Tzatziki is the Greek dip made from strained yogurt, cucumber, garlic, olive oil, and herbs.
The preparation is typically seasoned with salt and sometimes lemon juice, vinegar, dill, or mint. Cucumber is grated and drained so that its water does not make the yogurt runny. Greek-style yogurt gives the sauce its thick consistency, although regional recipes vary across the eastern Mediterranean.
Tzatziki is commonly served with grilled meat, particularly gyros and souvlaki, and it also appears as a meze or accompaniment to bread and vegetables. Its cool, acidic character balances smoky or heavily seasoned foods.
Similar yogurt-and-cucumber sauces exist elsewhere, including Turkish cacık and Balkan tarator. They are related but are not always prepared in exactly the same way; some versions are thinner and eaten more like soup.