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.