Thea Sophia's Tzatziki Recipe

[Fang]

I promised this recipe, and here it is, provided by my husband's Aunt Sophia in Athens. It's amazingly easy, healthy, and can be used as a dip, salad dressing (kinda lumpy but tastes good) or sandwich spread. Everyone always raves about it and I kinda feel bad 'cause it's ridiculously easy. Kinda.

Authentic Tzatziki

1 small container plain yogurt (16 oz)
Fresh, finely minced garlic. The amount is up to you; I use 2 cloves, but start with 1/2 depending on your love of garlic
Grated cucumber--2 small persian or 1 american
Salt

The best kind of yogurt to use with this is the Greek yogurt, we use the full-fat kind from Trader Joe's but you can use any kind, including fat free. If you use regular plain yogurt you will need to drain it overnight; see below.

Procedure: drain yogurt. The best way to do this is a cheesecloth-lined colander, but I have used a large coffee filter in a pinch, or even gone without, it will just be a looser mixture. Let it drain for a couple of hours or even overnight.

Grate cucumber and squeeze out excess liquid. Combine with yogurt, garlic and salt. Taste for seasoning, and you're done. Tastes best if refrigerated for a minimum of 3 hours; keeps nicely.

Some Greeks add dill; it's a regional preference, we don't. We usually serve this with chicken kabobs; Trader Joe's has authentic pita--they call it Arabian Joe's Middle Eastern Flatbread and it's the kind that is served in Greece. I brush a little olive oil on it and grill it or put it in a nonstick pan to heat; cut into 6-8 wedges and dip or use as a sandwich. If I'm in deficit I just put the tzatziki directly on the chicken and have a salad with it.

Enjoy! This recipe is very flexible and you can use more or less cucumber as well, play around and have fun.

[Pips]

Thanks!

[cycomiko]

i use cucumber, yoghurt, garlic, mint and some lemon juice, all good.

Or add in some other spices to make it more like a raita

[Katydid77]

thanks for this. I wuv this stuff.