GREEK TZATZIKI - YOGURT AND CUCUMBER DIP AND CONDIMENT
This is truly a Greek accompaniment for many dishes. It is a Greek dipping sauce, "mayonnaise", and an impossible to do without condiment for many Greek dishes.
Thick Greek Yogurt, cucumbers, garlic and Greek olive oil make this a never to forget favorite for travelers to Greece.
RECIPE PRINTED FROM: THEGUTSYGOURMET.NET©
INGREDIENTS:Yields 4 cups
• 1 Quart yogurt strained overnight and made into Yogurt Cheese
• ˝ cup cucumber, shredded, squeezed of water and finely diced
• 2 large cloves garlic, (minced)
• 1 Tablespoon fresh dill
• 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (Greek of Course)
• 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• ˝ teaspoon sea salt or to taste
• ˝ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• Optional ingredients, see COOK'S NOTES**
DIRECTIONS:
1. 1st day: Making the yogurt cheese.
Put cheese cloth, a heavy paper towel (Viva) or a coffee filter in a strainer. Put the
strainer over a bowl to catch the whey that runs from the yogurt. Put in your yogurt,
cover and place in the refrigerator overnight. This will give the yogurt a consistency
of soft cream cheese. Draining overnight should do the trick.
2. 2nd day: Preparing the cucumber.
The next day, peel a cucumber. Cut cucumber in half lengthwise. With a teaspoon, scrape out the
seeds and discard. Grate the cucumber on a microplane or cheese grater. Take 1/2 cup of the
shredded cucumber and squeeze out the juice into the sink (discard).
3. Putting the sauce together.
Remove the yogurt cheese from the cheese cloth and place in a mixing bowl. Add garlic, olive oil,
dill, salt, pepper and cucumber (shredded and the water squeezed out). Mix well then cover and
refrigerate if not using immediately.
 COOKS NOTE*
Variations to this recipe can be made by adding minced mint leaves, basil leaves, fresh dill, oregano
or ground fenugreek. Drizzling a few drops or more of good Greek olive oil on top gives the tzatziki
another wonderful touch. Garnish with a few Kalamata Olives, a lemon wedge or fresh basil sprigs.
NOTE: ALTHOUGH NOT THE EXACT RECIPE SHOWN, THE VIDEO BELOW MIGHT BE OF HELP.
 HOW TO MAKE GREEK TZATZIKI
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