Vegan Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (2024)

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Learn how to make the best Vegan Tzatziki (or “Zaziki”) with this quick and easy recipe – It’s a delicious, dairy-free, creamy yogurt and garlic sauce or dip that tastes as delicious as the traditional Greek version!

Vegan Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (2)

The Best Vegan Tzatziki Recipe

Tzatziki is a popular Greek dip or sauce made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic and olive oil. Similar to Indian raita, this thick cold yogurt garlic sauce is easy to make vegan and totally delicious! Whether you call it tzatziki, tsatsiki, or zaziki, they all have one thing in common: the homemade version tastes way better than store-bought ones!

Vegan Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (3)

If you didn’t know that vegan tzatziki can be just as delicious as the original made with Greek yogurt, then you should definitely try this plant-based recipe! It’s super quick and easy to make, wonderfully creamy, and requires no dairy at all!

Vegan Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (4) Vegan Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (5)

Ingredients needed

  • Cucumber: This low-calorie vegetable adds a great texture and a little “crunch” to the vegan tzatziki.
  • Vegan yogurt: I prefer to use soy quark “Skyr Style” because it has a firmer consistency than the yogurt alternative. However, you can also use another non-dairy yogurt, preferably a creamy one that isn’t too watery.
  • Garlic: for that indispensable flavor and perfect aroma.
  • Olive oil: This can also be omitted, but it refines the vegan tzatziki perfectly and adds a nice meditteranean touch.
  • Lemon juice: Alternatively, you can also use apple, white wine or balsamic vinegar or the tangy juice of pickles.
  • Salt & pepper: to taste.
  • Herbs: feel free to add some herbs like parsley, chives, wild garlic or dill.

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How to make Vegan Tzatziki Sauce

As always, I recommend checking out this step-by-step instruction first. Then you’ll find the full recipe with exact measurements in the recipe card below!

Step 1: Grate, salt and squeeze the cucumber.

First, grate the unpeeled cucumber. Then sprinkle with a generous amount of salt and set aside for about 5-10 minutes. Next, transfer the salted cucumber to a fine-meshed strainer with a bowl underneath and squeeze out any excess liquid.

Step 2: Combine all ingredients

Now put the squeezed cucumber in a clean bowl with the yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and some pepper and stir to combine. Taste again and season if necessary or add some herbs.

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Tip: Let the tzatziki rest

For even more flavor, I recommend refrigerating the vegan tzatziki for at least 1-2 hours (or better overnight) before serving.

How can I store tzatziki? How long does it last?

The tzatziki can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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This vegan tzatziki recipe is:

  • Quick and easy to make
  • Healthy
  • Dairy-free (lactose-free)
  • Flavorful
  • Refreshing
  • Creamy
  • Totally delicious
  • Perfect as a sauce or dip for all kinds of dishes!

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What can I serve with tzatziki?

Greek Tzatziki is traditionally served as a typical cold appetizer with bread, or as a sauce or dip for meat dishes like gyros or souvlaki. However, there are so many delicious plant-based dishes that you can serve with vegan tzatziki too. Here are some of my favorites:

  • Vegan Naan Bread
  • Quick Skillet Flatbread
  • Turkish Bulgur Salad
  • Vegan Cevapcici
  • BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Wraps
  • Vegan Burgers
  • Mushroom Skewers
  • Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza)
  • Turkish Gozleme

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More Easy Vegan Dip Recipes to try:

  • The Best Hummus
  • Vegan Tzatziki
  • Creamy Guacamole
  • Raita Dip (Indian Yogurt Sauce)
  • Cashew Dip
  • The Best Peanut Sauce
  • Ajvar (Paprika Dip)
  • Herb dip
  • Easy Vegan Mayonnaise
  • Cashew Mayo (Vegan Aioli)

If you try this Vegan Tzatziki recipe, feel free to leave me a comment and a star rating! And if you take a photo of your Greek dip and share it on Instagram, please tag me @biancazapatka and use the hashtag #biancazapatka because I love seeing your remakes! Enjoy! 🙂

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The Best Vegan Tzatziki

Author: Bianca Zapatka

Learn how to make the best Vegan Tzatziki (or "Zaziki") with this quick and easy recipe - It’s a delicious, dairy-free, creamy yogurt and garlic sauce or dip that tastes as delicious as the traditional Greek version!

5 von 1 Bewertung

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Resting Time 10 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Dip, Sauce, Side Dish

Cuisine Greek, Turkish

Servings 4 Servings

Calories 98.9 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 medium cucumber grated
  • 400 g vegan yogurt preferably „Greek or skyr style"
  • 3 cloves of garlic chopped
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar
  • 1 tsp herb or sea salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste

Optional

  • herbs e.g. parsley, chieves or dill

Instructions

*Note: Feel free to check out the recipe video + step-by-step photos in the blog post above.

  • Grate the unpeeled cucumber. Sprinkle with a generous amount of salt and set aside for about 5-10 minutes.

  • Then transfer to a fine-meshed strainer with a bowl underneath and squeeze out any excess liquid.

  • Discard the liquid and put the cucumber back to the bowl. Add vegan yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and some pepper and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed or add some herbs.

  • For even more flavor, refrigerate the tzatziki for at least 1-2 hours (or better overnight) before serving.

  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • Yogurt: I recommend using a thick non-dairy yogurt such as "Alpro Skyr Style" or "Greek Style".
  • Storing: The Tzatziki can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • More information about the recipe are mentioned in the blog post above!

Nutritions

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 98.9kcal | Carbohydrates: 3.4g | Protein: 5.8g | Fat: 6.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.9g | Sodium: 293.4mg | Potassium: 137.6mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1.3g | Vitamin A: 63.9IU | Vitamin C: 18.5mg | Calcium: 139.9mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition is calculated automatically and should be used as estimate.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @biancazapatka or tag #biancazapatka!

IF YOU HAVE PINTEREST, YOU CAN FIND ME HERE AND PIN THE FOLLOWING PICTURE, IF YOU LIKE! 🙂

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©Bianca Zapatka | All images & content are copyright protected. Please do not use myimages without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please link back to this post for the recipe. More info here. Thank youfor supporting biancazapatka.com!

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Vegan Tzatziki Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the main ingredients in tzatziki? ›

What is tzatziki? Tzatziki is a salted yogurt and cucumber dip that's made of strained yogurt, shredded cucumber, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and herbs. Authentic Greek tzatziki is most often made with sheep or goat yogurt, but my tzatziki recipe calls for regular full-fat Greek yogurt.

How long does vegan tzatziki last? ›

Serve immediately, or store in the refrigerator (where it will thicken) up to 5 days, sometimes longer depending on freshness of yogurt. This Tzatziki is delicious on its own, but it also pairs well with Greek-inspired recipes like these Traditional Vegan Falafel, Tabbouleh Salads, Shawarma Sandwiches, or Buddha Bowls.

What is a good substitute for tzatziki sauce? ›

I replace thick sauces like my tzatziki sauce with homemade mayonnaise and coconut milk. Substituting ingredients will take some getting used to, but eventually, it will become second nature.

Is tzatziki made from yogurt or sour cream? ›

Tzatziki is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs such as dill or mint.

Is homemade tzatziki good for you? ›

Yes, tzatziki is considered a healthier dip than hummus and sour cream. It contains several vitamins, a good amount of protein, and fewer carbohydrates and calories. The fat content of tzatziki is low too, which is not the case with other dips. Thus, you can opt for tzatziki dips over other dips.

Does tzatziki have garlic in it? ›

Tzatziki is made of strained yogurt (usually from sheep or goat milk) mixed with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and dill or mint or parsley.

How long does homemade tzatziki last? ›

Tzatziki sauce should be kept in a sealed container and stored in the refrigerator when you're not using it. As long as it's stored properly, you can expect homemade tzatziki to last about three to four days. This will depend on how fresh the yogurt was when you made the sauce.

Does tzatziki contain onion? ›

Tzatziki is a yogurt salad typically made with cucumbers, onions and garlic. At least, these are what I consider to be the essential ingredients.

Can you freeze homemade tzatziki? ›

Tzatziki will last about four days in the fridge before it starts to go bad. While you can freeze it, it will change a bit in regards to texture and consistency when it comes time to thawing it out.

Can vegan yogurt go bad? ›

Fresh dairy-free yogurt should have a mild, tangy scent, but if it smells sour or unpleasant, it's likely spoiled. Second, look at the texture. If it's extremely watery, seems curdled or grainy, or if you see mold or discoloration, it has definitely gone bad.

What to eat with tzatziki? ›

Tzatziki is good friends with grilled and roasted meats, especially juicy lamb chops. Serve it up with a crunchy fattoush salad – a combination of torn pitta, cooling cucumber, ripe tomatoes, sweet lettuce and refreshing mint – for a bonus hit of fresh, summer flavour.

Why does my tzatziki taste bitter? ›

How do you get the bitter taste out of tzatziki sauce? Your main ingredient – the cucumber – is often the culprit. To avoid this, make sure that you choose the right variety: English and Persian cucumbers have very little, or no, bitterness.

What do Americans call tzatziki? ›

The word “tzatziki” is a loanword from modern Greek that has come to define a very specific sauce in Greek American cuisine. It's a yogurt-based sauce that is often served as a dip, dressing, or entire side dish.

How do you thicken homemade tzatziki? ›

You can thicken it by placing a piece of cheesecloth over the top of a wide mouthed jar and holding it in place with some rubber bands. Fill the cheesecloth with your sauce, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The excess water will drain out and the sauce will be thicker.

What is in vegan yogurt? ›

Though it's traditionally made from cow's milk, vegan versions use nondairy plant sources like almonds, soy, coconuts, peas, oats, or cashews. Notably, most vegan yogurts include live active cultures, which are probiotics — or beneficial gut bacteria — that support healthy digestion ( 1 , 2 ).

Why is tzatziki not vegetarian? ›

Traditionally speaking, no, tzatziki isn't vegan-friendly as it has historically been made with dairy yoghurt, however, it's just as simple to make a plant-based version with all the same flavours and textures.

Is there vegan Greek yogurt? ›

Vegan yogurt is made from plant-based sources such as soy, coconut, oat, and cashews instead of dairy products. They come in a variety of textures such as regular, Greek, French, and kefir-style probiotic drinks, as well as flavors.

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