Healthy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (2024)

By: Erin

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For a light, tangy, and refreshing dip that’s full of flavor and protein, try this Healthy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe. It’s a wonderful seven-ingredient dish that’s ready in less than 15 minutes.

Healthy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (1)

The perfect sauce for veggies or pita bread

Everyone loves a good dip recipe, and healthy tzatziki sauce definitely does not disappoint. It’s tangy, full of zesty flavors, and hits the spot every single time. It’s without a doubt one of my favorite Mediterranean/Greek foods.

For those that don’t know, Tzatziki sauce is made of a cucumber and yogurt base and is mixed with a variety of spices and lemon juice to achieve its signature flavor. It comes from the Middle East and Southeast Europe regions and is commonly served as a dip, sauce, or even a soup.

I love to pair this recipe with carrots, celery, and cucumbers, but it’s also delicious when used as a sandwich spread or eaten with a warm piece of pita! Serve it up at your next get together or munch on it during a weekend Netflix binge for a healthy snack that hits the spot.

Ingredients in healthy tzatziki sauce

This dipping sauce requires seven different ingredients. The yogurt and cucumber will make up the bulk of the recipe, and the remaining ingredients will be used for flavor.

  • Greek yogurt
  • English cucumber
  • Lemon juice
  • Chopped dill
  • Garlic
  • Salt
  • Pepper

As far as tools go, be sure to have two mixing bowls and a stirring utensil handy.

How to make this healthy tzatziki sauce recipe

Tzatziki sauce is comprised of three steps and only takes about 12 minutes to whip together! In no time, you will have a delicious sauce that pairs wonderfully with a variety of veggies and breads.

First, place the diced cucumber in a bowl and sprinkle a bit of salt on top. Let it sit for 10 minutes to release any extra moisture.

Meanwhile, mix the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, dill, garlic, salt, and pepper.

Drain the cucumber, then add it into the bowl with the above mixture and stir to combine. Taste and add additional salt and pepper as needed.

Healthy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (3)

Is tzatziki sauce healthy?

Heck yeah! Tzatziki sauce is a wonderful low calorie sauce option. When paired with veggies or other dipping items, it’s very filling, making it a more-than-worth-it snack!

Healthier tzatziki sauce questions

Here are some commonly asked questions that you may find helpful!

Do I have to use Greek yogurt?
I do recommend sticking with Greek yogurt to achieve the desired consistency and flavor. Using Greek yogurt also adds heaps of protein! However, it is possible to make this recipe with sour cream. Be sure to look up the exact measurements if using this substitute.

Do I have to use an English cucumber?
Not necessarily, though I recommend it! English cucumbers tend to have a sweeter taste which works well in this recipe. If you only have a regular cucumber, however, you can still make this recipe!

How is tzatziki different from hummus?
Tzatziki and hummus, though both dips, are wildly different. Where tzatziki is made from a yogurt and cucumber base, hummus is made from chickpeas. Tzatziki tends to be light and refreshing, and hummus is thicker and heartier. Both, however, are delicious!

How to store tzatziki
Store leftover tzatziki in a securely sealed container in the refrigerator. Eat within 2-3 days.

Healthy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (4)

Do you love dips as much as me? Try these!

Here are some of my all time favorite dip and sauce recipes. They’re perfect for eating alongside veggies, chips, pretzels, and even chicken wings!

  • Healthier Buffalo Chicken Dip
  • Easy Avocado Feta Dip
  • Healthy Seven Layer Dip
  • Savory Pumpkin Hummus

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by Quarter Soul Crisis

Healthy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (5)

★★★★★5 from 17 reviews

Healthy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

For a light, tangy, and refreshing dip that’s full of flavor and protein, try this Healthy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe. It’s a wonderful seven-ingredient dish that’s ready in less than 15 minutes.

Prep: 5Total: 5

Yield 2.5 cups 1x

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups plain Greek yogurt (2% is recommended)
  • 1 cup english cucumber, deseeded + diced very small.
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup fresh chopped dill
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions

  1. Placed diced cucumber with a sprinkle of salt in a bowl and let sit for 10 minutes to release any extra moisture.
  2. Meanwhile, mix together yogurt, lemon juice, dill, garlic, salt and pepper.
  3. Drain cucumber, then add it in and stir to combine. Taste and add any additional salt or pepper.

Author: Erin MorrisseyCategory: dinner, sauceMethod: mixCuisine: GreekDiet: Gluten Free

There may be affiliate links in this post!By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂

Healthy Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How healthy is tzatziki sauce? ›

Tzatziki is a real powerhouse in terms of health benefits. Probiotics, which can aid promote gut health, vitamins A and C, calcium, and phosphorus are all included in this classic Greek meal. Together, these nutrients strengthen your immune system and maintain the health of your bones.

Can I eat tzatziki on a diet? ›

Tzatziki is low on carbohydrates. So, people on a low- carbohydrate or diabetic diet can enjoy it guilt-free. Just 3 grams of carbohydrates in two tablespoons. Although tzatziki has some fat, it's from healthy sources like olive oil and yogurt.

What are 5 dishes that you could put tzatziki on? ›

Once you've got that covered, check out our favourite ways to use tzatziki, and bring a bit of The Med to your kitchen.
  • Lemon-tzatziki chicken.
  • Gorgeous greek chicken with herby vegetable couscous & tzatziki.
  • Grilled lamb chops with fattoush.
  • Crispy barbecued side of salmon with cucumber yoghurt.
  • Souvlaki (Wicked kebabs)
Sep 8, 2023

What is tzatziki sauce made of? ›

Tzatziki is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs such as dill or mint. Traditionally, it is made from strained sheep or goat's milk yogurt, but a full-fat Greek yogurt works just fine in this dip.

Is tzatziki healthy to eat every day? ›

Although you can find variations online, the classic tzatziki contains yoghurt, garlic, fresh dill, lemon juice, olive oil, and cucumber. Eating tzatziki can help add a variety of healthy nutrients to your daily diet, maintain a robust microbial system, and maintain blood glucose levels.

What's healthier, hummus or tzatziki? ›

Health-wise, tzatziki contains only 54 calories per a 45 gram serving; it also comes with only 8 grams of carbohydrates and a negligible amount of sodium. Which to Pick? If you make your determination based on health concerns, then hummus is clearly the less healthy dip, with high sodium being a particular concern.

Is Gyro OK on a diet? ›

Traditional gyro meat combines beef and lamb, which can be higher in fat, particularly saturated fat. For a leaner option, chicken or turkey gyro can be chosen. These poultry choices offer a lower fat content, making them a healthier alternative without compromising taste.

Is tzatziki anti inflammatory? ›

Yes! Tzatziki sauce is perfect healthy snack, especially thanks to protein-packed greek yogurt, shredded cucumber and anti-inflammatory garlic. It's as simple as it sounds: yogurt cucumber sauce!

Is Greek yogurt OK for weight loss? ›

Despite its protein content, eating Greek yogurt alone is unlikely to make a person burn more calories. But eating Greek yogurt, as part of a balanced diet that includes enough protein, fibrous carbohydrates, and healthful fats may aid weight loss and boost metabolism.

What can I put on gyro instead of tzatziki? ›

This cucumber sauce is easy to make and full of fresh flavor. You don't need any fancy ingredients to make it, just sour cream, garlic, mustard, and some fresh dill. You can serve it after just one hour in the refrigerator, but overnight is recommended.

How long does tzatziki last in the fridge? ›

Tzatziki will last about four days in the fridge before it starts to go bad. While you can freeze it, it will change a bit in regards to texture and consistency when it comes time to thawing it out.

What do Greeks eat with tzatziki? ›

A platter of salted raw tomatoes and cucumbers becomes an instant salad when topped with tzatziki as a dressing. Bread is smeared with tzatziki and topped with grilled meats or vegetables for a crostini or bruschetta style snack that pairs well with Greek wines, like these Artichoke and Eggplant skewers.

How long does homemade tzatziki last? ›

Tzatziki sauce should be kept in a sealed container and stored in the refrigerator when you're not using it. As long as it's stored properly, you can expect homemade tzatziki to last about three to four days. This will depend on how fresh the yogurt was when you made the sauce.

Does tzatziki have garlic in it? ›

Tzatziki is made of strained yogurt (usually from sheep or goat milk) mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and dill or mint or parsley.

Why does tzatziki get watery? ›

The watery sauce is due to the cucumbers, which hold lots of water. The best way to avoid a watery tzatziki sauce is to get the excess moisture out of the grated cucumber before it's added to the sauce mixture.

Is tzatziki the healthiest dip? ›

Unlike most creamy dips, tzatziki is made with a yoghurt and cucumber base, and as such is one of the healthiest pre-made dips you can find. Low in both fat and energy, tzatziki can be substituted as a much lighter alternative to aioli and mayonnaise as a creamy dipping sauce.

Are carrots and tzatziki healthy? ›

This tzatziki dip is also perfect as a light, healthy high protein post workout snack. Just chop up a carrot and some celery or red pepper sticks for dipping.

Is tzatziki high in saturated fat? ›

Tzatziki dip contains 0.3 g of saturated fat and 1.1 mg of cholesterol per serving. 15 g of Tzatziki dip contains 0.45 mcg vitamin A, 0.3 mg vitamin C, 0.00 mcg vitamin D as well as 0.02 mg of iron, 9.60 mg of calcium, 21 mg of potassium.

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