Tzatziki · Classic
Classic Cucumber Tzatziki
Screen stays on while you cook
Before you start
Gather your ingredients
Swaps for kosher salt
Instead of salt
- Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
- Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.
Swaps for plain Greek yogurt
Instead of yogurt and Greek yogurt
- Regular yogurt, strained: About 1⅓ cups regular yogurt for each cup of Greek. Close to Greek yogurt once strained; unstrained, dips and sauces come out runny.
- Sour cream: The same amount. Richer and less tangy.
- Plant-based yogurt: The same amount, plain and unsweetened. Coconut yogurt is rich but tastes of coconut; soy yogurt is closest in protein.
More for yogurt and Greek yogurt
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
Swaps for garlic
Instead of garlic
- Garlic powder: ⅛ tsp for each clove. Mellower and sweeter, with no bite.
- Jarred minced garlic: ½ tsp for each clove. Milder and slightly sour from the preserving liquid.
Swaps for lemon juice
Instead of lemon juice
- Lime juice: The same amount. A different, more floral aroma; works almost everywhere.
- Bottled lemon juice: The same amount. More sour and flatter; fine in cooking and baking, less bright in dressings and drinks.
- White wine vinegar or white vinegar: Half as much. Sharper, with no citrus aroma.
Swaps for olive oil
Instead of olive oil
- Avocado oil or another neutral oil: The same amount. No olive flavor; avocado oil handles higher heat.
- Butter: The same amount. Richer and nutty when browned.
- A neutral oil + more seasoning: The same amount. Dressings lose the fruity, peppery note; a little extra lemon, garlic or mustard makes up for it.
Swaps for fresh dill
Instead of dill
- Dried dill: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much). Dried dill (dill weed) is fair: grassier and weaker, better in dips and dressings that sit for a while.
- Fennel fronds: The same amount. A light anise note; similar look.
- Fresh tarragon: Half as much. Stronger anise flavor.
Swaps for fresh mint
Instead of mint
- Dried mint: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much). Dried mint works in tea and some Middle Eastern dishes, not in drinks, fruit salads or garnishes.
- Fresh basil: The same amount. Sweeter and less cooling.
Step 1 of 4
Grate (how to grate)
Grate Rub food over sharp holes to shred it into fine or coarse bits. 1. Set a box grater on a plate or board, or hold a rasp grater over the bowl.2. Hold the food firmly and press it down the grater in long strokes.3. Turn the food as you go so you always grate a flat face.4. Stop when the piece gets small; save the last nub for snacking or the stockpot. Done when: You have even shreds. Cold cheese and cold butter grate cleanest; fresh ginger grates best peeled and frozen. Safety: Stop while there is still a good handle of food left, and use a cut glove if you grate a lot.How to grate cheese, ginger and vegetables: mistakes to avoidStep 2 of 4
Gather the cucumber in a clean towel and squeeze hard over the sink until no more water drips out.
Step 3 of 4
Stir the cucumber, yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, dill, mint and remaining salt together in a bowl.
Step 4 of 4
Cover and refrigerate so the garlic mellows into the yogurt, then drizzle with a little oil before serving.
All done
Enjoy!
Made it? Sign in to rate it and leave a review.