Greek Salsiki (Tzatziki) The easiest and most rich Greek sauce in the world - Video from Greece

Hello, and welcome to Paulina Cocina! Traveling is so wonderful, isn't it? We all love to travel, especially with our taste buds. That's why today we're traveling to Greece with an easy, no-cook recipe that you'll enjoy making and eating: Tzatziki. 

This recipe with a strange name (you can pronounce it salsiki) is a creamy, refreshing, and addictive yogurt and cucumber sauce with a hint of garlic . If you haven't tried it, now's a great time.

Today we're going to tell you all about this Greek sauce , including its origins, how to make it at home, what it tastes like, what it means, and what to pair it with. At the end, you'll find the original tzatziki recipe , plus a video of Paulina from Greece with some friends who speak strangely and make the recipe.

About Tzatziki

Now, before you all run off to the kitchen to make a nice bowl of tzatziki , let's talk a little about the world of this Greek sauce that's so delicious and so easy to make.

• Salsiki is a name I find somewhat ridiculous, but I understand that many people call this "sauce?" "Dip?" "What is this salsiki?" "They don't even know what it is, they're going to want us to call it by its name."

Simply put, it's a sauce based on yogurt, grated cucumber, and garlic . But the magic of this recipe lies in the perfect blend of ingredients and the balance of fresh flavors that make it the ideal accompaniment to almost anything.

Tzatziki plays a pivotal role in any mezze a traditional selection of appetizers in Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine served before the main course, designed to be shared with friends or family.

The origin and meaning of tzatziki sauce

Tzatziki isn't just a sauce; it's practically a little piece of Greek history Its name, though difficult for some to pronounce, comes from the Turkish term "cacik ," which also refers to a similar sauce.

The Greeks changed some parts of the recipe, transforming it into a more unique version, which became one of the pillars of their cuisine. 

• Although its exact origin is uncertain, it is known that the tzatziki sauce recipe is an evolution of ancient sauces made from Greek yogurt .

yogurt has long been used in Greek cuisine refreshing and digestive properties , were perfect for accompanying heavier dishes. So we're talking about a recipe that has as much flavor as history .

Recipes to enjoy with Tzatziki

In Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine, tzatziki sauce is often served as part of a mezze or meze , something similar to tapas , which includes a variety of dishes in small portions, such as Kalamata olives , hummus , babaganoush , dolmas (stuffed vine leaves), pita bread , and of course, the Greek sauce that brings us together today.

Tzatziki adds a fresh, creamy touch that balances the more intense flavors of other mezze , such as spicy dressings or sweet and sour bites it 's ideal for refreshing the palate between bites, for a complete experience.

Other recipes with tzatziki

Because of its smoothness and creaminess, Greek tzatziki sauce is also often used in recipes with different meats, fish, and salads:

• Gyros : A delicious Greek snack of roasted meat wrapped in pita bread , topped with a generous amount of tzatziki sauce .
• Souvlaki : These are small skewers of meat (either pork, chicken or lamb) that are served with tzatziki as an obligatory accompaniment.
• Salads : The classic Greek salad goes perfectly with the creamy and fresh touch of this dressing.

• Raw vegetables (crudités) : Cucumber, carrot, celery, peppers, all combine perfectly with the freshness of tzatziki .
• Grilled Fish : The fresh touch of the sauce contrasts incredibly well with the smoky flavor of the grilled fish.

What does tzatziki taste like and how do you eat it?

Well, it's a light sauce, but with character. The flavor of tzatziki is a balance between the freshness and acidity of the yogurt , the crunch of the cucumber, and that gentle "hit" the garlic leaves on your palate.

And how do you eat tzatziki? Well, the short answer is: with whatever you like! Tzatziki is the perfect accompaniment to grilled meats , especially lamb and chicken. It can also be served as a dip with pita bread or raw vegetables, or even as a salad dressing.

6 Tips for Making the Perfect Tzatziki Recipe

1. Drain the cucumber well : We've said this before, but it's worth repeating. If you don't drain the cucumber well, you'll ruin the sauce .
2. Crush the garlic : To prevent the garlic from going bad, remove the green bulb that is usually in the middle and crush it well, so that it becomes a paste.
3. Use thick Greek yogurt : You can use regular yogurt but the result will not be the same .
4. Add quality olive oil : Extra virgin olive oil is essential to give it that Mediterranean touch.
5. Taste and adjust : Always taste the tzatziki before serving. It may need a little more garlic, salt, or oil.

Chill before serving : This cucumber and yogurt dip always tastes best chilled.

A little late, we conclude our "Paulina in Greece" special with a typical dish made by a typical Greek mother. Tzaziki (or Salsiki, if you're having trouble pronouncing it) can be served with various vegetables or simply bread. We also present a classic Greek table setting, and we'll eat it all.

Bon Profit!

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In this program… Paulina fears being insulted in Greek.

Complete Tzatziki Recipe

Yields: 4 portions

Preparation time: 1 hour

Ingredients

I'm sure you have all this at home.

• 1 cucumber
• 500g of Greek yogurt
• Olive oil
• Vinegar
• 2 crushed garlic cloves
• ½ lemon juice
• Salt and pepper
• Dill (optional)
• Mint leaves (optional)

Greek Salsiki (Tzatziki) Recipe

1. Grate the cucumber and drain it well, pressing it with a kitchen towel to remove excess water. The cucumber should be as dry as possible.
2. In a bowl, mix the Greek yogurt with the grated cucumber.
3. Add the crushed garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice or vinegar (not both to avoid excessive acidity). If you decide to use dill or mint, add only one of the two optional herbs.
4. Mix everything well and season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, and between 2-3 hours for a more intense flavor.
6. Serve as an accompaniment to meats, pita bread or as a dip for vegetables.

how to eat

In the video we accompany it with fried zucchini, but it can be eaten with other vegetables and it is also very delicious with pita bread.

Salsiki: photos from the program

Seeee, I like this name more and more.

If you want to see the other program we made from Greece: Nescafé frappé