Easy Dairy Free Tzatziki Sauce (Low FODMAP Option)

Name: Easy Dairy Free Tzatziki Sauce (Low FODMAP Option)
Prep time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1½ cups plain coconut yogurt; ½ cucumber (finely diced); 3 tbsp dill (finely chopped); 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice; 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 2 cloves garlic (minced *see notes for low FODMAP alternative); ½ tsp black pepper; ½ tsp salt

Easy Dairy Free Tzatziki Sauce (Low FODMAP Option) Featured Image

Let’s face it, it can be difficult to find yummy dairy free dips and sauces. As a registered dietitian, I work with folks who avoid dairy for many different reasons. Including milk allergies, gut health issues, and vegan lifestyles. One dip in particular that is almost always made with dairy is tzatziki sauce. As it’s generally made with a yogurt base.

This vegan dairy free tzatziki recipe solves that problem, but doesn’t compromise on flavour. Serve this fresh dairy free dip with all your favourite dishes. It’s super versatile and only takes 5 minutes to make. Perfect for any get together or for a simple afternoon snack! Plus, I’ll give you some tips on how to make this recipe low FODMAP for those who have IBS symptoms.

Where does tzatziki come from?

Tzatziki is a dish that comes from Greek cuisine. It is thought to also have origins from India, as it’s similar to a popular Indian sauce called Raita. It is primarily made from yogurt and cucumber, but is also combined with fresh herbs, garlic, and lemon juice.

What To Eat With Tzatziki Sauce

If you’ve never had it, you may be wondering what to serve with tzatziki. This sauce/dip is very versatile and can accompany many different meals and snack foods. Since tzatziki has a mild, fresh flavour, it doesn’t overpower other foods and can really match with so many things! Some of the best things to eat with tzatziki are:

Crackers, tortilla chips, or pita
Raw vegetables such as carrot sticks, sliced cucumber, or snap peas
Meat – tzatziki makes a great dipping sauce for chicken, beef, and lamb
Baked potato – use tzatziki as a delicious alternative to sour cream
Salad – it makes a great salad dressing similar to ranch!
Wraps and sandwiches

Is Tzatziki low FODMAP?

Traditional tzatziki is not low FODMAP, as it is made with a yogurt base. This means there is lactose in most tzatziki sauce. Additionally, it is very common for tzatziki to have garlic in it as well. Which is also a high FODMAP ingredient.

The dairy free tzatziki recipe I’m sharing today uses coconut yogurt instead of cow’s milk yogurt but does contain garlic, so is still high in FODMAPs. However, the garlic can easily be replaced with garlic-infused oil to make this recipe fully low FODMAP. See the notes section at the bottom for more details!

black bowl filled with white tzatziki with chunks of cucumber and dill sprinkled on top sitting on a marble counter with some crackers and a pale yellow dish cloth. The text 'easy dairy free tzatziki sauce' is overlaid on top

Is coconut yogurt low FODMAP?

For those of you who do wish to make this recipe low FODMAP, it’s also important to know the best low FODMAP yogurts to use. Coconut yogurt is low FODMAP at portions of up to 1/2 cup, therefore this recipe makes the cut. As long as you don’t eat more than 1/3 of the entire batch in a sitting! Be careful, it’s pretty delicious – you might feel tempted!

If you aren’t keen on coconut yogurt, lactose-free plain greek yogurt is also a great low FODMAP option. Greek yogurt tends to be thicker than coconut yogurt. So, you may end up with a thicker tzatziki consistency if you choose to make that swap.

Love this low FODMAP recipe as much as we do? Our collection of low FODMAP recipes were created to help you navigate the low FODMAP diet. Many of our patients have tried implementing the low FODMAP diet on their own. However, this diet should be conducted with the support of a registered dietitian. At Ignite Nutrition we offer one-on-one nutrition counselling to help you start on the low FODMAP diet with guidance.

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This dairy free and vegan tzatziki recipe doesn't compromise on flavour. Serve this fresh dairy free dip with all your favourite dishes – it's super versatile and only takes 5 minutes to make. Perfect for any get together or for a simple afternoon snack!

Prep Time5 mins

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword: coconut yogurt, cold, dairy free, lactose free, no cook

Servings:

Author: Marlee Hamilton

Ingredients

1½ cups plain coconut yogurt
½ cucumber finely diced
3 tbsp dill finely chopped
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced *see notes for low FODMAP alternative
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp salt

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and stir to combine. Adjust seasonings to taste. Serve cold with your favourite sides such as crackers, raw veggies, or pita.

Notes

Make it low FODMAP: To make this recipe low FODMAP, remove the garlic and replace the 1 tbsp of regular olive oil with 1-2 tbsp of garlic-infused oil instead.

Play with flavour: Try replacing half of the dill with mint for a more complex flavour profile. OR if you don’t love dill, you can fully replace it with fresh mint instead.

**Recipe adapted from The Minimalist Baker

About the Author

Marlee Hamilton

Marlee Hamilton is Ignite's Dietitian Team Lead. She is licensed in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario and sees patients virtually. Her specialty is working with patients who have unique and complex health concerns, particularly digestive disorders like IBS, SIBO, and IBD. She has also written an insulin resistance cookbook for PCOS patients and loves empowering people who struggle with this condition. Her realistic and actionable approach helps her patients thrive with small steps toward their big goals.