Tzatziki A Greek Mothers Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Place yogurt in a coffee filter or piece of cheesecloth, and place in a strainer over a dish. Let drain for 2-4 hours in the refrigerator. If using Greek yogurt you do not need to drain it, as it is already a thick consistency.
• Meanwhile, put the chopped or grated cucumber in a tea towel and squeeze to remove liquid. Discard liquid. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and mix into the cucumber. Set aside 20 minutes. Rinse a little to wash out the extra salt, if you want to. Then squeeze again to express as much liquid as possible.
• Draining the yogurt and cucumber make for a thick and authentic consistency of tzatziki sauce.
• Combine the drained yogurt and cucumber, sour cream, pinch of salt, olive oil, red wine vinegar, mint and garlic. Note: we love garlic, so I tried adding more once. It made for an overpowering and almost bitter taste, so now I stick to only 1 clove.
• Place sauce in the refrigerator for 1 hour or more to meld flavors. Stir before serving. The sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week. Makes 1 1/4 cups.

Steps:

• Toss cucumber with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a colander and drain 15 minutes.
• Mince and mash garlic to a paste with 1/4 teaspoon salt, then whisk together with olive oil, yogurt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Squeeze out any excess water from cucumbers with your hands, then stir cucumbers into yogurt mixture. Season with salt.
• Cover and chill 1 hour.

Steps:

• Peel cucumbers and dice. Put them in a colander and sprinkle with the tablespoon of salt (draws water out). Cover with a plate and sit something heavy on top. Let sit for 30 minute Drain well and wipe dry with a paper towel.
• In food processor or blender, add cucumbers, garlic, lemon juice, dill and/or mint, and a few grinds of black pepper. Process until well blended, then stir into yogurt. Taste before adding any extra salt, then salt if needed. Place in refrigerator for at least two hours before serving so flavors can blend.
• This will keep for a few days in the refrigerator, but you will need to drain off any water and stir each time you use it.
• ** If you can't find the thicker Greek Yogurt Cheese, you can use regular, plain yogurt that is either full fat or low fat. To thicken, spoon yogurt into cheese cloth that has been quadrupled. Draw the corners of the cloth up and tie together. Suspend above a bowl for 2 hours so that water can drip out. The consistency of the yogurt should be like that of sour cream.
• You can skip this draining process, if you want, but you will have a moderately messier, runnier result.

Steps:

• Combine the yogurt, cucumber, dill, mint, olive oil, garlic, lemon zest and salt and pepper to taste in a mixing bowl and mix well.

Steps:

• Line a strainer with a clean kitchen towel and place over a bowl. Grate the cucumber on the large holes of a box grater. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of salt over the cucumbers and toss together by hand. Put the salted cucumber into the towel lined strainer and let sit for 10 minutes. Use the kitchen towel to squeeze out any remaining moisture.
• Stir the cucumber, Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt together in a medium bowl until combined. Gently fold in the dill and mint. Serve drizzled with more olive oil.

Steps:

• Place the yogurt in a cheesecloth or paper towel-lined sieve and set it over a bowl. Grate the cucumber and toss it with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt; place it in another sieve, and set it over another bowl. Place both bowls in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours so the yogurt and cucumber can drain.
• Transfer the thickened yogurt to a large bowl. Squeeze as much liquid from the cucumber as you can and add the cucumber to the yogurt. Mix in the sour cream, vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, dill, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper. You can serve it immediately, but I prefer to allow the tzatziki to sit in the refrigerator for a few hours for the flavors to blend. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Steps:

• To Prepare the Yogurt: Line strainer with cheesecloth and set over a bowl. Bowl should support strainer so it does not touch the bottom of the bowl. Put the yogurt in the strainer loosely covered, and let it drain overnight in the refrigerator.Discard the liquid and use the strained yogurt as directed.
• Combine all ingredients and refrigerate overnight before serving. Serve with pita.

Steps:

• Layer red pepper, cucumber and eggplant in lavash. Top with tzatziki sauce.
• In a bowl combine yogurt cheese, garlic, lemon juice and dill. Add salt and pepper to taste. Depending on desired consistency, add reserved yogurt liquid.

Steps:

• Prepare all ingredients in advance. Combine oil and lemon juice in a medium mixing bowl. Fold the yogurt in slowly, making sure it mixes completely with the oil. Add the garlic, according to taste, and the cucumber and cumin.

Steps:

• Squeeze excess water from cucumber using a paper towel.n
• Blend cucumber, tofu, dill, garlic, pink salt, and black pepper in a food processor until evenly mixed.n

Steps:

• Mix everything together in a small bowl with a pinch of salt. (Can be made a day ahead.) Try it drizzled over slow-cooked Greek lamb with chickpea salad.

Steps:

• Squeeze excess water from cucumber using a paper towel.
• Blend cucumber, tofu, dill, garlic, pink salt, and black pepper in a food processor until evenly mixed.

Steps:

• MEATOAF.
• Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
• Heat skillet over med-high heat, add oil.
• Sauté onion, peppers celery to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add garlic; cook for 2 minutes to release flavor.
• Set aside.
• In large mixing bowl, stir together chicken and next 8 ingredients plus sauté veggies.
• Mix until just combined; too much mixing toughens meat.
• Spray a 9" loaf pan with cooking spray.
• Spread mixture into the pan, making sure that there are no air spaces in mixture.
• Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in center register 165F degrees.
• Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.
• SAUCE.
• Mix all ingredients and chill at least 2 hours to blend flavors. Makes 1 cup.
• GYROS.
• Using favorite pita round, cut in half and cut for pita pocket, if needed. Slather lots of sauce inside pita. Slice meatloaf or cut into 1" cubes. Insert about 1/4 cup meatloaf, lettuce, sliced tomatoes and sliced cucumber (optional) -- ENJOY!