What is Tzatziki?

TZAZIKI is a Greek sauce served with grilled meats or as a dip. Tzatziki is made of strained yogurt (usually from sheep or goat milk) mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and sometimes dill.

In Turkey, tzatiki is called cacik and is made of yogurt, salt, olive oil, crushed garlic, chopped cucumber, mint. Among these ingredients, vinegar (mostly white grape or apple), lemon juice, and sumac are optional. Dill and thyme (fresh or dried) and sumac and paprika may be used alternately. Cacık is often served as side dish and it is diluted with water, which results in a soup-like consistency. If consumed as a meze, it is prepared undiluted but follows the same recipe.

Other versions of tzatziki exist in the Middle East and Eurasia. In the Balkans it is called Tarator. In Poland its called Miseria and is made with sour cream. In The Caucasias its called ovdukh and uses k. In the Middle East Jajeek or Mast-o-khiar.