Tzatziki: The Creamy Greek Yogurt and Cucumber Relish
Tzatziki is a creamy dip, relish or sauce made with hung curd and grated cucumber. Mint or dill along with garlic is used as flavouring. You can serve this cool Greek Yogurt and Cucumber Relish along with some Falafels, or use it as a spread in sandwiches.
Equipment
- Grater
- Bowl
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Grated Cucumber (1 Medium Cucumber, ~125 gms)
- 2/3 Cup Hung Curd (Drain whey from 1.25 Cups Plain Yogurt/Dahi)
- 1/3 tsp Minced Garlic
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice
- 2 tsp Finely Chopped Mint
- 1 tsp Olive Oil
- Salt to Taste
Instructions
Prep If You are Starting with Whole Cucumber and Plain Yogurt
- Peel and grate 1 medium cucumber (~125 gms in weight) to get 1/2 Cup grated cucumber. I used the Indian cucumber and so peeled it. If you use the green cucumber (Khira as it is called in Hindi), you don't have to peel it.
- Transfer the plain yogurt (dahi) into a strainer and let the whey drain from it. You could also transfer the yogurt to a thin cotton cloth/cheese cloth, make a bundle and hang it to let the whey drain. Tip: In either case, collect the whey and use it as a base for a soup. Indians can add it to chaas (buttermilk).
Making Tzatziki
- Squeeze the excess liquid from 1 cup grated cucumber. Tip:
- To a bowl, add 1/3 cup squeezed cucumber, 2/3 cup hung curd, 1/3 tsp minced garlic, 2 tsp chopped mint leaves, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp olive oil, and salt to taste.
- Mix well with a light hand.
- Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving.