Deliciously Directionless: That’s Greek to Me!

From Italy to Greece, across the Ionian Sea is a short distance and there are many similarities in the cuisines of both countries. Like its Mediterranean cousin, Greek cuisine makes use of fresh vegetables, meats, herbs and olive oil. Seafood is also an integral part since the country is made up of several islands, and no part of the mainland is too far away from the sea. However, Greek cuisine also has considerable Turkish and Middle Eastern influences and meze or appetizers are perhaps the most distinct aspect of this influence. Meze can be served hot or cold, sometimes as accompaniments or dips, sometimes as small meals themselves. Some traditional meze include tongue-twisters such as Melitzanosalata, Tirokafteri, Gigantes, Domades, Gavros...

One very popular dip is Tzatziki and this recipe is based on the one I watched on MasterChef Australia. Thanks to the Greek-origin chef-judge George Calombaris and his mother who showed the step-by-step recipe on one of the episodes. It’s quick and simple, needs few ingredients and not too much preparation.

This recipe serves 4-6 people, as a side dish.

You’ll need:

3 Cucumbers
3 cloves of Garlic
200g strained natural Yogurt
Salt and Pepper
A pinch of Sugar
2tbsp Olive Oil
1tbsp Lemon Juice or Vinegar
A small handful of Mint or Dill

How to:

Peel and grate the cucumbers. You can also dice them finely if you want a slightly chunky dip. Leave to rest for 10 minutes and drain out the excess water.
Finely grate the garlic into the cucumber.
Add salt, pepper and sugar.
Mix the olive oil with lemon juice or vinegar and pour over the cucumber.
Add the torn mint or dill leaves.
Add the yogurt, mix well and check for seasoning.
Refrigerate for an hour.

Before serving, pour a dash of olive oil on top and garnish with a sprig of mint or dill.

You can adjust the quantities of ingredients depending upon your taste. For example, if you don’t like it too garlicky, reduce the garlic or increase the quantity of yogurt.

Serve the tzatziki cold, as an accompaniment to grilled meats or crispy fried aubergine (eggplant) slices. Simply slice aubergines and rub with a mixture of salt, pepper, red chilli powder and cumin powder. Heat 1tbsp olive oil in a non-stick frying pan and fry the aubergine slices till they are just crisp. Or you can serve the tzatziki with a kebab platter or with some pita bread or lavash.