Tzatziki Meze

 

Greek food is awesome to serve as an appetizer to any event, dinner, or party. I actually make this meze dip just to snack on while I’m working. It’s good anytime you want something light yet filling. Try it, you will be surprised.

Ingredients

1 pound low-fat, small-curd cottage cheese (about 1 3/4 cups)

1 Kirby cucumber, shredded, excess moisture squeezed out

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

1 clove garlic, finely grated

1/2 teaspoon dried mint, rubbed with your fingers to crumble

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Dipping Items:

1 cup pita chips (about 10 chips)

1/2 cup grape tomatoes, halved

4 vegetarian stuffed grape leaves, cut in half on the bias

12 pitted Kalamata olives

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1/4 cup fresh dill

Directions

Combine the cottage cheese, cucumber, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, vinegar, garlic, mint, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld. (I usually make the day before any event or party and refrigerate overnight.)

Arrange the pita chips, tomatoes, stuffed grape leaves, and olives around the tzatziki on a serving platter or plate. Whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil with the lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and a few grinds of pepper, and drizzle all over the tzatziki and accompaniments. Garnish with dill.

Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing, with 12 of those years in the online content sphere. Author of 5 books and a Graduate with an Associate of Arts degree in Business Management, a bachelor’s in mass communication and cyber Analysis, a master’s in criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft, and is currently studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology. Her work portfolio includes coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. Elizabeth is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist in her spare time, proficient in watercolor, acrylic, oil, pen and ink, gouache, and pastels. As a political operative who has worked on over 300 campaigns during her career, Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 7 blogs ranging from art to life coaching, food, writing, Gardening, and opinion or history pieces each week.

Greek Cuisine,  Mediterranean, Kilbride, Potpourri of Frugality, Homemade, Do it yourself