Tzatziki Recipe Jamie Oliver Food

TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Just mix everything up together until it is all blended and the oil has emulsified into the yoghurt/sour cream. Taste for seasoning, and add salt if you think necessary. Put in a resealable container.
• Allow to 'sit' in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours before using to allow the flavors to come out.
• This wonderful meze (we do not think of it as a sauce here- it is a thick 'salata') is used to counterpoint rich, bbq'd meats (like souvlaki/shish kebab), but can be used in more diverse ways.
• Place a small plate full on your dinner table for people to scoop up small amounts onto their bread (preferably crisp-baked pita).
• Fry up some zucchini or eggplant slices (dredge in flour and fried in olive oil) and serve with a dollop of tzatziki on top.
• Use as a salad dressing.
• A dip for crudites.
• Note: If I have time, I often lightly salt the grated cucumber and put in a colander to drain, then squeeze out water as per usual. This eliminates even more water.

TZATZIKI RECIPE AS MADE IN GREECE

Steps:

• Add the Greek yogurt to a large mixing bowl and work it with a hand whisk to become really smooth and creamy. Making sure there aren't any lumps in it.
• Squeeze the grated cucumber with your hands to remove most of its water. Then add to the mixing bowl along with the Greek yogurt.
• Add the remaining ingredients to the mixing bowl as well and mix very well.
• Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving for the garlic to cool down a bit. Or even better overnight. If you like raw garlic you can serve this dip right away, along with some pita bread or rustic artisan bread!

TRADITIONAL GREEK TZATZIKI RECIPE

Steps:

• Shred the cucumber and if it is very watery drain it through the strainer. You can also leave it to drain for half hour or even over night in a fridge.
• Add minced garlic, chopped dill, yogurt, olive oil, vinegar and salt. Let the flavors merge for at least half hour.
• Serve it with grilled meats, veggies or as an appetizer with pita bread.

TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Peel cucumber, cut in half lengthways and de-seed using a teaspoon, then coarsely grate.
• Put grated cucumber into a sieve suspended over a bowl, sprinkle over 1/2 tsp of salt and mix through. Place a plate on top of cucumber and allow cucumber to drain for approximately 1 hour, or until water stops dripping (whichever is first).
• Combine all the ingredients and mix thoroughly.
• The flavours combine better if given time so I prefer to leave it in a sealed container in the refrigerator overnight.
• If Greek yoghurt is not available then you can make your own Greek style from plain yoghurt by suspending a sieve lined with cheesecloth over a bowl, adding the yoghurt and allowing it to drain for 2-3 hours, or longer if thicker yoghurt is preferred, in a refrigerator. A paper coffee filter can be used as an alternative to a cheesecloth, following the above method.

JAMIE OLIVER'S HOMEMADE YOGURT

Steps:

• Bring milk to a boil in a thick bottomed pot. Turn heat off and leave for about 40 min until the milk has cooled down to body temperature. If you can keep your finger in the milk, you can go ahead and stir/whisk in the yogurt. Cover and leave at room temperature for 6-8 hours.
• Place in the fridge to chill; it will keep for 1 week.

AUTHENTIC GREEK TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Stir together olive oil, vinegar, and garlic in a bowl and let sit while you prepare the cucumber.
• Peel cucumber and cut in half lengthways; scrape out all the seeds. Grate cucumber with a cheese grater into a sieve set over a bowl. Sprinkle with salt. Strain out as much liquid as possible by pressing down in the sieve with the palm of your hand. Alternately you can wring cucumber out in a clean tea towel. Add cucumber and yogurt to the garlic mixture. Mix until well combined and season with salt to taste.

GREEK TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Stir together yogurt, grated cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil in a bowl. Add lemon zest, dill, salt, and pepper; whisk until smooth. Pour into a serving dish, cover tightly, and refrigerate 8 hours before serving.

TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Coarsely grate the cucumber, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and squeeze out all the liquid. Tip into a bowl with the yogurt, garlic and mint, and mix well. Great served with slow roast lamb or as a dip.

EASY TZATZIKI

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice and dill. Season with salt and pepper. Chill.
• BYOC: For some extra flavor, add some olive oil and some coarsely chopped fresh mint. Serve with crudities at your next party. Brush a pita with some olive oil and sprinkle za'atar on top. Bake in the oven until crispy and serve.

GORGEOUS GREEK CHICKEN WITH HERBY VEGETABLE COUSCOUS & TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Ingredients out • Kettle boiled • Large frying pan, medium-high heat • Food processor (bowl blade)
• START COOKING Put 1 mug of couscous and 2 mugs of boiling water into a bowl with a small pinch of salt and cover • On a large sheet of greaseproof paper, toss the chicken with salt, pepper, the oregano, allspice and finely grated lemon zest • Fold over the paper, then bash and flatten the chicken to 1.5cm thick with a rolling pin • Put into the frying pan with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, turning after 3 or 4 minutes, until golden and cooked through
• Using a box grater, coarsely grate the cucumber • Sprinkle it with a small pinch of salt, then squeeze and scrunch with clean hands to get rid of the excess salty water • Pop in a bowl with the yoghurt, juice of ½ a lemon and a pinch of pepper, finely chop and add the top leafy half of the mint, then mix together • Remove the stalk and seeds from the peppers and chilli, then pulse in the processor with the trimmed spring onions and the dill until finely chopped • Scatter over a large tray or platter
• Add the peas to the veg (if using frozen peas, blanch them in boiling water for a couple of minutes first), destone and tear over the olives, then squeeze over the juice of the zested lemon and add the extra virgin olive oil • Fluff up and scatter over the couscous, toss well and season to taste • Move the cooked chicken to a board, slice it up, then lay it around the couscous • Crumble over the feta and serve with the tzatziki

TZATZIKI

Steps:

• The best result is achieved by peeling and de-seeding the cucumber before grating. Hang the grated cucumber in muslin cloth or a tea towel in order to squeeze out all the excess liquid, if you like.
• Combine the yoghurt, cucumber, lemon juice and garlic. Add a dash of olive oil and sprinkle with paprika.

TZATZIKI

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.

BEST TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Working with one big handful at a time, lightly squeeze the grated cucumber between your palms over the sink to remove excess moisture. Transfer the squeezed cucumber to a serving bowl, and repeat with the remaining cucumber.
• Add the yogurt, olive oil, herbs, lemon juice, garlic, and salt to the bowl, and stir to blend. Let the mixture rest for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Taste and add additional chopped fresh herbs, lemon juice, and/or salt, if necessary (I thought this batch was just right as-is).
• Serve tzatziki immediately or chill for later. Leftover tzatziki keeps well, chilled, for about 4 days.

SOUVLAKI (WICKED KEBABS)

Steps:

• For the kebabs: Put the pork chunks, dried mint, dried oregano, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, and black pepper into a bowl and use your clean hands to mix everything together really well. Cover with plastic wrap or clingfilm, then pop into the refrigerator for 30 minutes, or longer if you want the flavours to get a bit more intense. Meanwhile, blacken the peppers directly over the flame of your hob, in a hot dry griddle pan or under a hot grill. Turn them every so often and when they look almost ruined, pop them into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap or clingfilm and put to one side to steam for 5 minutes or so, this will help their skins to come off.
• To make the tzatziki: Coarsely grate the cucumber into a sieve set up over a bowl. Add a few good pinches of salt, then use your hands to squeeze out as much water as you can. Pour the water away, then tip the cucumber into the empty bowl and add the yoghurt. Pound the garlic in a pestle and mortar with a good pinch of salt until you have a paste, and spoon that into the bowl with the cucumber. Add the dried mint and red wine vinegar and mix really well. Have a taste to make sure you've got the balance right, then put aside. Preheat a griddle pan or grill on a high heat. Thread the skewers through the marinated pork pieces, leaving little spaces between them so that the heat cooks everything evenly. Cook the kebabs on the screaming hot griddle or grill for about 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally until done on all sides. Warm your flatbreads in the oven or in a hot dry pan while your kebabs are cooking. Just before your kebabs are ready, peel and deseed your blackened peppers, then tear them into strips and put them into a bowl. Roll up your mint leaves, finely slice them and add to the bowl along with the dill. Add a few splashes of red wine vinegar, a pinch or two of salt and pepper and a lug of extra-virgin olive oil. Toss and mix together, then have a taste to check the balance of flavours. Cut your lemon into wedges. Put a dollop of tzatziki and the meat from 1 skewer on each warmed flatbread. Top with some of the pepper mixture, a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and a good squeeze of lemon juice. Life doesn't get much better.

TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Prepare cucumber: Cut the ends off the cucumber. Slice the cucumber in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Grate remaining cucumber and toss with salt in bowl. Set salted grated cucumber in strainer over bowl or in sink and let stand for at least 15 minutes. Squeeze to remove as much liquid as possible and discard liquid. Ideally you want about 1 cup of grated cucumber for the Tzatziki.
• Mix sauce: Combine drained grated cucumber with remaining ingredients in large bowl. Mix to combine, taste, and add additional salt, lemon juice, or dill, if desired.

BAKED FALAFEL (CHICKPEA PATTIES)

Steps:

• Rinse and drain the chickpeas well. Process the chickpeas in a food processor until a dry paste is form. Add in the onion, garlic, 1 tablespoon flour, parsley, ground coriander and cumin and pulse until the mixture comes together. You can mix them in a bowl like me if your food processor is not big enough. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add in more flour and egg (if using) if need. Chill the mixture for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
• Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and drizzle oil generously on top.
• Shape the falafel by scooping small mounds and roll them into a ball, compacting the mixture. Flatten the ball slightly then place them on the baking sheet, turning them to coat both sides with oil.
• Bake for 15 minutes until golden on the underside, then flip the falafel and bake for another 15 minutes until the other side is golden. Serve warm or at room temperature, wrapping it in a pita bread or tortilla and adding lots of vegetables and Tzatziki sauce.
• Peel and cut the cucumber into small pieces. Add salt and rub it into the cucumber pieces with your hand. Cover and let stand for 30 to 45 minutes. Place the cucumber pieces on a cheesecloth or a few paper towels and squeeze the excess liquid out.
• Place in a food processor and purée it. Combine with yogurt, lemon juice and garlic. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Refrigerate for 1 hour for the flavours to mingle. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
• The sauce can be made ahead and kept in a tight jar for 2 to 3 days. Give the mixture a stir before using.