Equipment
Ingredients
Main
- 240 ml whole milk yogurt
- 120 ml crème fraîche
- 7½ g mint, minced
- 3 g chives, minced
- ½ garlic, finely diced or grated
- 1 lemon zest
- ml hot sauce
- g salt
- g black pepper, freshly ground
Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition is estimated per serving. Nutrients without complete source data are omitted.
Full nutrition
- Calories
- 129 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbohydrates
- 4 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fiber
- 0 g
- Sugar
- 4 g
- Sodium
- 268 mg
- Saturated Fat
- 8 g
- Monounsaturated Fat
- 1 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat
- 0 g
- Cholesterol
- 8 mg
- Potassium
- 144 mg
- Calcium
- 101 mg
- Iron
- 0.3 mg
- Magnesium
- 10 mg
- Phosphorus
- 78 mg
- Zinc
- 0.4 mg
- Vitamin A
- 113 mcg
- Vitamin C
- 2 mg
- Vitamin D
- 0.1 mcg
- Vitamin E
- 0.1 mg
- Vitamin K
- 2 mcg
- Vitamin B6
- 0.0 mg
- Vitamin B12
- 0.2 mcg
- Thiamin
- 0.02 mg
- Riboflavin
- 0.09 mg
- Niacin
- 0.1 mg
- Folate
- 7 mcg
- Water
- 57 g
Sources: Aggregated Public Data, USDA FoodData Central
Method
Place the yogurt, crème fraîche, minced mint, minced chives, garlic, and lemon zest into a medium-size nonreactive bowl.
Whisk the ingredients until the mixture is completely smooth. Season with hot sauce, salt, and pepper according to your preference.
Transfer the finished sauce into small bowls for serving.
Chef's Notes
- Using a nonreactive bowl (glass, ceramic, or stainless steel) prevents the acidic lemon and yogurt from picking up metallic flavors.
Storage
Refrigerator: 3 days — Store in an airtight container; stir before using as some separation may occur.
Troubleshooting
Sauce is too thin or watery
Cause: The yogurt used had a high whey content or was low-fat.
Fix: Whisk in an additional tablespoon of crème fraîche to increase viscosity.
Prevention: Use full-fat whole milk yogurt or Greek-style yogurt for a thicker consistency.
Cultural Context
Yogurt-based sauces are a staple across the Mediterranean and Middle East, often served as dips, dressings, or accompaniments to grilled meats and vegetables. This specific combination with mint and lemon is particularly popular in Greek cuisine, where it's known as Tzatziki (though typically made with cucumber, this is a simplified, herb-focused variation). It evokes the fresh, vibrant flavors characteristic of the region's culinary traditions.
