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Summary
A cool, creamy sauce with bold garlic flavor—perfect for grilled meats, roasted veg, or grain bowls.
This garlicky yogurt sauce is a fast, flavor-packed staple. With just a few ingredients—grated garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper—it transforms plain yogurt into something crave-able. We use it in our Turkish pasta, for kebabs and so much more. And because it’s made with Greek yogurt, it’s high-protein and gut-friendly too. Make it once, and you’ll start putting it on everything.
Creamy Garlic Yogurt Sauce
4
5
minutes40
kcal5
minutesA cool, creamy sauce with bold garlic flavor—perfect for grilled meats, roasted veg, or grain bowls.
Ingredients
4 g 2 cloves grated garlic
15 g 1 tbsp lemon juice
2.5 g ½ tsp kosher salt
0.3 g ⅛ tsp black pepper
245 g 1 1/4 cup full fat Plain Greek yogurt
Directions
Before We Start
Yogurt: Use full-fat Greek yogurt for best results. Regular plain yogurt works too, but will be thinner and the weight measurement will be off.
Garlic: Grated raw garlic gives this sauce a punchy, vibrant flavor. For something milder, you can take the center (root) out of the garlic cloves and let it sit longer in the lemon juice.
Lemon Juice: Always use freshly squeezed. Bottled lemon juice is not your friend.Grate and Combine
Peel and split the garlic in half then remove the core of the garlic (this is the most sharp part of the garlic). Then grate the garlic using a microplane into a small bowl. Add lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Let sit for 3-5 minutes to mellow slightly.Stir in Yogurt
Add yogurt and whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking—more lemon or salt if needed.Serve or Store
Serve immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. The flavors marry together more over time.
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Additional Details About This Recipe
Can I make this dairy-free?
Yes! Use a thick plant-based yogurt like cashew or coconut. Choose unsweetened and unflavored versions. Use volume measurements, since densities will be different.
Can I tone down the garlic?
Yes, either use less or let it sit in the lemon juice for longer or just use less, but come on…it’s a GARLIC yogurt sauce.
Best way to use it?
Use it as a sauce for grilled meats, swipe on flatbreads, or serve with crudité. Top with your Turkish pasta.
How long will it keep?
Up to 5 days in the fridge. Stir before using.
Can I add herbs?
Absolutely. Dill, parsley, mint, or chives are all amazing. Add up to 2 tsp finely chopped herbs.
Nutritional Facts (per 2 tbsp)
Values are approximate.
- Calories: 40
- Total Fat: 1.5 g
- Carbs: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Sugar: 1.5 g
- Sodium: 200 mg