TZATZIKI: TRADITIONAL YOGURT, CUCUMBER, AND GARLIC DIP

TZATZIKI: TRADITIONAL YOGURT, CUCUMBER, AND GARLIC DIP image

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 5

16 ounces (2 cups) of strained Greek yogurt
4 to 10 cloves of garlic, diced
1/2 cup of peeled, diced or shredded cucumber
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 teaspoons of lemon juice

Steps:

Prepare all ingredients in advance. Combine oil and lemon juice in a medium mixing bowl. Fold the yogurt in slowly, making sure it mixes completely with the oil. Add the garlic, according to taste, and the cucumber. Stir until evenly distributed. Garnish with a bit of green and serve well chilled. Yield: about 2 1/2 cups Add mint or dill: Slight variations include 1 tablespoon of either finely chopped fresh dill or fresh mint. Either one makes a tasty addition. Shopping Tip: The thick, full-fat yogurts available at Greek, Middle Eastern, and specialty food markets - or a commercial full-fat strained yogurt - will give the best results. You can also make your own strained yogurt using full-fat, low-fat, or fat-free commercial yogurt. Preparation Tips: * After dicing the cucumber, pat it dry to remove excess moisture. * The longer the tzatziki is refrigerated before serving, the more intense the garlic taste will become. Storage: Tzatziki will store safely in the refrigerator for several days.