chef john's tzatziki sauce

Ingredients

• Servings: 3
• 1 large english cucumber, peeled and grated
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups greek yogurt
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 sprig fresh dill for garnish
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper for garnish

Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins Ready Time: 3 hrs 25 mins


• sprinkle grated cucumber with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl and let stand 10 to 15 minutes to draw out juice.
• place yogurt into a separate bowl. dump cucumber and its juice a sturdy, dry paper or cloth towel and squeeze as much moisture as possible from the cucumber. mix cucumber into yogurt. add garlic, cayenne pepper, and lemon juice; mix thoroughly.
• stir dill and mint into yogurt-cucumber mixture; season with salt and black pepper. adjust all seasonings to taste.
• cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 or 4 hours (or overnight). transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with a sprig of dill and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper for color.