Greek · Starter · 20 min

Tzatziki

Name: Tzatziki
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 500 g Greek yoghurt (very thick, stir well first); 1 cucumber (about 350 g, peeled and coarsely grated); 1 tsp salt (to draw the water out of the cucumber; adjust the seasoning carefully later); 3 cloves garlic (fresh, crushed); 2 tbsp lemon juice; 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 tbsp fresh dill (chopped); 1 tbsp fresh mint (chopped, optional); pepper; bread or vegetable sticks (to serve)

A cool, thick yoghurt dip with cucumber and plenty of garlic, finished with dill and a squeeze of lemon.

As of: 11 October 2026

Preparation

Peel the cucumber, grate it coarsely, mix with the salt and leave for about 10 minutes until juice has collected.
Put the grated cucumber in a clean cloth and squeeze out the juice firmly.
Stir the yoghurt smooth in a bowl, crush in the garlic and stir in the lemon juice, olive oil, dill and, if you like, mint.
Stir in the dry cucumber and season with pepper and, carefully, with salt.
Leave to infuse in a cool place for at least 30 minutes and serve with bread, vegetables or grilled food.

Drink with it

White wine · excellent match
Assyrtiko or retsina, well chilled
The taut, slightly salty citrus acidity of the Assyrtiko mirrors the lemon and cucumber, and the resin of the retsina stands up to the raw garlic.
Which wine pairs with food? A simple approach to choosing
Rosé · good match
Dry rosé, well chilled
Fresh acidity and delicate fruit accompany the garlic and dill without any tannins getting in the way.
Sour beer · good match
Berliner Weisse or Gose, chilled
Lemony lactic acidity mirrors the yoghurt and lemon, and the fizz refreshes after the garlic.
What is sour beer? Recognizing intentional acidity
Floral gin · good match
Gin and tonic with a cucumber slice and plenty of ice
Cucumber and lemon reappear in the glass, and the bitterness of the tonic offers a counterpoint to the creamy yoghurt.
Gin styles: London Dry, Old Tom, Navy Strength, and more

With the same drinks

This pairs well too.

Greek · Starter · 20 min

Tzatziki

A cool, thick yoghurt dip with cucumber and plenty of garlic, finished with dill and a squeeze of lemon.

As of: 11 October 2026

Preparation

Peel the cucumber, grate it coarsely, mix with the salt and leave for about 10 minutes until juice has collected.
Put the grated cucumber in a clean cloth and squeeze out the juice firmly.
Stir the yoghurt smooth in a bowl, crush in the garlic and stir in the lemon juice, olive oil, dill and, if you like, mint.
Stir in the dry cucumber and season with pepper and, carefully, with salt.
Leave to infuse in a cool place for at least 30 minutes and serve with bread, vegetables or grilled food.

Drink with it

White wine · excellent match
Assyrtiko or retsina, well chilled
The taut, slightly salty citrus acidity of the Assyrtiko mirrors the lemon and cucumber, and the resin of the retsina stands up to the raw garlic.
Which wine pairs with food? A simple approach to choosing
Rosé · good match
Dry rosé, well chilled
Fresh acidity and delicate fruit accompany the garlic and dill without any tannins getting in the way.
Sour beer · good match
Berliner Weisse or Gose, chilled
Lemony lactic acidity mirrors the yoghurt and lemon, and the fizz refreshes after the garlic.
What is sour beer? Recognizing intentional acidity
Floral gin · good match
Gin and tonic with a cucumber slice and plenty of ice
Cucumber and lemon reappear in the glass, and the bitterness of the tonic offers a counterpoint to the creamy yoghurt.
Gin styles: London Dry, Old Tom, Navy Strength, and more

With the same drinks

Tzatziki

Preparation

Drink with it

Assyrtiko or retsina, well chilled

Dry rosé, well chilled

Berliner Weisse or Gose, chilled

Gin and tonic with a cucumber slice and plenty of ice

This pairs well too.

Asparagus and Strawberry Salad (Spargel-Erdbeer-Salat)

Asparagus Quiche (Spargelquiche)

Asparagus Salad with Vinaigrette (Spargelsalat)

Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce (Spargel mit Sauce Hollandaise)

Tzatziki

Preparation

Drink with it

Assyrtiko or retsina, well chilled

Dry rosé, well chilled

Berliner Weisse or Gose, chilled

Gin and tonic with a cucumber slice and plenty of ice

This pairs well too.

Asparagus and Strawberry Salad (Spargel-Erdbeer-Salat)

Asparagus Quiche (Spargelquiche)

Asparagus Salad with Vinaigrette (Spargelsalat)

Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce (Spargel mit Sauce Hollandaise)