Cucumber Greek Yogurt Tzatziki (Printable Version)

Creamy mix of cucumbers, Greek yogurt, dill, and garlic for a crisp, fresh chilled salad.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and diced
02 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped

→ Dairy

03 - 1 1/2 cups (12 fl oz) plain Greek yogurt (2% or full-fat)

→ Fresh Herbs & Seasonings

04 - 2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
05 - 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, finely chopped (optional)
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

11 - Additional dill or mint leaves (optional)
12 - A drizzle of olive oil (optional)

# How-to Steps:

01 - Place diced cucumbers in a colander, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, and let drain for 10 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
02 - Combine Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill, mint (if using), salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl or salad shaker jar. Mix until smooth and creamy.
03 - Add drained cucumbers and red onion to the yogurt mixture. Gently toss or shake until evenly coated.
04 - Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
05 - Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for best flavor (optional).
06 - Serve chilled, garnished with additional herbs and a drizzle of olive oil if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in the time it takes your oven to preheat, which means you actually dont need the oven at all.
  • The yogurt gives you protein and creaminess without any heaviness, so you can eat a generous portion and still feel light.
  • Cucumbers release their water when salted, which sounds boring until you realize it keeps the salad from turning into soup an hour later.
  • Its one of those rare dishes that tastes better after it sits in the fridge, so making it ahead actually improves your life.
02 -
  • Salting the cucumbers is not optional unless you enjoy a watery, sad version of this salad an hour later.
  • If your yogurt is too thick, add a tiny splash of water or lemon juice to loosen it up so it coats the cucumbers instead of clumping.
  • Garlic mellows as it sits, so if youre worried about it being too strong, just wait twenty minutes and taste again.
03 -
  • Use full fat Greek yogurt if you can, it makes the whole thing taste richer and more satisfying without feeling heavy.
  • If you dont have fresh dill, try fresh parsley and a tiny pinch of dried dill, its not the same but it works in a pinch.
  • Let the salad sit for at least fifteen minutes before serving so the flavors have time to settle and the garlic stops shouting.
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