Tzatziki Cucumber Dipping Sauce

Rita~'s Note:

Greek sauce/dip/salad dressing. Serve with vegies,Pitas,or with spicy dishes.

• Total Time: 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 6 cups

• 4 cups plain yogurt, regular
• 3 large cucumbers, peeled and seeded
• salt
• 3 garlic cloves (or more to taste)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• fresh ground pepper (optional)
• 1/4 cup freshly chopped mint leaf (or to taste) (optional)

Directions:

1. Line a sieve with a double thickness of dampened cheesecloth.
2. Spoon in yogurt and set the sieve over a bowl.
3. Refrigerate for two to three hours or until yogurt is about half its volume, nicely thick and creamy.
4. Shred or cut cucumber into julienne strips.
5. Place in a colander in sink or over a bowl, sprinkle generously with salt, mix well and let drain for at least 30 minutes to an hour.
6. Rinse and gently pat dry.
7. In a mortor and pestal muddle the garlic into a bit salt.
8. Add to the thickened yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, olive oil, and if desired, the pepper and mint.
9. Mix well.
10. Serve or refrigerate for a day or two so flavors mingle.
11. Stir again before serving and sprinkle with additional minced mint leaves if desired.

Reviews

[Chef #555200]

I really liked this recipe. Never thought about putting mint into tzatziki and will admit I was skeptical but now I will ALWAYS use mint. I also didn't use Greek yogurt just a thick balkan and I also didn't bother draining it through the cheese cloth. With regard to the cucumber I just grated it and squeezed it dry as best i could with my hands. Maybe it was runnier than authentic tzatziki but nobody seemed to mind and definitely a lot less work. So yummy!

[Strawberry_sunshine]

This was excellent...or rather will be. I'm making it to put on french fries for supper tomorrow. A 'recipe' a co-worker told me about. Hopefully I will still have some left! I also used greek yogurt. So much easier!! And omitted the mint. I may add a little pepper to the top of the completed dish but right now I'm eating this with a spoon!

[Evil Eva]

Yummy and easy. Served it with some thin sliced beef on naan bread with feta and tomatoes and made one of my favorites to go with it, " evelyn/athens Greek Potatoes (Oven-Roasted and Delicious!)" and it made a great meal. Close to gyro without freaking out my gyro hating partner, and she loved it. Thanks for a great recipe,