Greek Easter special - tzatziki recipes
Greek Easter special: tzatziki to accompany your Sunday Roast
Special festive edition
This is a special festive edition of Books and News to help with planning the (no doubt delicious) celebrations of Greek Easter (Sunday, 2 May 2021).
Wishing you a Very Happy Greek Easter!!
The regular May Newsletter will follow.
In this Newsletter
Tzatziki, an easy winner
- Tzatziki (classic)
- Tzatziki variations
- Tzatziki deconstructed: cucumber salad with yoghurt
Tzatziki, an easy winner
Tzatziki is a fantastically versatile and popular Greek dish that always has a place on the Greek table however lavish the meal or humble and whatever the occasion. With the upcoming celebrations of Greek Easter, I have prepared these notes on classic tzatziki as well as variations that can be used to make the dish truly your own.
Tzatziki can be served along skordalia, a garlic based Greek side dish on Good Friday with your salt cod, baked salmon, or seabass. In the Greek tradition, there is a strict fast on Good Friday with barely any cooking taking place so in that context this meal would be more suitable for the Feast of the Annunciation (25 March) which this year coincided with the bicentenary of the Greek War of Independence.
Tzatziki is also great for al fresco suppers, picnics, quick snacks and grills. Because of its popularity it is ubiquitous in foodstores and supermarkets but except for some of the more artisanal brands these offerings cannot compete with a home-produced, custom-made version. Here I also give ideas for variations that would not be available to buy ready made. The quince tzatziki (which is not strictly a tzatziki but probably more a raita) is one of my favourite.
Tzatziki (classic)
Ingredients for tzatziki
A bowl of Greek yoghurt (approx. 500g or to taste; I like Tim’s. Tim’s fat free yoghurt works really well too.)
One cucumber, sliced finely or shredded.
Optional garlic (one clove).
A bunch of fresh dill, chopped; a generous pinch of dried oregano; sea salt and pepper to taste.
A teaspoonful each (5ml) of extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar plus extra to serve.
Black olives to garnish
Method
Mix all ingredients.
Make a dipping with the back of a spoon in the middle of the bowl and fill with 5ml of the olive oil.
Garnish with the olives.
Variations
Radish tzatziki
Substitute the cucumber with 10 or so radishes or add 5–6 radishes to the above recipe.
Courgette tzatziki
Substitute the cucumber with one boiled and cooled courgette.
Pickle tzatziki
Add your favourite capers, pickled cucumbers or other pickle to classic tzatziki and enjoy!
Quince tzatziki or apple raita - recommended!
I really like all raitas and especially anything with quince. Poached, sliced quince or apple is great in plain Greek yoghurt (omit all other ingredients and definitely the garlic!) as an accompaniment to a Greek meal or your favourite curry.
If you are lucky enough to have more than one quince, it will make a glorious desert baked and served with dark honey (e.g. Greek pine or Italian chestnut honey), walnuts and/or Corinthian currants plus mascarpone (or Greek manouri if available) or more yoghurt if liked. Maple syrup is also good with this.
Mango chutney raita
Mango chutney (quantity to taste) mixed into yoghurt will also make a simple but lovely raita that is excellent with a Greek or Indian meal.
Hot pepper tzatziki
And finally:
Why not try slicing a fresh or pickled chilly pepper into the classic recipe. A dash of hot pepper relish will work well too.
All tzatziki recipes serve 4. Quantities can be easily changed.
Tzatziki deconstructed: cucumber salad with yoghurt on the side
Slice the cucumber thinly and spread on a pretty plate with half of the herbs and seasoning.
On a separate and equally pretty plate, mix the yoghurt, herbs, olive oil and vinegar. Garnish with a single olive and paprika, if liked, and season to taste.
Serving your tzatziki
Serve any of the tzatziki recipes with bread as a snack, as part of a selection of meze or to accompany your Sunday Roast.
Kali orexi (bon appétit)!