The Best Authentic Vegan Tzatziki Recipe (2024)

Last modified: . Originally posted: By Sophia DeSantis

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This is hands down the best vegan tzatziki recipe ever! With glowing 5 star reviews it's an authentic recipe you can't miss!

The Best Authentic Vegan Tzatziki Recipe (1)
The Best Authentic Vegan Tzatziki Recipe (2)

This recipe was originally published on 2/23/2014

Growing up in a fully Greek household, my mom's tzatziki was a staple. We used it as a dip, a sauce for our meals, and most of all, it's the cherry on top of a delicious vegan gyro.

You can also scoop this plant based sauce up with pita chips, drizzle over vegan shawarma, or use as a dip for grilled veggie kabobs.

I knew I needed a dairy free tzatziki on my website, a vegan version of course, to remind me of the good old days of family, Greece and eating...lots and lots of eating. I nailed this one, it's creamy, full of flavor, and tastes as good as I remember!

How to Make Vegan Tzatziki

It's a good thing this recipe is so easy to make, becuase you are going to want to have it on hand at all times! The recipe uses simple whole food ingredients and comes together in just 10 minutes.

Ingredients

The Best Authentic Vegan Tzatziki Recipe (3)

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Grate and drain the cucumber.
  2. Blend everything except the cucumber and dill.
  3. Pulse in the cucumber and dill.
  4. Refrigerate to thicken.
  • The Best Authentic Vegan Tzatziki Recipe (4)
  • The Best Authentic Vegan Tzatziki Recipe (5)

What to Serve with Vegan Tzatziki Sauce

Use this recipe for dipping or drizzling along with all your favorite foods! Here are some of our favorite ways to use it:

  • Vegan Greek Gyros
  • Vegan Shawarma
  • Falafel Burger
  • Falafel Sandwich
  • Lentil Moussaka
  • Grilled Veggie Kabobs
  • Greek Farro Salad
  • Roasted Greek Lemon Potatoes
  • Broccoli Cauliflower Tots
  • Oven Fries
  • Eggplant Fries
  • Pita bread or chips
  • Fresh veggies like celery, carrots, and cucumber spears
The Best Authentic Vegan Tzatziki Recipe (6)

Preparation Tips

  • If you do not have a high speed blender you need to prepare the cashews. You can either soak them overnight, boil for 30 minutes, or grind into a fine powder using a coffee grinder.
  • Use a cheese grater or a food processor with a grating attachment to cut the cucumber.
  • To avoid a watery sauce remove as much of the liquid from the cucumber as possible using apaper towel or dish towel.
  • The easiest way to chop the dill is to remove the thick stem, roll it up in a ball, and finely chop with a sharp knife.
  • Seal the tzatziki in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
  • The longer the dip rests in the refrigerator, the thicker it gets. To thin it out mix in a little more water.

Tofu Variation

Originally this recipe was developed using tofu. I've found that the cashew version is better, but if you can't have nuts this is a great alternative.

  • Substitute the cashews for 1 ½ cupssilken tofu.
  • Omit the lemon juice if preferred.

Common Questions

How do vegans eat tzatziki?

There are some plant based store bought options, but it's so easy to make your own! Some recipes use vegan yogurt as a base, but I've found using cashews with fresh ingredients works even better to create a thick and creamy sauce.

What is vegan tzatziki made of?

Many of the same ingredients including cucumbers, dill, and garlic. However, instead of yogurt, this recipe uses cashews, water, and lemon juice to create the creamy base.

Is vegan yogurt good?

The options for vegan yogurt have greatly improved over the years. There are many store bought and homemade recipes that taste delicious.

More Vegan Sauce Recipes

Having so many options for plant based sauces and toppings allows you to add extra flavor to your food! Here are some of the most popular sauce recipes:

  • Ranch Dressing
  • Caramel Sauce
  • Chocolate Syrup
  • Cheese Sauce
  • Passion Fruit Syrup
  • BBQ Sauce
  • Teriyaki Sauce
  • Buffalo Sauce
The Best Authentic Vegan Tzatziki Recipe (7)

The Best Authentic Vegan Tzatziki Recipe (8)

The Best Authentic Vegan Tzatziki Recipe

Sophia DeSantis

This is hands down the best vegan tzatziki recipe ever! With glowing 5 star reviews it's an authentic recipe you can't miss!

5 from 50 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Shop Ingredients

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Equipment

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • Put the grated cucumber in a paper towel or dish towel, squeeze out the excess water until mostly dry. Set aside.

  • Blend all ingredients, except the cucumber and dill, in a high-speed blender and puree until smooth.

  • Add cucumber and pulse until well incorporated.

  • Add dill, pulse until finely chopped.

  • Refrigerate to thicken. The longer you leave it, the thicker it gets.

Notes

  • Recipe makes about 2 ½ cups sauce.
  • If you are not using a high speed blender you can either soak the cashews overnight or grind them into a fine powder using a coffee grinder. You can also boil them for 30 minutes.

UPDATE: After much trial and error, I have updated this recipe to my favorite version using cashews instead of tofu. If you are nut free and want the tofu version, take out cashews and water and use 1 ½ cupssilken tofuinstead. The original recipe also did not have lemon juice, which I use to cut the sweetness of the cashews, so take out the lemon juice as well if you prefer.

Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.

Nutrition

Calories: 75kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 2gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 119mgPotassium: 106mgSugar: 1gVitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 1.6mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.9mg

Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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  1. Sara

    Great recipe! I omitted the extra water, and used the cucumber as-is (peeled and roughly chopped), which cut down on prep time. Everyone was a huge fan! =)

    Reply

    • Sophia DeSantis

      So happy you liked it Sara! And thanks for letting me know about your subs, super helpful for others!

      Reply

  2. Joanna

    Brilliant vegan tzatziki recipe. Using cashews was a strike of genius! I do not like the versions with vegan yogurts. This one was amazingly close to the Greek original, and, if I may be sacrilegious (am I of Greek descent), even better! By the way, I am sodium-conscious and used 1/8 tsp salt. It did not take away from the taste in any way. The lemon, vinegar, and garlic make it delicious enough.

    Reply

    • Sophia DeSantis

      I am so thrilled you like it!! I tested this with my Greek family before final approval!

      Reply

  3. Pamela

    Made this and it is easy and delicious!! Thank you!

    Reply

    • Sophia DeSantis

      So happy you liked it! Thanks Pamela!

      Reply

  4. Egle

    Love this Vegan Tzatziki sauce. I use it in your tempeh gyros wrap. My go to recipe.

    Reply

    • Sophia DeSantis

      Yay! Thrilled you like it as much as we do! Even my dairy eating Greek family likes it!

      Reply

  5. Eve

    Hi Sophia. I have a question about the amounts of each ingredient. When i read it from this page, it is different than what is generated when I print the receipt. Ex: this page says 2 1/2 tsp of vinegar but when printed is says 1 tsp. Thanks for your help!

    Reply

    • Sophia DeSantis

      Hi Eve, thank you SO much for bringing this to my attention. I had a new print recipe program put into my site just last week and this is the reason you are seeing that. I alerted the developer and they are working on it asap. The correct recipe is the one you see on the site. If you want me to send you a screen shot of it to print email me at sophia@veggiesdontbite.com. So sorry!!

      Reply

  6. Sara

    Really enjoyed this!

    Reply

    • Sophia DeSantis

      So happy you liked it!

      Reply

  7. Shawna

    How long can this be refrigerated for?

    Reply

    • Sophia DeSantis

      Hi Shawna! It should be good in an air tight container on the fridge for about 5-7 days.

      Reply

  8. Amanda

    Oops 5 stars

    Reply

  9. Amanda

    Loved it
    Can I freeze leftover ???

    Reply

    • Sophia DeSantis

      So happy you loved it Amanda!! I do freeze mine, however the texture does change. Because cucumber is water based, it gets a little weird after freezing. The flavor is still great, but you really need to whisk it up good. You could also blend it to smooth but you'd be blending in the cucumber. But I do it. Haha!

      Reply

  10. Leigh

    Oh! 5 stars totally! I forgot to rate it 🙂

    Reply

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The Best Authentic Vegan Tzatziki Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make vegan tzatziki sauce? ›

Add coconut yogurt to a large mixing bowl and add strained cucumber, garlic, dill, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and olive oil (optional). Stir to combine. Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more salt for overall flavor, garlic for zing, lemon for acidity, or dill for herbiness.

How long does vegan tzatziki last? ›

how long is vegan Tzatziki good for? This vegan tzatziki will last about 3-5 days, though I always eat it before then! This recipe will get you about 15 oz. worth.

What is real tzatziki made of? ›

Tzatziki is a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic, and sometimes fresh herbs such as dill or mint. Traditionally, it is made from strained sheep or goat's milk yogurt, but a full-fat Greek yogurt works just fine in this dip.

Why does my tzatziki taste bitter? ›

Your main ingredient – the cucumber – is often the culprit. To avoid this, make sure that you choose the right variety: English and Persian cucumbers have very little, or no, bitterness. Also sample a slice before grating and avoid using the ends as this is where the bitter compounds will be most concentrated.

How do you make tzatziki not runny? ›

The biggest contributor to watery tzatziki is the cucumber, which is why it's important to try to remove as much water out of the cucumber as possible. To release the water from the cucumber, de-seed the cucumber then grate it. I suggest using a metal spoon to scoop the seeds out of the cucumber.

What is a good substitute for tzatziki sauce? ›

A great alternative would be this Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing. You can also try to up the flavor profile by making a Yogurt Tahini Sauce or Yogurt Dill Sauce to enhance those Mediterranean flavors.

Is tzatziki healthy? ›

Tzatziki is not only a tasty, multi-use sauce, it's also a smart food pick. Its blend of yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, garlic, lemon, and herbs delivers key nutrients, which are proposed to support heart health, gut health, and may even lower diabetes risk.

Is tzatziki healthier than hummus? ›

Yes, tzatziki is considered a healthier dip than hummus and sour cream. It contains several vitamins, a good amount of protein, and fewer carbohydrates and calories. The fat content of tzatziki is low too, which is not the case with other dips.

What do Greeks eat with tzatziki? ›

While the recipe can vary from region to region in Greece, it is served with the mezes, or small plates appetizer portion of the meal, and can remain on the table as a condiment with roasted meats and vegetables. Street foods like gyros or kabobs are always garnished with tzatziki.

How to make tzatziki more thick? ›

You can thicken it by placing a piece of cheesecloth over the top of a wide mouthed jar and holding it in place with some rubber bands. Fill the cheesecloth with your sauce, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The excess water will drain out and the sauce will be thicker.

How to offset tartness of Greek yogurt? ›

Add Cereal. Take a break from your usual bowl of cereal and milk and combine your cereal with plain Greek yogurt instead. Your cereal likely has some sweet or nutty flavor to offset the tanginess in Greek yogurt.

Why do I crave tzatziki? ›

It is one of those sauces that tastes fabulously indulgently like hummus because it is SO creamy and makes you want more, more, more BUT it is deceptively healthy; so dip on and dollop on until your belly's content ;).

What is a vegan substitute for Greek yogurt? ›

If you want a dairy-free Greek yogurt substitute, try coconut yogurt, almond milk yogurt, or soy yogurt. Unfortunately, if you're looking for an authentic Greek yogurt experience without the real deal, there's really only one option — strained plain yogurt. While it might not be the exact same thing, it's pretty close!

What is a good substitute for Tzatziki Sauce? ›

A great alternative would be this Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing. You can also try to up the flavor profile by making a Yogurt Tahini Sauce or Yogurt Dill Sauce to enhance those Mediterranean flavors.

Is Cava tzatziki sauce vegan? ›

Look no further than CAVA Tzatziki! Made with imported Greek yogurt, shredded cucumbers, fresh dill, kosher salt, and fresh garlic, this vegan-friendly dip is the perfect addition to any Mediterranean-style dish.

Can you get dairy free Greek yogurt? ›

Alpro Greek Style Plain Dairy Free Yoghurt Alternative 400g - Tesco Groceries.

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