FOOD NEWS
Tzatziki Dip Is The Creamiest Method To Experiment With Pasta Salad
By Allie Sivak
While most traditional pasta salads use creamy mayo or red wine vinaigrette to hold ingredients together and add flavor, you can achieve these same results using tzatziki.
Tzatziki is a Greek yogurt and cucumber-based dip that’s traditionally used in Greek dishes, like gyros. It’s a great way to give your pasta salad a Greek-style twist.
Tzatziki adds a fresh and zesty flavor that accentuates the other ingredients in your dish. The tart, acidic yogurt pairs well with the refreshing taste of cucumbers and herbs.
Unlike macaroni salads made with mayo and other heavy dressings, tzatziki is light yet creamy. Its delicate flavor allows for experimentation with other refreshing ingredients.
Basic recipes involve mixing full-fat Greek yogurt and dry, grated cucumber in addition to olive oil, lemon juice or vinegar, salt, and herbs like dill, thyme, or mint.
Once your homemade or store-bought tzatziki is ready, add a generous amount into a bowl with cooked, cooled pasta and fresh veggies like celery, peppers, and tomatoes.
To give your pasta salad more Greek flare, add ingredients like cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, crumbled feta, baked falafel, oven-roasted chickpeas, chicken, or shrimp.
Mix in chili powder or diced jalapeños to spice up your tzatziki. Add capers or relish to up the acidity and compliment the dill or include balls of mozzarella and chopped mint.