Master Homemade Greek Tzatziki

Grab your apron and get ready for a flavorful adventure to the sun-kissed shores of Greece! The key to unlocking the fresh flavors of Greece lie in the traditional dish, Tzatziki.

From the shores of Greece:

Madeline, one of the owners and luxury travel advisors at STG, recently returned from research trip in Greece. She spent time with a local family on their farm in Mykonos making homemade Tzatziki and gyros. While you dream of your next Greece trip, or actively plan one with the STG team, enjoy this authentic recipe. Note: there is no lemon with this version!

Taking Tzatziki back home

Tzatziki holds immense significance in Greek cuisine, as a versatile and refreshing condiment. It's the perfect way to balance the richness of Greek dishes by providing a cool and tangy kick. Tzatziki represents the authenticity of Greek culinary traditions and serves as a symbol of Greek hospitality and shared meals with friends and family.

Tools - with links to Amazon:

• stainless steel grater (linked here)

• 1 small to medium sized bowl (linked here)

• olive wood flat top mortar and pestle (linked here)

• knife and cutting board (linked here)

• 1 serving bowl (linked here)

Ingredients

• 1 medium to large sized cucumber (or 3 baby cucumbers)

• 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt (with as little sugar as possible, and no added sugar)

• 3 large cloves of garlic

• 3 tablespoons of your favorite olive oil

• Greek oregano

• Salt

• Pepper

Instructions

Step 1: Begin by using your stainless steel grater to shred the cucumber into your medium sized bowl. Once the cucumber is entirely shredded, set aside.

Step 2: Peel and chop 3 large cloves of garlic. It does not need to be finely chopped, just broken up enough to use in your mortar and pestle. Place the chopped garlic and 3 tablespoons of olive oil into the mortar and pestle; begin to grind the garlic into the wood. You want the olive oil and garlic to make a yellow paste. Then set aside.

Step 3: Using a measuring cup, measure 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt and place it into your serving bowl. Next, add the mixture of olive oil and garlic into the same bowl as your yogurt. Lastly, add a pinch of salt, pepper and oregano into the bowl and mix.

Step 4: Turn back to the bowl with the cucumber. Using clean hands, mold the cucumber into the size of a small meatball, and begin to squeeze out all of the water into the bowl the cucumber was in. Repeat again and again until most of the water is drained from the cucumber. Once complete, add the drained cucumber to the serving bowl and mix all together with your garlic paste, yogurt and seasoning.

Step 5: Enjoy! Grab your favorite pita chips, vegetables or pita and enjoy this delicious Greek treat! If you're not enjoying right away; cover the serving bowl with saran wrap and place in the refrigerator.

Ready to experience this authentic activity with a local Greek family? Click here to begin planning your next adventure with STG.

Until the next bon voyage, tα λέμε (Ta Leme)!