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Thick Vegan Tzatziki - Easy Dairy Free Yogurt Dip

Simple yet big-impact vegan tzatziki. Zesty, refreshing, and ultra versatile. Includes a simple DIY trick for thicker, Greek-style vegan yogurt.
Course Dips
Cuisine Mediterranean, Vegan
Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 64kcal
Author Tajda Ferko

Ingredients

  • ½ large cucumber weighing approx ½ pound or 237g
  • 1.5 cups dairy-free yogurt thick and unsweetened
  • 2 large cloves garlic minced or grated
  • 3 tablespoon dill finely chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil to drizzle on top
US Cups - Metric

Instructions

  • Prepare the cucumber. Grate the cucumber using the wide holes of a box grater. Sprinkle the shredded cucumber with ½ teaspoon salt and let it sit for 10 minutes. This will draw out the excess water. Then use clean hands to thoroughly squeeze the cucumber over a bowl catch the excess liquid, ensuring you remove as much moisture as possible. Pat the cucumber completely dry to remove all remaining moisture.
    ½ large cucumber
  • Add remaining ingredients. Combine the thick vegan yogurt* with the rest of the ingredients (except extra-virgin olive oil).
    1.5 cups dairy-free yogurt, 2 large cloves garlic, 3 tablespoon dill, salt and pepper, 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Mix well. Give it all a good stir until creamy and combined. Taste to adjust the seasoning and add extra lemon, garlic, or salt, according to preference.
  • Serve. Top with extra dill and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Enjoy it with my vegan souvlaki, gyros, or as a dipping sauce.
    1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Notes

* Aim for thick, spoon-able consistency. Most vegan yogurts, even Greek-style ones, are too runny to mimic tzatziki straight from the store. If it doesn't resemble Greek-style consistency, strain the yogurt in a clean kitchen towel over a bowl for 15-30 minutes in the fridge. This will help remove excess liquid and achieve the right thickness. Cheesecloth or a very fine-mesh sieve work well too. 
The recipe will still work even with a thinner yogurt, but you won't get quite the same tzatziki thickness we're looking for.

Nutrition

Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 45mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 42IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 0.1mg