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Close up top-down shot of a white ceramic bowl filled with Authentic Greek Tzatziki Recipe, garnished with a dill sprig and cucumber cubes.

Authentic Greek Tzatziki Recipe: The Secret to Ultra-Creamy Garlic Dip

This Authentic Greek Tzatziki Recipe delivers a thick, restaurant-quality dip featuring full-fat Greek yogurt, strained cucumber, and fresh dill. Perfectly balanced with garlic and lemon, it's served with charred pita bread for the ultimate Mediterranean experience.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 cups
Course: Appetizer, Dip, Side Dish
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Calories: 145
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Authentic Tzatziki Ingredients
  • 2 cups (480ml) Full-fat Greek yogurt 5% or 10% fat preferred
  • 1 large (300g) English cucumber Peeled and seeded
  • 2 cloves Fresh garlic Finely minced
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) Lemon juice Freshly squeezed
  • 1 tbsp (4g) Fresh dill Finely chopped
  • 1/2 tsp (3g) Sea salt Plus extra for cucumber
  • 2 tbsp (30ml) Extra virgin olive oil High quality for finishing
  • 1 sprig Fresh dill Feathery sprig for center
  • 3 rounds Pita bread Cut into triangular wedges

Equipment

  • 1 Box Grater or Chef's Knife For dicing cucumber into uniform cubes.
  • 1 Cheesecloth or Fine Mesh Strainer Essential for removing cucumber moisture.
  • 1 Cast Iron Grill Pan For charring the pita bread.

Method
 

Cucumber Preparation
  1. Completely peel the English cucumber. Slice in half, remove seeds, and dice into uniform 1/8-inch cubes.
  2. Place cubes in a strainer, salt lightly, and let sit for 10 minutes. Squeeze firmly in a cheesecloth to remove all excess water.
Mixing the Dip
  1. In a bowl, mix the Greek yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, chopped dill, and salt until smooth.
  2. Gently fold the dry cucumber cubes into the yogurt mixture until evenly distributed.
Grilling and Plating
  1. Lightly oil pita wedges and grill on a hot pan for 60 seconds per side until visible grill marks appear.
  2. Place tzatziki in a white bowl, create a swirl for the olive oil, place the dill sprig in the center, and serve with warm pita.

Notes

For the thickest results, strain the yogurt through a coffee filter for 2 hours before using.
Always use fresh dill; dried dill will result in a dusty flavor and dull appearance.