History of Tzatziki and a Recipe
Greece Travel Secrets tells the history of the classic Greek dish tzatziki, with a recipe for making your own yogurt and cucumber dip.
Tzatziki History
Tzatziki is a popular Greek dish with a rich history. Its
origins can be traced back to ancient times. Here's a brief history.
Tzatziki likely originated in the Middle East, and its
predecessor was known as rait, a yogurt and cucumber-based sauce. It’s thought
that this was discovered by the Persians when they ruled India, and enjoyed an
Indian biryani, but found it too hot for their tastes. They preferred eating it
with the rait sauce, to cool it down, and eventually the sauce made its way to
the Middle East
The sauce was eventually introduced to Greece. The Greeks
adapted rait to their own tastes with their own ingredients, and it was renamed
tzatziki. It became an integral part of Greek cuisine, known for its cooling
and refreshing properties.
What Does Tzatziki Mean?
So how did rait, or raita, become tzatziki? The answer is
that when the Turks ruled Greece, they insisted that all Greek dishes be given
Turkish names. Rait was similar to a Turkish dish known as cacik, which was
pronounced chachik.
In Greek there’s no equivalent of the ‘ch’ sound,
so it became ‘tz’ instead. And cacik became tzatzik, which became tzatziki, or
sometimes spelled tsatsiki.
How Do You Eat Tzatziki?
Tzatziki as an accompaniment to gyros
Tzatziki can be
enjoyed as a starter on its own, probably scooped up onto a piece of warm pita
bread. It can also be part of a meze, one of several starters. It’s also good
as an accompaniment to some dishes, including calamari, gyros and souvlaki.
Our Pick of the Guides to Greece
Regional Variations
Like many Greek
dishes, you’ll find different versions of tzatziki in different parts of the
country. This usually depends on what fresh herbs are available. The
traditional recipe calls for dill, but if dill doesn’t grow locally you might
find it made instead with oregano, mint, parsley or thyme.
Also, the cucumber
may or may not be peeled, and instead of being grated it might be cut up into
tiny cubes. Instead of lemon juice, some recipes recommend a wine vinegar.
Tzatziki Recipe
Now, here's a simple recipe to make Tzatziki:
Ingredients:
- 2
cups Greek yogurt
- 1
cucumber, grated and drained
- 2-3
cloves garlic, minced
- 1
tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1
tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1
tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- Salt
and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Grate
the cucumber and place it in a clean kitchen towel. Squeeze out excess
moisture.
- In a
bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, grated and drained cucumber, minced
garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and chopped dill. Mix well.
- Season
with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover
and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve
as a dip, sauce, or condiment with pita bread, grilled meats, or as a side
dish.
Enjoy your homemade Tzatziki!
For a printable PDF of this tzatziki recipe, click here.
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