Vegan Tzatziki (Greek Cucumber Yogurt Sauce)

What Is Tzatziki?

Tzatziki is a Greek yogurt sauce made traditionally with strained yogurt, cucumber, and mint.

But here I am sharing a vegan version with coconut yogurt.

Tzatziki is served in Greece as a meze with bread, eggplant, and zucchini. It’s frequently added to gyros as it brings a fresh and tangy taste.

Tzatziki exists in many forms in Southern and Eastern Europe. It’s called cacik in Turkey, Tarator in the Balkans, or Talattouri in Cyprus.

You would also find similar sauces in Iraq or Iran.

How To Make Vegan Tzatziki

Tzatziki is a very healthy fresh summer dip that you can use as a sauce in a sandwich or as a dipping sauce with vegetables.

This vegan tzatziki dip is not using tofu as many vegan versions do. It simply uses thick dairy-free coconut yogurt.

Ingredients

All you need are 6 basic ingredients that we all have in the pantry and fridge.

• Coconut Yogurt – prefer unsweetened yogurt, if possible choose Greek Coconut Yogurt for a tangy taste.
• Garlic – freshly crushed is my preference. But you can also use garlic powder if you don’t have fresh garlic.
• Mint – It’s essential to use fresh mint for good Tzatziki. Dry mint has very little taste compared to fresh mint.
• Lemon – Use the juice of fresh lemon. Find out how to squeeze lemons properly! If you don’t have a fresh lemon, you can use bottled lemon juice.
• Cucumber – fresh Telegraph cucumbers are the best, but any kind of cucumber would work. You don’t have to discard the water seed part but you can if you don’t like it.
• Olive Oil – prefer extra-virgin olive oil.

Instructions

Making this vegan dipping sauce is very easy.

Start by peeling the cucumber and slicing it.

You can remove the seeds if you prefer it this way, but it’s optional.

Then, grate the cucumber on a hand grater or in a food processor.

Transfer the grated cucumber to a large mixing bowl and add the olive oil, crushed garlic, chopped mint, and lemon juice.

Pour the coconut yogurt and stir the vegan tzatziki to distribute the flavors.

For optimal taste, keep the tzatziki in the fridge for 2 hours to let all the flavors blend.

Serving

I love to serve this dip on my Friday finger food platter with a homemade avocado dip, nuts, crackers, and raw vegetable sticks.

You can also add some grilled asparagus and fresh grapes as it is in season.

It is usually made with Greek yogurt which I love but today I am sharing a dairy-free tzatziki option.

Storage Instructions

You can store this vegan tzatziki for up to one week in the fridge if it’s kept in an airtight container or tightly wrapped.

The water might separate from the yogurt, just give it a good stir to get its texture back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make Keto-Friendly Tzatziki?

If you are not vegan or if you want a low-carb version of this Tzatziki, you can use simply swap the coconut yogurt for unsweetened Greek yogurt.

Any Greek yogurt works well if you want to reduce the carbs of your dip. I love to spread this vegan tzatziki sauce into sandwiches but it also makes a nice dip for kids lunch boxes or as a party appetizer.

Can I Use Coconut Cream Instead Of Yogurt?

Yes, you can swap the coconut yogurt for full-fat coconut cream to boost your fat intake.