Tzatziki with Cucumber Sticks (No Bread)

In a hurry. Really in a hurry.
The school bus still has 20 minutes to arrive.
The kitchen is as messy as a battlefield.
As soon as I put on my apron, the phone rang, it was the kindergarten teacher, who asked who would bring the fruit basket for tomorrow's picnic.
"Okay, okay, I'll bring it, I'll bring it. "
I hung up the phone, and my hands were still shaking.
Tzatziki。 It must be done now.
Messed up last time.
Remember? That time I wanted to make a healthy Greek snack for my child.
The result?
The cucumber comes out of the water, and the yogurt is as thin as a pot of water.
The garlic smell was so strong that the child spit it out after taking a bite, frowning and saying, "Mommy, it's watery."
That kind of embarrassment, mothers understand.
And many people think that without Pita bread it is not called Greek flavor.
Wrong! Big mistake!
Especially for mothers like us who want to control sugar or just don't have bread at home.
Cucumber sticks are dipped directly for a more refreshing and crispy one.
But the premise is - no water.
Absolutely not.

Moms, there is only one secret to Tzatziki not coming out of the water: salt it and squeeze it dry, don't be lazy, this step is saved, and the rest is all destroyed.

I understand you.
There is no time to cook with children.
Me too.
When I cut the cucumber just now, I was counting the time in my heart.
Cut the strips. Sprinkle with salt.
Wait, where is the salt shaker?
rummaging through boxes.
Found, on top of the refrigerator.
Sprinkle it up.
Watch the surface of the cucumber strips slowly ooze fine water droplets.
That kind of visual "pain" is a bit decompressive and a little anxious.
The salt grains are embedded in the nail seam and sting a little.
But watching the water flow out, I feel relieved.
If you don't squeeze it dry, mixing it in will be a disaster.
Trust me, I've tried too many times.
I used to always think that "almost enough", but it turned out to be a bowl of soup on the table.
The child took a cucumber stick and dipped it, and it dripped everywhere.
I don't want to experience that embarrassment a second time.

Look at this table.
This is what I have learned with blood and tears.
I didn't believe in evil before, but now I do.
Take a look, don't take detours.

See?
That's where the difference lies.
It's not the yogurt problem, it's the cucumber that's causing trouble.
English cucumber, or Persian cucumber.
Be sure to choose both.
There are few seeds and the moisture is relatively low.
That kind of big ordinary cucumber has a terrifying amount of water.
Cut the strips.
Sprinkle with salt.
Let stand for ten minutes.
What can you do in these ten minutes?
Do the dishes?
Coax a baby?
Or like me, standing in front of the stove in a daze, listening to the refrigerator buzzing and praying that time would pass a little slower.
I almost forgot to turn off the heat just now, and the water in the pot was about to dry up.
In a hurry.
It's really in a hurry.
When squeezing cucumbers, use kitchen paper, or clean gauze.
force.
You really have to use all your might.
The fingertips were strangled and white, a little numb.
The cold feeling came down his fingers.
Force every drop of water out.
At this time, the cucumber strips become a little soft, but more tough.
That's what we want.

还有酸奶。
千万别买错。
超市里那么多盒子，眼睛都花了。
认准"Greek Yogurt"。
不是"Greek Style"。
这两个词，差之毫厘，谬以千里。
"Greek Style"只是加了增稠剂，骗人的。
真正的 Greek Yogurt，是过滤了乳清的。
那种质地，像奶油奶酪一样厚实。
倒进碗里，不会流动。
只有这种，才能兜住黄瓜的味道，又不会被黄瓜的水冲淡。
我刚才拿错了盒子。
手一抖，差点倒进去普通的酸奶。
幸好及时刹住车。
Ugh，心跳都快了一拍。
拌的时候，动作要快。
蒜末。
少放点。
孩子怕辣。
磨成泥，混进去。
橄榄油。
一点点。
提香。
薄荷或者莳萝。
家里有新鲜的最好，没有就干的说。
我这儿刚好有把快枯萎的莳萝。
赶紧切碎。
撒进去。
拌匀。
那种浓郁的、清凉的香气瞬间炸开。
这就是里昂夏天的味道啊。
虽然我现在在自家厨房，忙得团团转。
但闻到这个味道，心稍微静了一点。

再列两个清单。
给你们，也给我自己提个醒。
脑子太乱了，记不住。

• Tzatziki 不出水的关键技巧：黄瓜必须选籽少的品种（英黄瓜/波斯黄瓜）。切条后必须撒盐静置至少 10 分钟，让细胞壁破裂出水。必须用纱布或厨房纸用力挤干水分，直到挤不出任何液体。酸奶必须选用真正的过滤型希腊酸奶（Greek Yogurt），拒绝"Greek Style"。蒜最好磨成泥，不要留颗粒，否则口感不好且容易出水。
• 适合搭配的无面包蘸食选项（控糖友好）：冰镇黄瓜长条（最经典，最脆）。胡萝卜条（增加甜味，孩子喜欢）。甜椒条（红黄配色，好看又有食欲）。芹菜杆（低卡，纤维高）。小番茄（一口一个，方便）。

Okay.
Mixed.
Take a bite.
Perfect.
Thick.
Hangable. The crispness of
the cucumber, the mellowness of the yogurt, the freshness of the garlic and herbs.
Just right. The panic
just now seemed to be cured by this bite.
I remembered the time when the Greek stall priest taught me this trick in the Lyon market.
He said, "Emma, food has a temper. You respect its time, and it will reward you with deliciousness." "
At that time, I was still holding the baby and taking notes in a hurry.
Now that I think about it, it's true.
Simple dishes also have tricks.
Mom's time deserves to be respected.
Even if it's only 20 minutes, you can make something that makes your child happy.
No high-end ingredients are needed.
It's cucumber, yogurt, salt.
The key is to be attentive and to have that little bit of "squeezing dry" persistence.
The child pushed the door in.
The schoolbag was thrown on the ground.
"Mommy! I'm home!"
He smelled it.
His eyes sparkled.
"Is it that green sauce?" "
Yes, baby. Come and try it."
He grabbed a cucumber stick and dipped it in a big spoonful.
No dripping.
No spilling everywhere.
He ate yogurt all over his face and smiled happily.
I laughed too.
Although the kitchen is still a mess. There are still water stains on the
countertop.
The kitchen knife hasn't been washed yet.
But so what?
This moment, it's worth it.
I turn around and get my glass. I still have half a glass left in the bottle of Beaujolais that
I opened in the morning.
With this Tzatziki, it actually goes well with it.
Refreshing, just the right amount of acidity.
Although it is afternoon, who stipulates that Bao Ma cannot have a drink during a nap?
Wine is not a luxury, it is the spice of ordinary people's lives.
Especially in this chaotic afternoon.
Just picked up the cup.
The doorbell rang again.
Probably a neighbor came to borrow sugar.
Or a courier.
There is always something. Something
that can never be done.
I put down the wine glass. I haven't drunk it
yet.
The last few cucumber sticks left.
Tzatziki still has half a bowl left.
The child is still pouting.
I have to open the door. The rag in
my hand is still wet.
If it's worth it, "in moderation" means another glass.
Wait, I seem to have forgotten to take out the milk from the fridge......