I have to say, you can eat this stuff with anything. Dip a piece of pita bread into it, serve it over stuffed grape leaves, spanakopita or roasted meats…but the BEST way to eat it is in a gyro sandwich or a souvlaki in pita sandwich…oh sooo good!

My mother used to make this with mostly sour cream, it gives the sauce a thicker and richer taste, but traditionally it is made with Greek yogurt. You can use regular plain yogurt too, but it will give it a looser consistency, but the flavor will still be there. If you only have regular yogurt at home and want that thick consistency then just strain the yogurt in the fridge for 2-4 hours to get that thicker Greek yogurt texture and go from there. I tend to use all yogurt or a 1/2 yogurt 1/2 sour cream mixture, if you want a little bit of both words. Or better yet, make your own Greek yogurt, it is simple!

Also, the herb I use most in this is fresh dill, but there are times when I use fresh spearmint instead, especially if I’m going to serve it with roasted lamb.

The ingredients are simple. You just need:

• 2 cups Greek yogurt (can substitute 1 cup with sour cream)
• 1 medium English cucumber, grated or finely chopped, and strained
• 2-3 garlic cloves (depending how garlicky you want it), finely chopped or finely grated
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped or 2 tablespoons fresh spearmint, chopped
• 1 juicy lemon, zested and juiced
• 1/4 cup olive oil, and a few extra brushes or drizzles
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Pita chips, homemade or store bought

Steps:

1. Add yogurt, cucumber, garlic, herbs to a bowl and mix well.
2. Add half each of the lemon zest , lemon juice and olive oil.
3. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Although I would add at least 1/2 tsp of salt and 1/4 tsp of black pepper…freshly grated is even better.
4. Taste sauce, and add rest of lemon zest, juice and olive oil to your preferred taste, and mix. Also add extra salt and pepper if needed.
5. Set aside in a pretty bowl/dish and drizzle with some extra olive oil.
6. Get out the pita chips and dip away!

Kali Orexi!

Tzatziki

Cucumber Yogurt Dip/Sauce

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Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine Greek

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups Greek yogurt can substitute 1 cup with sour cream
• 1 medium English cucumber grated or finely chopped, and strained
• 2 or 3 garlic cloves depending how garlicky you want it, finely chopped or finely grated
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped or 2 tablespoons fresh spearmint, chopped
• 1 juicy lemon zested and juiced
• 1/4 cup olive oil and a few extra brushes or drizzles
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Pita chips, homemade or store bought

Instructions

 

• Add yogurt, cucumber, garlic, herbs to a bowl and mix well.
• Add half each of the lemon zest , lemon juice and olive oil.
• Add salt and pepper, to taste. Although I would add at least 1/2 tsp of salt and 1/4 tsp of black pepper…freshly grated is even better.
• Taste sauce, and add rest of lemon zest, juice and olive oil to your preferred taste, and mix. Also add extra salt and pepper if needed.
• Set aside in a pretty bowl/dish and drizzle with some extra olive oil.
• Get out the pita chips and dip away!

Have you ever gone to a restaurant and thought, “I’d rather get 3 or 4 appetizers instead of a dinner”. Well, join the club. Sometimes it’s just more mouthwatering to order several starters that sound good and eat them with a glass of wine, a margarita or a beer. I think in the American culture it has been ingrained that if you don’t eat a plate of food, and sometimes along with an appetizer and dessert later, then we haven’t had a complete meal. The mindset is so different then in the Mediterranean. For instance, in Greece, just ordering a few appetizers (called “meze” in Greece, meaning small dish), or a souvlaki me pita with some horta (greens) and eating it family style with a few friends over a drink would suffice for an evening meal. Pair that with sitting at a table overlooking the water….ahhh, it’s like heaven. People need to get back to clean eating and not overeating.

Take for instance the food in the picture above, that I took in Greece in 2015. It is a plate of fried potatoes, tzatziki (cucumber yogurt dip) and some eggplant in oil (lathera-dishes made in Greece that incorporate A LOT of olive oil and vegetables of some sort-very yummy, especially when you dip some good hot and fresh bread into the juices!). Add some feta cheese with it (which I believe was in another plate on that table) and you got a satisfying meal for 2-4 people.

Again, just a few simple appetizers shared with some of your favorite people is enough to satiate the palate, the mind and the heart. You definitely will feel better later on when you go to bed with your belly feeling just right rather than saying “oooohhhh, why did I eat so much”. I know you have been there…many times…I have too!

Although it’s good to watch your calories, a general rule I have is to make healthy choices and eat more of those then unhealthy ones. You get more bang for your buck with healthier options. You feel more satiated and your body feels good, and you know your are nurturing your body…especially if you eat a lot of olive oil :). Healthy doesn’t mean tasteless! What are your thoughts on simple meals? I’d love to hear from you!