Most people recognize Tzatziki as a creamy sauce that commonly contains cucumber and garlic. However, does its creaminess come from a dairy product being used as an ingredient?
This article will inform you if Tzatziki contains dairy by reviewing the ingredients of popular sauces. Here is what we found…
Is There Dairy In Tzatziki?
Tzatziki commonly contains dairy. In fact, the most predominant ingredient in this sauce is typically yogurt. Yogurt is a dairy product since it is derived from milk.
The table below reflects 12 popular store-bought Tzatziki sauces. All of them contain at least one type of dairy ingredient. In addition to yogurt, other dairy products found in the sauces below are Feta cheese, cow’s milk powder, Neufchatel cheese, cream, sour cream, cultured nonfat dry milk, and milk protein concentrate.
| Tzatziki | Dairy (Yes or No)? | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Boar’s Head | Yes | Greek Yogurt (Pasteurized Grade A Skim Milk, Cream, Milk Protein Concentrate, Tapioca Starch, Pectin, Enzymes, Live and Active Cultures: S. Thermophilus, L. Bulgaricus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus, and L. Casei), Cucumbers, 2% or Less: Salt, Dill, Garlic, Vinegar, Natamycin (A Natural Preservative). |
| Cedar’s Tzatziki Cucumber & Garlic Dip | Yes | Yogurt (Grade A Pasteurized Skim Milk, Cream, Milk Protein Concentrate, Food Starch, Gelatin, Pectin, Cultures (Streptococcus Thermophilus, Lactobacillus Delbreuckii Sub Sp, Bulgaricus, Lactobacillus Paracasei, Propionibacterium Freudenreichii Shermanii)), Cucumber, Garlic, Sea Salt, White Vinegar, Dill, Natamycin (a Natural Preservative). |
| La Terra Fina Tzatziki With Feta | Yes | Greek Yogurt (cultured pasteurized grade A milk and cream, pectin), Pickled Cucumber (cucumber, water, salt, distilled vinegar), Feta Cheese (pasteurized milk, salt, cheese cultures, enzymes), Canola Oil, Onions, LESS THAN 2% OF: Dill, Dried Garlic and Onion, Sea Salt, Cane Sugar, Corn Starch, Gum Acacia, Xanthan Gum, Cultured Sugar. |
| Cava | Yes | Cultured Greek Yogurt (Grade A Pasteurized Skim Milk, Cream, Milk Protein Concentrate, Tapioca Starch, Pectin, Enzymes), Cucumber, Dill, Salt, Garlic. |
| Esti | Yes | Strained Yogurt (70%)(Pasteurized Cow’s Milk, Butter, Milk Protein, Yogurt Culture), Fresh Cucumber (18%), Vegetable Fats (Coconut Oil), Sunflower Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Cow’s Milk Powder, Modified Starch, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Salt, Garlic, Anise, Parsley. |
| Haig’s Delicacies | Yes | Greek Yogurt (Pasteurized Cultured Grade A Milk & Cream, Nonfat Milk, Pectin), Cucumbers, Red Wine Vinegar, Garlic, Dill, Sea Salt. |
| Good Foods Feta Cucumber Tzatziki Dip | Yes | Low-Fat Greek Yogurt (Grade A Pasteurized Skim Milk, Milk Protein Concentrate, Cream, Pectin, Enzymes, Live Active Cultures), Neufchatel Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Cream, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Stabilizers [Carob Bean, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum]), Feta Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Salt, Cheese Cultures, Enzymes, Potato Starch), Cucumber, Lemon Juice, Garlic, Dill, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Xanthan Gum. |
| Marketside | Yes | Cultured Cream, Cucumber, Garlic, Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Citric Acid, Sugar, Dehydrated Garlic, Lemon Juice from Concentrate (Lemon Oil), Maltodextrin, Yeast Extract, Dehydrated Onion, Spices, Parsley Flakes, Carrageenan, Gelatin, Mono- and Diglycerides, Disodium Phosphate, Carob Bean Gum, Lactic Acid, Natural Flavor |
| Private Selection | Yes | Yogurt (Grade A pasteurized skim milk, cream, milk), cucumber, sour cream (cream, modified corn starch, lactic acid, gelatin, mono- & diglycerides, guar gum, natural flavor, carrageenan, disodium phosphate), garlic, onion, lemon juice (water, lemon juice concentrate, citric acid, sodium benzoate and sodium bisulfite [preservatives], lemon oil). Contains 2% or less of the following: dill, salt, spice, citric acid, xanthan gum, cultured nonfat dry milk. |
| Meijer | Yes | Greek Yogurt (Pasteurized Skim Milk, Milk Protein Concentrate, Cream, Pectin, Enzymes, Active Yogurt Cultures [s. Thermophilus, L. Bulgaricus, L. Acidophilus, Bifidus And L. Casei]), Cucumber, Lemon Juice, Garlic Puree (Garlic, Citric Acid And Ascorbic Acid), Contains 2% Or Less Of: Cultured Sugar, Salt, Olive Oil, Spices, Xanthan Gum, Corn Starch. |
| Good & Gather | Yes | Yogurt (Skim Milk, Cream, Skim Milk Powder, Modified Corn Starch, Bacterial Cultures), Sour Cream (Milk, Cream, Nonfat Dry Milk, Bacterial Culture, Microbial Enzyme), Cucumber, Canola Oil, Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Vinegar, Garlic, Citric Acid, Dill. |
| 365 Whole Foods | Yes | Cultured Pasteurized Nonfat Milk, Cultured Pasteurized Cream, Milk Protein Concentrate, Stabilizer (Tapioca Starch, Agar-agar, Pectin), Cucumber, Garlic, Sea Salt, Organic Distilled White Vinegar, Dill, Contains Live and Active Cultures: L. Paracasei, P. Freudenreichii, S. Thermophilus, L. Bulgaricus. |
Tzatziki Without Dairy
You have options if you wish to enjoy the flavors of Tzatziki but without the dairy. There are a few non-dairy Tzatziki sauces available at stores. Here are some you may wish to consider:
- Kite Hill Tzatziki – This is a cucumber and dill Tzatziki made with almond milk.
- Good Foods Plant-Based Tazatziki-Style Dip – The primary ingredients of this dip are cauliflower, water, cucumber, almonds, and cashews.
- Simple Truth Plant Based Tzatziki – Simple Truth is a brand of Kroger and its made from cauliflower as its primary ingredient along with water, cucumber, almonds, cashews, lemon juice, garlic, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, dill, mint, xanthan gum.
You can also make dairy-free Tzatziki at home. Here are some recipes you can try:
- Minimalist Baker – 6-Ingredient Vegan Tzatziki
- Every Last Bite – Dairy Free Tzatziki
- Pick Up Limes – Vegan Tzatziki
- The Real Food Dietitians – Paleo Tzatziki Sauce
Source:
Image Credit – jeffreyw/flickr
