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MY FAVORITE SUMMER CONDIMENT: AVOCADO TZATZIKI

If you were to ask me what my favorite condiment in the world, I would tell you that it is a pretty tough question to answer.  But if we were to adjust the question and you asked me what my favorite summer condiment is, then the answer is pretty simple? Tzatziki.

In case you do not know what tzatziki is, it is a condiment made in Greece and the some parts of the Middle East served with spicy foods as a cooling condiment.  It is delicious and super simple to make.  I can eat it each and E  V  E  R  Y single day.  It is that good.  However, once I made it and did not have any olive oil but instead I had avocado oil.  So guess what?  In went the avocado oil.  And I was so surprised at how good this turned out! 

 
 

The main ingredients are pretty simple and fresh:


This combination is really delicious and the cooling ingredients make it the perfect condiment to have with your summer dishes.  While it is intended for spicy dishes, I find it that I have a craving for tzatziki only during the summer.  Probably because the flavors are so bright and clean.  And the recipe itself is really simple:


Ingredients

1 English cucumber, shredded
1.5 cups Greek yogurt 
4 cloves of garlic, minced 
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoon avocado oil (you can use actual avocado but I'm not to crazy about the color this turns).
1 teaspoon lemon zest 
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Step 1: shred the cucumber and then place in a cheese cloth. Gather the cheesecloth ends and then twist, squeezing the liquid out of the cucumber.  ** Do not skip this step.  Cucumber has a lot of liquid and it will make your sauce to thin if you do not remove the excess liquid.

Step 2: Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, mix well and refrigerate for about 45 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to come together.  It is worth the wait!  Some people prefer to serve the tzatziki at room temperature but I prefer mine a little bit cooler. 


 

One of my favorite ways to use tzaziki is to slather it on a lamb burger (or a beef burger too).  The flavors go especially well.  What can you expect flavor wise of this sauce? A little tangy with a slight bite of garlic.  The garlic can be a bit overpowering if you are not careful but the avocado's slight sort of sweetness cut back on it and gives it a beautiful layer of flavor.  And the herbs are so bright and aromatic that just makes it a delight to eat.  I highly recommend it.

Have you had tzatziki before? 
Do you like it? 
What is your favorite condiment?

9 comments :

  1. LOVE Tzatziki and this looks delicious!!!

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  2. I would never have thought to use avocado oil–I'll have to give this a try the next time we whip up some tzatziki!

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  3. Where do I find avocado oil? Sounds like a great dish. If I substitute avocado, is it the same amount as the oil?

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    Replies

    1. Joann, you can find avocado oil in most gourmet grocery stores or online. But if you cannot, use normal avocado. Same great taste only a little greener. To be honest I prefer half an avocado. If I use one whole one it turns more into guacamole.

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