Tzatziki (Cucumber Yogurt Salad)

Tzatziki, a cucumber yogurt salad, is a simple salad of peeled, sliced cucumbers, yogurt, dill, salt and pepper. It's great as a side to spicy dishes.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated June 02, 2023
Elise Bauer
Bowl of Tzatziki (Cucumber Yogurt Salad) With Sprigs of Dill

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

We eat a lot of hot and spicy dishes around here; a great way to cool the palate is with the delicious combination of yogurt and cucumber.

This easy-to-make cucumber salad, also called tzatziki, is a refreshing accompaniment to spicy dishes such as chili beans, enchiladas, and Indian food.

Bowl of Tzatziki (Cucumber Yogurt Salad) With Sprigs of Dill

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

What Is Tzatziki?

Tzatziki is a simple Greek salad made with cucumber, yogurt, dill, salt and pepper that's a great foil to spicy dishes. Here we slice the cucumbers and keep them bite size. If you shred or dice the cucumber very small and add garlic and lemon, tzatziki becomes more of a sauce, used frequently on gyros and kabobs.

Cucumber Yogurt Salad Additions

  • Juice from 1 lemon
  • Minced garlic
  • Thinly sliced red onion
  • Dash of white rice vinegar and squeeze of lime
  • Crushed nuts

More Cooling Cucumber Salad Recipes

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Tzatziki (Cucumber Yogurt Salad)

Prep Time 5 mins
Total Time 5 mins
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cucumbers, peeled, quartered lengthwise, then sliced

  • 1 cup plain yogurt

  • 1 teaspoon dried dill, or a couple teaspoons of fresh dill

  • Sprinkling salt and pepper

Method

  1. Taste the cucumbers:

    First taste the cucumbers to make sure that they are not bitter. Depending on the variety of cucumber you are using, and many other factors, you may find a cucumber that is distinctly bitter in taste.

    If this happens, soak the cucumber slices in salted water for half an hour, or longer, until the bitterness is reduced, then rinse and drain before using.

  2. Make the salad:

    To make the salad, simply gently mix together the ingredients. Salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
52 Calories
1g Fat
8g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 52
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 3mg 1%
Sodium 116mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 3mg 17%
Calcium 125mg 10%
Iron 0mg 3%
Potassium 290mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.