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    Home » Condiments and Sauces » Garlic Yogurt Sauce: Healthy and Fresh!

    Garlic Yogurt Sauce: Healthy and Fresh!

    June 6, 2020 , Updated October 25, 2023 Maria 14 Comments

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    A bowl of garlic sauce with chopped chives.

    This homemade Garlic Yogurt Sauce is the perfect complement to various appetizers and mains. Healthy & fresh with an ever-so-slight tanginess, you’ll love this dipping sauce!

    A small dish of sauce surrounded by chives and zoo sticks.

    Looking for a little something-something to top off your savory recipes?

    Look no further!

    Whether using this Greek yogurt sauce for zucchini sticks, chicken spiedini or chickpea fries, you will love how easy this recipe comes together with ingredients you probably already have in your refrigerator.

    You only need Greek yogurt, garlic, chives, lemon juice and salt.

    Air fryer zucchini sticks being dipped in the yogurt sauce.

    Instructions

    The first thing we will do is rinse and dry a small handful of chives. Then, chop them up to get the equivalence of 1 heaping tablespoon.

    We also need to mince or grate 1 clove of garlic. 

    Ingredients to make garlic yogurt sauce in a bowl.

    Then, in a small bowl, combine ½ cup of Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon of chopped chives, 1 clove of garlic (minced or grated), 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and a pinch of salt. 

    That’s it! 

    Cover and refrigerate until needed. If desired, garnish with more chopped chives before serving. 

    A platter of salmon croquettes with the yogurt sauce.

    What else can I use this dip for?

    • Pan-fried foods While these tend to feel richer and denser like they pack a punch, the sauce is slightly tangy and light. The flavors complement one another so well! Great with potato croquettes, or salmon croquettes (pictured above).
    • Grilled vegetables. 
    • Air fryer potatoes.
    • Salad dressing. 

    The truth is that this subtle and fresh sauce pairs well with almost anything.

    Is this garlic yogurt sauce healthy?

    Yes, this is a healthy alternative to mayo especially when you compare it to other dipping sauces made with mayonnaise and heavy cream. 

    Yogurt, the main ingredient, provides some protein. It also gives you a healthy dose of nutrients like calcium, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-12, and phosphorus. [Source]

    So dip and double-dip (gasp!) away – this healthy garlic dip won’t go against any New Year’s resolutions.

    Tips

    • Replace the chives with mint, dill, parsley or even tarragon.
    • Brush it on fish before baking or grilling.
    • Great as a spread for burgers.
    • The recipe amounts can easily be doubled.
    • Replace the lemon juice with lime juice.
    • It pairs incredibly well with ultra-spicy food.
    • Use roasted garlic for another taste experience.

    Zoo sticks next to a yogurt dipping sauce.

    Recipe source

    My family has a cooking gene, and I think my daughter, Sara, inherited it.

    Lucky me!

    When my daughter Sara was a teenager, she created this condiment spontaneously when something she was cooking turned out a little bit too spicy, even for her.

    Apparently, her hand slipped on those dried red chili peppers. 

    Once I tasted it, I thought it would be a great addition to other foods, too – not just spicy stuff. It has since become a household staple.

    I think that foods that combine two or more flavors from sweet, salty, bitter, and sour end up with the most pleasant, complex tastes! So, if you try your yogurt sauce and find it to be a little one-dimensional, think of what flavor characteristic it is missing and try adding that. 

    You won’t believe how versatile this recipe is. Let me know in the comments below how you adapted it to your tastes and what recipe you combined it with!

    I can’t think of an easier, more versatile, or healthier sauce!

    Give it a try and see for yourself.

    Happy experimenting! 

    P.S. Make sure you sign up for my newsletter for weekly updates. I wouldn’t want you to miss any of my recipes! 

    THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

    Ciao for now,

    Maria 

    ★★★★★ If you have made this yogurt garlic sauce, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

    Recipe

    Zucchini sticks being dipped in the yogurt sauce.

    Garlic Yogurt Sauce

    This homemade Garlic Yogurt Sauce is the perfect complement to a great variety of appetizers and mains. Healthy & fresh with an ever-so-slight tanginess, you'll love this dipping sauce!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 27kcal
    Author: Maria Vannelli RD
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    Ingredients

    • ½ cup greek yogurt plain
    • 1 garlic clove minced or grated
    • 1 tablespoon chives fresh, minced
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
    • pinch kosher salt

    Instructions

    • Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
    • Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. 
    Enhance Your Cooking Experience!SCROLL UP for essential step-by-step photos embedded in the article above. When available, videos can be found in the next section. These visuals are designed to help you achieve perfect results every time. Happy cooking!

    Video

    Notes

    • Replace the chives with mint, dill, parsley or even tarragon.
    • Brush it on fish before baking or grilling.
    • Great as a spread for burgers.
    • Amounts can easily be doubled.
    • Replace the lemon juice with lime juice.
    • It pairs especially well with ultra-spicy food.
    • Use roasted garlic for another taste experience.
    1 serving = 2 tablespoons
    Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 
    1 serving = 2 tablespoons

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 27kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 67mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 1.4mg | Calcium: 52mg
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    This post was originally published on January 7, 2018, and republished on June 6, 2020, with updated content and photos. Thanks for sharing.

     

     

     

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    Filed Under: Condiments and Sauces

    About Maria

    Maria Vannelli is a retired dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Christopher Bates

      November 26, 2023 at 11:21 pm

      5 stars
      Shamshing love it with spicy food. Thanks for this little gem

      Reply
      • Maria

        November 27, 2023 at 7:04 pm

        My pleasure Christopher! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment.

        Reply
    2. John Racher

      February 26, 2023 at 10:10 am

      5 stars
      Fantastic recipe, I made using wild crow garlic, just like chives but far better.
      After putting together I found I needed a little sweetener, so I added two table spoons of argave syrup.
      I must add I doubled the ingredients wanted to use up my yougout.
      I will definitely be using this again.
      I found it great with carrot and appl.
      Prepping these veg idears definitely a good healthy choice.

      Reply
      • Maria

        February 28, 2023 at 5:08 pm

        Thanks so much for sharing John! Thrilled to read this!

        Reply
    3. Elaine Damour

      April 11, 2022 at 8:43 am

      Reading from Nonna & cavatelli and Rabe, you brought so many wonderful memories to me. I grew up Italian household, 4 apts all family. I wish I could copy all your recipes….thankyou for you & your and your articles. Elaine D

      Reply
      • Maria

        April 14, 2022 at 11:02 am

        Thanks so much for your kind words Elaine and thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    4. Lola

      February 05, 2022 at 8:34 pm

      I bet this would be good as a dip for sweet potato fries. I think the roasted garlic would be so delicious in this! Will definitely be trying this out. Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Maria

        February 05, 2022 at 11:41 pm

        My pleasure Lola! Thanks for stopping by.

        Reply
    5. Kristin

      August 06, 2021 at 12:20 pm

      5 stars
      Really easy and delicious! I love that it doesn’t use Mayo. I’ve made it with Rosemary instead of chives and it’s good that way too

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 07, 2021 at 6:22 pm

        Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing Kristin!

        Reply
    6. Laura

      January 08, 2018 at 4:37 pm

      I love this and thanks for all the ideas on how to use it. A few times a quick yogurt sauce has save my too , from extra spicy curry or chili. It is something that is always in my fridge.

      Reply
      • Maria

        January 08, 2018 at 5:27 pm

        Yogurt sauce to the rescue, lol! Appreciate your comment Laura, thanks for stopping by 🙂

        Reply
    7. Markus Mueller | Earth, Food, and Fire

      January 08, 2018 at 3:14 pm

      5 stars
      I love yogurt and have been trying to ‘cook’ with it more. This saucy dip will be making an appearance at snack time soon! Haha looks so good!

      Reply
      • Maria

        January 08, 2018 at 3:29 pm

        It has quickly become our go-to sauce, hope you like it! Thanks so much for stopping by Markus 🙂

        Reply

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