Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Tzatziki!!! Or Cacik!

I made tzatziki!  I haven't had it for 20 years, and happened across a recipe for home made gyros (these were surprisingly like little meatloaf patties, but tasty all the same) and tzatziki.  

I don't know if Mark's ever had either gyros or doner kebaps, their close Turkish cousin, but he raved about schwarmas, which are similar.   Being my lazy self, I figured I'd use fresh tortillas (I just didn't feel like making or buying pitas today, and the tortillas here are always fresh.)  


Tzatziki Sauce

1 C. plain whole-milk yogurt

1/2 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and finely diced

3/8 t. salt

1 T. fresh lemon juice

1 small garlic clove, minced or pressed

1 T. finely chopped fresh mint or dill

Line fine-mesh strainer set over deep container or bowl with 3 paper coffee filters or triple layer of paper towels. Spoon yogurt into lined strainer, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine cucumber, 1/8 t. salt, and lemon juice in colander set over bowl and let stand 30 minutes.

Discard drained liquid from yogurt. Combine thickened yogurt, drained cucumber, remaining 1/4 t. salt, garlic, and mint in clean bowl.

2 comments:

NightOwlKnits said...

Oh my.

You just made my husband & daughter very happy - they *LOVE* tzatzki with pita!

Les said...

Oh, that's a fav. meal at our house! Maybe I'll do that today. I most often use flour tortillas too. I love tzatsiki but prefer the sweeter sauce of the Lebanese Donair.
Oh, you have me drooling for one!