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Tzatziki

A cooling dip of thick yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, and olive oil that brightens everything it touches.

⏱ 15 minPrep time
🔥 5 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Tzatziki — Greek yogurt cucumber dip with garlic and olive oil

Tzatziki is the cool, garlicky yogurt dip that makes every Greek meal better: thick yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, olive oil, and a whisper of dill or mint. It’s refreshing, tangy, and utterly addictive.

Served with grilled meats, souvlaki, gyros, or simply with warm pita, tzatziki is a fixture of Greek tables year-round. The key is draining the cucumber well — a watery tzatziki is a sad tzatziki.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Grate the cucumber, toss with 1/2 teaspoon salt, and drain in a sieve for 30 minutes. Press out the excess liquid.
  2. Stir the garlic and lemon juice together; rest 5 minutes to mellow the garlic.
  3. In a bowl, combine the yogurt, drained cucumber, garlic-lemon mixture, olive oil, dill, and pepper.
  4. Taste and add more salt if needed. Chill at least 1 hour.
  5. Serve in a bowl with a swoosh, drizzled with olive oil, with warm pita.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Full-fat Greek yogurt strained overnight in cheesecloth makes the thickest tzatziki. It keeps 3-4 days — the flavors deepen as it sits.

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Recipe details

Prep15 min
Cook5 min
Servings6
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →