Easy Tzatziki

Tzatziki, the delicious yogurt sauce that accompanies falafel, gyros, and countless lamb dishes, is one of my favorite things to make. It’s simple to whip up and while I don’t recommend it eating it by the spoonful, I have been known to do so. It requires just eight ingredients to make, and with the growing availability of Greek yogurt, it takes just minutes to prepare. If only plain yogurt can be found at your local grocery store, it’s best to wrap the yogurt in cheese cloth and strain over a bowl for two hours to get the thick, rich consistency tzatziki requires. You should be able to track it down though, particularly the brand above (Fage). I’ve found it in Brooklyn and in the wilds of Upstate New York.

Here’s my basic tzatziki recipe, but you can play with the amounts to suit your own taste.

Mo’s Tzatziki
Makes 1 1/4 cups
-1 cup Greek yogurt (or plan yogurt strained as mentioned above)
-8 large, coarsely chopped mint leaves
-1/2 medium shallot, finely chopped
-1/2 small cucumber, grated
-2 minced garlic cloves (add more to taste)
-2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
-Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

1) Combine yogurt, mint, shallot, cucumber, and garlic in a small bowl.
2) Halve lemon and squeeze juice of one half directly into bowl, taking care to catch any seeds.
3) Add salt and pepper to taste and it’s ready to serve. Save any remaining tzatziki in a covered container for up to three days. Some say the flavor gets better with time.