Authentic Greek Tzatziki (Gyro Sauce Recipe)

This easy, homemade, authentic Greek tzatziki sauce recipe is the perfect addition to a Greek feast! It's a zesty side for you to dip your meats into and the best gyro sauce recipe you’ll ever try. Whether serving it with grilled meats or spreading it over your gyros, this tzatziki will elevate every bite!

Why You Will Love This Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

• It’s So Easy to Make: You’ll love how simple this recipe is. With just a few fresh ingredients and a couple of easy steps, you’ve got an incredible dip ready to go!
  
• Versatile and Delicious: Trust me, this tzatziki sauce is the ultimate sidekick. If you want to take your gyros to the next level, make sure you have this ready for your next BBQ night.
  
• Packed with Flavor: In my opinion, the blend of creamy yogurt, crunchy cucumber, heaps of garlic (how I like it, haha), and a splash of lemon gives it the perfect amount of freshness that you can’t resist.
  
• Healthy and Light: This recipe is full of flavour and a healthier choice! With Greek yogurt and cucumber as the stars, you can enjoy it guilt-free.

Watch the video tutorial

Want to see how it’s done? Watch my step-by-step video tutorial on making this authentic Greek tzatziki sauce and see how easy it is.

@nikolopaa

Tzatziki Greek Sauce Recipe #tzatziki #easyrecipe #greekrecipe #garlic #food #fyp #foryou

♬ original sound - Nikolopa A

Don't forget to like, comment, and share this video with friends who love garlic breath!

Ingredients Overview

Here’s a quick look at the fresh ingredients that make this tzatziki sauce so tasty. The exact amounts are in the recipe card below!

• Greek Yogurt: Don't skimp out here. You will want to get the best quality Greek yogurt you can get your hands on, and make sure to strain it! Trust me, it gives the tzatziki that thick, creamy texture you’ll love!
  
• Cucumbers: Use really fresh cucumbers to enhance the crunch and refreshing taste. Don't forget to squeeze out the extra water!
  
• Garlic: In my opinion, garlic makes tzatziki pop. The more garlic, the better! But if you like a milder dip, start with half and add more to your taste.
  
• Lemon Juice: A good squeeze of lemon brightens up the dip and balances the richness. If you prefer, you can substitute red wine vinegar.
  
• Olive Oil: Use extra virgin Greek olive oil for the best flavour.
  
• Optional Extras: Not everyone likes adding herbs, but it is very common to find it made with fresh dill. You can also try it with fresh mint. Try both and see which you like best!

Step-by-Step Tzatziki Sauce Instructions

Here are the exact instructions for making this greek tzatziki. Just follow along with the photos below, and you’ll have a delicious garlicky sauce ready to serve with your gyro in no time!

1. Drain the Yogurt: Start by putting your Greek yogurt in cheesecloth and draining it overnight. For extra safety, add a sift underneath it and place it into a bowl, allowing the liquids to drop. This will give your yogurt that thick, creamy texture that authentic tzatziki should have. After draining, add the yogurt to a mixing bowl.
   
2. Grate the cucumbers: The next step is to slice the cucumbers in half lengthwise, and using a spoon remove the seeds. Get a grater and then grate the cucumber. We will not be using the seeds for this recipe.
   

3. Drain the cucumbers: As we did with the yoghurt, squeeze out any extra water using cheesecloth. Trust me, you don’t want a watery dip! This just needs to be squeezed. You don't need to let this sit overnight.
   
4. Add the Cucumbers: Add the grated and drained cucumbers to the bowl with the Greek yogurt.
   
5. Mince the garlic: Use a mincer or a fine grater to mince the garlic into the bowl. You can always start with half, give it a taste, and add more.
   
6. Mix It Together: Add the salt, pepper, lemon juice, and olive oil to the bowl. Mix it all together well until everything is well combined.
   
7. Refrigerate: Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes. This helps the flavours blend together beautifully.
   
8. Serve: Give it a good stir before serving, and if you're using it as a dip and want to be extra fancy, drizzle a bit of extra Greek olive oil over the top.

Tips for making the best Tzatziki Sauce

• Don’t Skip Draining the Yogurt: Trust me, this step is super important! Draining the yogurt overnight is what makes your tzatziki thick and creamy, just the way it should be!
  
• Squeeze Out That Cucumber Water: You definitely don’t want watery tzatziki. After grating the cucumbers, be sure to squeeze out as much water as possible. This will keep your dip perfectly thick.
  
• Refrigerate for Best Flavor: Letting the tzatziki rest in the fridge for about 30 minutes elevates the flavours.

Serving suggestions

Tzatziki is just one of those dips that goes with everything you eat! Enjoy it with some of my fluffy Greek bread (pita bread) as a mezze, with all meats and even fresh vegetables. Its a staple on any Greek mezze platter and gives you the ultimate Mediterranean experience.

But the ultimate pairing is when you add this sauce to a traditional Greek gyro! This is the best gyro sauce recipe that you will ever try!

If you need some traditional charcoal gyro recipes to try I recommend these recipes.

My chicken or lamb gyros recipes on the charcoal rotisserie, or even my pork souvla recipe!

FAQs

I hope you enjoy this easy authentic Greek tzatziki recipe! If you are like me, you’ll want to pair it with everything once you've tried it, haha.

Once you've tried it, please let me know how it turned out by leaving me a rating and comment below.

📖 Recipe