Tzatziki is an appetizer, called «orektiko» in Greek, made from Greek whole fat strained yoghurt, cucumber, garlic, salt and extra virgin olive oil, usually served with pitta bread and served as a mezes. In Cyprus, mint is added and it is called talatouri.
What makes our tzatziki so delicious is the Greek yoghurt, which is velvety, thick, rich and full of flavour. We just add a few ingredients in it and it is perfect.
I have seen a lot of recipes in which dill, oregano or lemon or vinegar is added in the tzatziki.
If you ever visit Greece you will see that neither dill or lemon or vinegar or oregano is added in any Greek tzatziki so that you can enjoy the velvety taste of the yoghurt.
If you don’t have Greek strained yoghurt, line a colander with cheesecloth or a coffee filter and put your regular yoghurt inside. Leave it for 4 – 5 hours, or preferably overnight in order to drain.
Cucumbers in Greece or Cyprus do not have any big seeds. If the cucumbers you are using having big seeds, remove them before grating.
Tzatziki
Ingredients:
1 full fat strained Greek yoghurt (250 grams – 8.80 oz)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 (or more) pounded cloves of garlic
½ teaspoon salt
1 small cucumber grated (about ¼ cup after fluid is removed)
1 tablespoon dried mint
Directions:
Peel and grate the cucumber using a box grater and then squeeze to drain excess liquid.
Peel and pound the garlic together with the salt.
Add to cucumber as well as oil and yoghurt and mix all ingredients together. Sprinkle the mint on top.
Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving, always keeping it covered to avoid smell in the refrigerator.
This recipe and many others are included in my cookbook Mint, Cinnamon & Blossom Water, Flavours of Cyprus, Kopiaste as well as in Volume 1 of the e-cookbook.
Other relevant recipes:
Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,
Tags: appetizers, condiment, Cypriot cookbook, Dip, How to.., Kopiaste.. Flavours of Cyprus, Mezedes, mezzes, Sauces, talatouri, Tzatziki, video, Yoghurt
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Which is suppose to be…with Vinegar or lemon juice? I’m confused here as my friend told me it should be vinegar and not lemon juice for Tzatziki…
Twitter: ivyliac
λέει:
In Greek tzatziki we do not add lemon or vinegar.
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The first time I tried tzatziki was in the store where they were serving it with honey glazed naan bread. Fell in LOVE with it. Absolutely delicious. And now I can try to make it myself! Thanks for sharing =)
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