

Welcome!

Hi, I'm Sarah. I help busy people decide 'What's for Dinner?' Find hundreds of recipes here, and also in my bestselling recipe book. Hope my recipes make your life easier ❤️

5 from 1 vote

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

1 Comment