Say What? Tzatziki

Here we have a recipe for tzatziki, a Mediterranean cucumber-yogurt sauce. I recently was given an entire bunch of fresh dill, which I love, but is a strong flavor, so a little goes a long way. I've made gouda dill scones and roasted potatoes with dill, but I wanted a way to use up some more. Enter: this flavorful (low cal!) dip/sauce.

Here we have our ingredients:

Cucumber

Greek yogurt (I used nonfat)

Garlic

Lemon juice

Fresh dill

Diced red onion

Scallion

S&P

Simply chop the cucumber into small pieces (you can also grate it on a box grater, but this makes the dip a little soupier), chop the garlic with a little salt until it makes a paste, and then add the rest of the ingredients. It's good just as it is, but after it sits in the fridge for a few hours, it's even better. 

I like to make Greek salads with olives, pepperoncini  and feta, and use this as a sort of dressing. It's also good with chips, or spooned into pita with vegetables and chickpeas.

Mango Pico de Gallo

This is a light salsa good on top of tacos or just for dippin'. You could even bulk it up with black beans and make it a side dish. I did just this for a picnic with some of my running friends, and they raved about it. Making it is so simple a Caveman could do it  any child could do it (I really effin' hate those commercials).

Start by peeling and cutting a mango (this may be the toughest step).

Then add the zest and juice of a lime.

Next, chop some tomatoes.

Then, add chopped cilantro. If you're like me and luurve cilantro, add a lot.

Next comes the chopped avocado.

Then add S&P and a bit of hot sauce. Had I had a jalapeno around, I would've added that too, but since I didn't, hot sauce sufficed. Give it a good stir (but don't crush the avocado) to coat everything in lime juice and the seasonings.

Isn't it pretty? So many bright colors. If you want to impress someone, make this. Just don't tell them how easy it was.

I served mine on top of some chicken tacos, which I also garnished with taco sauce and plain yogurt (which simulates sour cream).

And there you have it! Ole!