Tzatziki (Cucumber Sauce)

Posted byNoriePosted inDips and Sauces, RecipeTags:, ,

Tzatziki is the white sauce that is normally put in Gyro sandwiches.  I like this sauce, so when I harvested a few cucumbers, I made some even though I didn’t have gyro to eat it with. But it is good with other foods as a side dish or a complement.  It is also good as a dip. 

I did not have the right ingredients for this sauce when I made it. I substituted sour cream for Greek yogurt. I also did not have lemon or lemon juice but I had plenty of calamansi so, that’s what I used.  It was still very good and I could not tell the difference. 

The flavor is so good that I kept opening the fridge and eating a spoonful of it. Finally, I decided to put it on my toast. 

I can say this Tzatziki rendition is my very own recipe and concoction and I’m proud of it.    

  • 3 cucumbers, grated (with some skin but de-seeded)
  • 4 cloves garlic minced fine (or grated fine)
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1-8oz Sour Cream (or traditionally, Greek Yogurt)
  • 1 TBS Calamansi juice (or traditionally, lemon juice)
  • 1 tsp. dry dill weed or 2 tsp. chopped fresh dill (optional)
  • 1 TBS Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Peel the cucumbers but leave some skin. Cut in half lengthwise then scoop out the seeds and the seed pulp with a spoon, leaving the cucumber meat. Grate the cucumbers manually or use a food processor.

Squeeze most of the water from the cucumbers by putting them in a sieve and press it against the sides to let the water run out.  Do this many times turning over the pressed cucumber until there is hardly any juice coming out of it. Another way is to put it in a cheese cloth and squeeze most of the water out.

Whether you are using sour cream or yogurt, you have to skim the water off the top before using it.  This way you don’t have a runny sauce.  Some put the yogurt in cheesecloth to let it drip for a few minutes.  It’s your choice.  Sour cream is thicker.  

Put the pressed cucumbers in a bowl and stir in the rest of the ingredients.  Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and let it stand in the fridge for a few minutes to let all the ingredients meld together. The longer it sits the better it is. 

Taste and adjust the salt if needed.