The tzatziki sauce: fresh solution to complement many dishes

Sauce or tzatziki appetizer is one of the most famous dishes of the Greek cuisine. This fresh, light sauce is perfectly suited not only to the Greek, but and many other dishes, improving their taste or causing it to sound in a new way.

In Russian this sauce is also often called "tzatziki" or "tzatziki", but actually it does not change. Tzatziki is a wonderful light sauce appetizer that is perfect as a sauce for meat dishes or as a snack that you can eat with a spoon or spread on bread. Also, this sauce can be served with seafood and other dishes to taste - everyone can find the best combination for your individual taste.

It is known that its name this dish received from the Turkish word "cacik" which referred to a similar appetizer, however, in the Turkish version, it has a far more liquid consistency. There are also similar dishes in Bulgarian (cold soup tarator), Cyprus (calatori - made with mint and a small amount of garlic), Indian (Raita) kitchens. Interestingly, in our country, the counterpart of this sauce is hash. Whatever it was, that Greece is considered the birthplace of snacks, and it was there that she is one of the most popular dishes, regularly appearing for everyday or holiday table. It serves as part of a meze - a traditional set of appetizers to meat, and the dish souvlaki and just as deep sauce (sauce for makanya) to vegetables and bread. The Greeks without tzatziki no cost, no feast, normal, or holiday.

Classic tzatziki prepared from natural yogurt, garlic and cucumber. At home meals it is made, usually of yogurt made from goat or sheep, at least - from cow's milk, and it is a distinctive feature of Greek yogurt is the density. So to make a real tzatziki possible and in any other country in the world - it is important to find thick natural yoghurt without flavorings and such today are sold in almost every supermarket. The rest of the snacks you can easily find in any refrigerator.

Cooking sauce-snacks Tzatziki

What does the funny name of this sauce-snacks - not known, it is only obvious that for such a tricky word stands a very simple and very tasty dish that is suitable to many foods and forcing to discover their taste on the other hand.

To prepare classic tzatziki take 500 grams of yogurt, 1-2 cucumber, 3 cloves of garlic, pepper, salt, vinegar (wine or common table) and a little olive oil. Incidentally, the proportion is quite conventional: the Greeks themselves do not skimp on the garlic and I love to add him more, and the amount of yogurt and cucumbers depends on the sauce you want to get in the end.

Cucumber sauce can be cut into small cubes or grate on a coarse grater - on request, as well as the fact that cucumber can peel or not peel. Prepared cucumbers podsalivaetsya and hands wrung out excess liquid. One more thing - the seeds, they are, as a rule, from cucumbers to remove before washing or meats, are also not used bitter part of cucumbers.

Garlic peel and pass through a press or RUB on a small grater, add to the cucumbers, not pressing from the juice. The more garlic you add, the more will be the starter. Thus, spicy tzatziki can be done to barbecue or other meat dishes and softer - as a separate snack.

Oil for the sauce used olive, but you can substitute sunflower. The oil is added to the cucumber and garlic with yogurt, vinegar, pepper and salt. After adding these ingredients, the sauce is stirred and tried to taste - it should not be fresh, so if necessary it can even be salt and dress with vinegar to taste.

Additional ingredients: tzatziki, you can add chopped dill, olives, parsley, mint. Vinegar can be replaced with lemon juice.

Before serving, let the sauce sit in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours, and serve it on a plate or bowl.

Importantly, tzatziki can be prepared in a low-calorie version, choose yogurt with low fat content - the taste will not be worse, and you will be able to enjoy a wonderful meal without harm to the figures!

Prepare tzatziki and make home beautiful Greek appetizer, it will appreciate the taste of both men and women, especially at the festive table - it is very refreshing, without overloading the stomach.