Tzatziki

Tzatziki (τζατζίκι; also transcribed jajiki) is a Greek and Turkish meze, or appetizer, also used as a sauce or dip. The Greek word is derived from the Turkish cacık, which means a form of chutney. It is made of yoghurt (which in Greece and Turkey is usually made of sheep or goat milk), cucumbers (either pureed and strained or seeded and finely diced), onion, and garlic for taste—in Greece this can be as much as a whole head of garlic for a large bowlful of tzatziki. It is usually seasoned with olive oil and diverse herbs including dill or mint, and usually a spoonful of vinegar is added. It is often served with pita bread as the first course of a meal, with black olives on top or served separately. It is one of the standard components of the Turkish kebab or Greek Souvlaki and gyros.

Similar dishes in Iraq are known as djadjik.

To prepare the dish, thoroughly mix skinned and diced cucumber, diced dill and plain yogurt. One may add salt and mint, according to taste. A variation in the Caucasus mountains, called ovdukh, uses kefir instead of the plain yogurt, thus creating a refreshing summer drink. This can be poured over a mixture of vegetables, eggs and ham to create a variation of okroshka, sometimes referred to as a 'Caucasus Okroshka'.

acık may also be compared with raita in India, all are served as a refreshing appetizer alongside with other dishes.

The Sephardic Jewish name for this sauce, at least in Greece, is Tarator.

Simple recipe for tzatziki

Ingredients:

1 ½ cup of Greek yogurt (strained); 2 medium-sized cucumbers; 4-6 cloves of garlic, crushed; olive oil; a little vinegar; salt

Skin the cucumbers and cut into thin strips with a vegetables grater; and then cut into small pieces. Drain and squeeze well and then salt. Add the crushed garlic, the vinegar, the yogurt and mix, finally adding the oil (a little oil at a time) and mixing. If you wish, you can garnish with olives. For a more garlicky taste, add more garlic.

Please note the following instructions are not typical for Greek yogurt

• You can sprinkle the tzatziki with paprika.
• You can, if you wish, add a mixture of finely chopped almonds and other nuts.
• Can also be made with a sour cream base.

See also

• Greek products
• Cuisine of Greece
• Tarator, a Bulgarian salad or cold soup with similar ingredients and taste
• Cacik, a Turkish side dish with similar ingredients but more diluted