Its name alone makes us dream and promises sunny flavors ! When the temperatures are freaking out, what could be better than enjoying an aperitif time, with a tzatziki Fresh ? And rather than buying it in a supermarket, nothing beats a homemade tzatziki. Nothing too complicated, you just need to get the right ingredients and follow certain rules. Don’t panic, our Instagrammer Simon Aushcer gives us his little tips and tricks to succeed in this great Greek classic both light and refreshing. Guaranteed success as an aperitif!
The tzatziki recipe
To start, rinse half cucumber and grate it over a salad bowl. Wrap everything in a clean cloth and squeeze to remove as much water as possible. Rinse and finely chop a few strands ofdill and of mint.
Pour three tablespoons of Greek yogurt in a bowl, add the chopped herbsthen a peeled and pressed garlic clove, the juice of half a lemon and olive oil.
Season generously with salt, pepper, and possibly chili pepper. Your tzatziki is ready! All you have to do is enjoy it with bread, breadsticks, or pita bread.
Little tips
Star of mezze (assortment of small dishes), tzatziki is a must in Greece but it is also found in Cyprus or Turkey. Traditionally, it is prepared with Greek yogurt, that is to say a very drained natural yogurt or enriched with cream. If you don’t have one, you can prepare this recipe with a natural yogurt classic or cottage cheese, after having drained it well, so that it is a little dense. For more indulgence, you can even add a little cream!
In this recipe, Simon Auscher insists: you must drain the grated cucumber thoroughly. This step is important to prevent the cucumber from releasing water into the yogurt and giving it a much too liquid texture.
To spice up the tzatziki, we often add a few drops of lemon juice (which can be replaced with vinegar), which adds a very pleasant tangy side! The drizzle of oil adds softness and deliciousness.
Tzatziki is generally served with bread, but you can also offer it in dip, with raw vegetables (carrot or celery sticks for example). It can also be used as an accompanying sauce for skewers or grilled meats.