Cucumber Greek Yogurt Tzatziki (Printable)

Creamy blend of cucumber, Greek yogurt, dill, and garlic for a light, refreshing dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and diced
02 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped

→ Dairy

03 - 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt (2% or full-fat)

→ Fresh Herbs & Seasonings

04 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, finely chopped (optional)
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish (optional)

11 - Additional dill or mint leaves
12 - A drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil

# Method:

01 - Place diced cucumbers in a colander, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, and let drain for 10 minutes to remove excess moisture. Pat dry with paper towels.
02 - In a large mixing bowl or salad shaker jar, combine Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill, mint if using, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and creamy.
03 - Add drained cucumbers and finely chopped red onion to the yogurt mixture. Gently toss or shake until evenly coated.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
05 - Chill the salad for at least 30 minutes to develop flavors (optional).
06 - Serve chilled, garnished with extra herbs and a drizzle of olive oil if desired.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • It comes together in minutes without any cooking, perfect when you want something fresh but don't want to heat up the kitchen.
  • The creaminess feels luxurious but the whole thing sits light in your stomach, so you don't feel weighed down.
  • One bowl feeds a group or stretches across your week, making it practical for meal prep without tasting repetitive.
02 -
  • The moisture in fresh cucumbers is your biggest enemy—don't skip the salting and draining step or you'll have a watery puddle by dinner time.
  • Full-fat yogurt makes all the difference between a dish that tastes creamy and delicious versus one that tastes diet and thin.
03 -
  • If your yogurt tastes sour or tangy, that's a sign it's older—use fresher yogurt and the whole salad tastes cleaner and brighter.
  • Don't be shy with the lemon juice; a squeeze more than seems right actually prevents that one-note creaminess from taking over.
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