Dish of Cucumber Yogurt Dip
(click to enlarge)

Tzatziki Salad / Sauce / Dip


Greece   -   Tzatziki
Makes:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  		 3 cups
*
2+ hrs
Yes		 A "must have" salad / dip / sauce and even soup for Greek cuisine. It's similar to those made from the Balkans to India - variously named.

1
1/2
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1
2
1
1/4
1/8
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2
1-1/2
#
t
---
cl
T
T
t
t
---
c
T
Cucumbers (1)
Salt
-- Flavorings
Garlic
Olive Oil
Lemon Juice (2)
Salt
Pepper
------------
Yogurt, strained (3)  
Dill (4) 		Make:   -   (25 min + chilling)
  1. IF making as Salad, cut CUCUMBERS in quarters lengthwise and slice about 1/8 inch crosswise.   IF making as dip or sauce, chop or grate CUCUMBERS fairly small. Most recipes recommend the large holes on a box grater.
  2. In a non-reactive bowl, tumble Cucumbers with Salt and let sit for at least 20 minutes, tumbling occasionally. Rinse and drain very well in a strainer, then wring them out (in a cloth if chopped fine). This step keeps them from making the salad watery.
  3. Crush GARLIC well, chop, and pound to paste in a mortar. Mix together all Flavoring items.
  4. Chop DILL or MINT (or some of each) fine.
  5. Mix all ingredients with Yogurt and chill thoroughly. A few hours rest in the fridge (even overnight) improves flavor.
NOTES:

  1. Cucumbers:

      If at all possible use Persian, European, or similar cucumbers that don't need to be peeled or seeded. If all you can get are standard waxed green blimps, you need to peel and seed them before weighing.

  2. Lemon Juice:

      Some recipes call for White Wine Vinegar in similar amount.

  3. Yogurt:

      In Greece, sheep or goat yogurt is traditional, and is thicker than cow yogurt. For this reason we call for "Strained Yogurt", called "Greek Yogurt" in North America. Use only a tart, natural, full fat yogurt with no sweeteners or flavorings. You can, of course, make your own Strained Yogurt by hanging regular yogurt in a muslim bag to drain.

  4. Dill:

      The best substitutes for Dill is Fennel leaves, but Mint will work, though it gives the salad a more Indian flavor.
  5. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch, ar="as required tt=to taste
ygv_cukyogurt1 130919 r 210615 r 240211 gctr36, var   -   www.clovegarden.com
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