Whip up a batch in 10 minutes and use it with grain bowls, salads, mezze platters, sandwiches, and more!
What is tzatziki?
Tzatziki is a creamy yogurt sauce popular in Greece and throughout the Middle East. It’s traditionally made with strained sheep or goat yogurt stirred together with minced garlic, drained cucumber, lemon juice, salt, fresh herbs, and olive oil. It’s often paired with gyro or souvlaki, grilled meats, roasted vegetables, drizzled on Greek salad, or used as a dipping sauce for vegetables, pita, and kebabs. It’s traditionally made with Greek yogurt (known for its creamy and thick consistency), but when you use the right ingredients, creating a dairy free version isn’t all that difficult. A tangy and thick coconutyogurt, high-quality vinegar, and fresh dill give my non-dairy tzatziki recipe a restaurant-quality flavor and perfect texture. PS: Greece isn’t the only country to have a signature yogurt sauce. Raita is commonly used to tame the fiery heat of Indian food, and Turkish cacik is similar to tzatziki but more herbaceous and sometimes served as a soup.
Why this recipe works
Savory and garlicky yet cooling.Cucumber and yogurt give this sauce its light, refreshing, and cooling qualities. Garlic, however, adds a robust and garlicky flavor that awakens the whole sauce. All in all, it’s the perfect condiment to enjoy with vegan Greek-style gyros, roasted vegetables, or anywhere else you could use the vibrancy of a creamy, garlicky, herby sauce. Quick and easy.Yogurt sauces are known for having layers of dynamic flavors, but that doesn’t mean they take long to prepare. All you need is 10ish minutes to put this dairy-free tzatziki together! The process is as simple as stirring the ingredients together in a bowl. But for the richest and creamiest results, exercise some patience and squeeze out the water from your cukes (it takes 5 minutes or less). No one wants a watery tzatziki sauce! Comes with endless uses.The long list of serving suggestions in the How To Serve section below is all you need to make this sauce a staple in your fridge and meal prep arsenal. From pairing it with crudites, olives, and pita for a mezze platter to drizzling it over Greek salad, the uses for tzatziki are endless!
Ingredient Notes
Vegan yogurt. Try to get your hands on the thickest, creamiest vegan yogurt you can find; Greek-style vegan yogurt or full-fat coconut milk-based yogurt is best. Standard thin vegan yogurts are too light and watery to use as a substitute for dairy-based Greek yogurt. Cucumber. English or Persian cucumbers are best because they’re tart, crisp, sweet in flavor, and have mild-tasting seeds. Any cucumber will be watery, though, which is why draining it is such a crucial step in making tzatziki sauce. Garlic. Fresh garlic is essential! It gives the sauce an assertive warmth and pungency and lots of savory flavors. Fresh dill. A classic tzatziki ingredient that brings an herbaceous, bright, and almost savory flavor. Substitute: Some recipes use fresh mint in lieu of dill. You can do this, or use both dill and mint. Dried herbs do not work very well. Their flavor is more concentrated, which makes it easier to overwhelm the sauce. Red wine vinegar. For a clean and bright acidity that makes the tzatziki pop. Substitute: White wine vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice also work nicely. Regardless of the acidic ingredient you use, make sure it’s of the best quality since every flavor is on display. Extra virgin olive oil. A must! The oil adds richness and a smooth mouthfeel. It complements the creamy consistency of the yogurt and ties the whole recipe together.
Step-by-step instructions
First, grate the cucumber. I like to do this using the wide holes on a box grater. Transfer the grated cucumber to a clean dish towel. Wrap it up and squeeze out as much water as you can over the sink. Repeat a few times. Next, add the yogurt to a bowl. Add the grated cucumber, dill, garlic, vinegar, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Stir to combine, then give it a taste and add more seasonings or herbs as needed. You can use the sauce right away or, for the best flavor, chill in the fridge for a minimum of 15 minutes (or several hours). Drizzle olive oil on top before serving, then enjoy!
Tips for making this recipe
Drain the cucumber water REALLY well. Squeezing out as much water as you can will prevent a watery tzatziki sauce and leave you with a creamy and thick consistency. If you have extra time, place the grated cucumber in a colander and sprinkle salt on top. Rest for 20 to 30 minutes, then squeeze out the water as normal. The salt will extract even more water and make the cucumbers delightfully crisp. Grate the garlic. Use a microplane, fine grater, or garlic press to get the job done. Roughly chopped or minced garlic will leave you with small chunks, which are much too strong and potent here.
How to serve tzatziki
The creamy and refreshing qualities of tzatziki make it one of the best dipping sauces to include on a mezze platter. Pair it with my Beet Hummus and surround these Mediterranean dips with pita, crudités, olives, vegan feta, and warm and crusty bread. For something simpler, just serve with homemade pita chips (find the recipe in the recipe card) and cut veggies. Add dollops of tzatziki on top of zucchini fritters or falafel. Serve with tabbouleh on the side for a light and refreshing lunch. Make a Greek plate: My favorite way to enjoy this flavor-packed plate is to pair Greek salad, roasted chickpeas, toasted pita bread, and/or cooked grains (like farro) together. Gyros wouldn’t be complete without tzatziki. For an incredible vegan gyro recipe, check out my cookbook, The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook! Thin it out with a little vinegar or lemon juice and olive oil to use it as a simple salad dressing. When all else fails, think of tzatziki as an “everything sauce”. The cooling and refreshing bites are fantastic on a grain bowls, drizzled over roasted vegetables, spread on sandwiches, and so much more. If you love this Vegan Tzatziki, please be sure to leave a rating and review below! It’s always much appreciated :) And tag me on Instagram – I love hearing your feedback. Recipe: Nisha Vora / Rainbow Plant Life | Photography: Megan Morello
Big Vegan Flavor
Techniques and 150 recipes to master vegan cooking.
