Ready in 5 minutes, this cooling yogurt mint sauce is creamy, tangy, and fresh. Perfect for grilled vegetables, kebabs, grain bowls, pita & dips
Yogurt Mint Sauce (Easy 5 Minute Recipe)
Mint yogurt sauce is bright, tangy, cooling, and the kind of sauce that brings a meal together. A spoonful tames spicy flavors, brightens roasted vegetables, or adds a fresh finish to grilled dishes.
Whether you use it as a dip, a sauce, or the base for a quick dressing, this simple yogurt and mint sauce works well with both Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-inspired meals. From warm pita to grilled vegetables, this easy yogurt sauce works with a wide range of meals and cuisines.
What Is Mint Yogurt Sauce?
Mint yogurt sauce is a simple yogurt-based sauce made by combining yogurt with fresh herbs, garlic and lemon juice. It's commonly used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking as a cooling counterpoint to grilled, roasted, or spicy foods.
Why You’ll Love This Yogurt and Mint Sauce
- Cool and refreshing
- Creamy and rich from full-fat yogurt
- Quick to prepare in under 5 minutes
- Incredibly versatile (works as a dip, sauce, or dressing base and works well with all sorts of meals)
Ingredients for the Yogurt Sauce
- Thick full-fat plain yogurt (Greek-style or strained yogurt preferred) - Thick yogurt creates the best texture. If your yogurt is loose, strain it for 1–2 hours to remove excess whey.
- Fresh mint leaves, finely chopped - Fresh mint is essential for its bright flavor. Avoid dried mint.
- Garlic, finely grated - Grating helps the garlic blend smoothly into the yogurt for even flavor without sharp bites.
- Fresh lemon juice - Adds brightness. Adjust to taste depending on how tangy you prefer your yogurt sauce.
- Sea salt - Essential for bringing all the flavors together. Don’t skip it!
How to Make Mint Yogurt Sauce
- Mix by hand (classic method)
In a bowl, whisk together the yogurt, mint, garlic, lemon juice and salt, until smooth. - Optional: Use a mini food processor
For a more emulsified version, combine all ingredients in a mini food processor and pulse until blended. This creates a green yogurt sauce with a more pronounced mint flavor and silkier texture. - Chill before serving
Transfer the sauce to the refrigerator and chill for at least 20–30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and helps the sauce firm.
Serve cold or well-chilled.
Variations
Once you master the base recipe, this yogurt sauce can be adapted in several ways:
- Cucumber Mint Yogurt Sauce (Middle Eastern Style) - Add finely grated cucumber.
- Spicy Jalapeño Mint Yogurt Sauce - Add minced jalapeño and swap the lemon juice for lime juice. Excellent with grilled vegetables.
- Lemon Herb Yogurt Mint Sauce - Add lemon zest and fresh herbs like parsley and/or dill for a brighter version. Perfect for salads and grain bowls.
How to Use Mint Yogurt Sauce
As a Dip
- Fresh vegetables
- Warm pita or flatbread
- Roasted potatoes
It’s good in mezze-style spreads since it’s similar to sauces like tzatziki, and pairs well with similar Mediterranean flavors.
As a Sauce
- Roasted vegetables like carrots, cauliflower, or eggplant
- Vegetable kebabs
It works especially well with grilled vegetables like these grilled summer vegetables or grilled zucchini and summer squash, where a cool creamy sauce is a nice contrast to the smoky flavors.
As a Dressing Base
Thin with extra lemon juice and olive oil and serve over:
- Cucumber and tomato salads
- Chickpea or lentil salads
- Grain bowls
What to Serve With Yogurt Mint Sauce
- Grilled dishes
- Roasted vegetables
- Mediterranean mezze platters
- Falafel and flatbreads
- Vegetable skewers
Its cooling, creamy flavor balances stronger smoky, spicy, or roasted flavors.
Tips for the Best Mint Yogurt Sauce
- Use full-fat Greek yogurt for the best texture and flavor
- Chill before serving for best flavor and consistency
- The food processor method creates a greener, more emulsified sauce
FAQ: Yogurt Sauce
What is mint yogurt sauce made of?
Mint yogurt sauce is made from yogurt, fresh mint, garlic, lemon juice, and salt. It’s a creamy, herb sauce used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking.
What is yogurt mint sauce used for?
It’s used as a dip, sauce, or dressing for roasted vegetables, kebabs, grain bowls, and flatbreads.
Can I make mint sauce with yogurt ahead of time?
Yes. It keeps well for 3–4 days in the refrigerator and tastes even better after chilling as the flavors meld.
Can I blend the yogurt sauce in a food processor?
Yes. A mini food processor creates a smoother, greener version with a stronger mint flavor.
Final Thoughts
This yogurt mint sauce is one of those simple recipes that improves just about everything it touches. With a few minutes and a handful of ingredients, you get a cool, creamy sauce that's just as good for everyday meals as it is for weekend grilling and summer parties.
More Yogurt Based Recipes
Yogurt Mint Sauce
A creamy, cooling mint yogurt sauce made with thick yogurt, fresh mint, garlic, and lemon juice. Perfect as a dip, sauce, or dressing for roasted vegetables, pita, and grain bowls.
Ingredients
- 1 cup/227g thick full-fat plain yogurt (Greek-style or strained yogurt preferred)
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, very finely chopped (by hand or with a food processor)
- 1 small garlic clove, finely grated
- 1 Tablespoon/15ml fresh lemon juice, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste, (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the base (by hand method)
Add yogurt to a bowl and whisk until smooth. - Add flavorings
Stir in chopped mint, grated garlic, lemon juice, and salt until fully
combined. - Optional: Use a mini food processor
Combine all ingredients in a mini food processor and pulse until smooth and
emulsified. This creates a greener, silkier mint yogurt sauce with a more
blended texture and stronger mint flavor. - Chill before serving
Transfer to a container and refrigerate for at least 20–30 minutes before
serving. This allows the flavors to meld and slightly firms the sauce to use as
a dip. - Serve
Serve cold as a dip, sauce, or dressing.
Notes
Notes:
Yogurt: Use thick full-fat yogurt for the best texture. If your yogurt is loose or watery, strain it for 1–2 hours before using.
Mint: Fresh mint is essential. Dried mint will not produce the same bright flavor.
Garlic: Start with a small amount and adjust to taste, raw garlic intensifies as it sits.
Food processor version: Blending in the food processor creates a greener more emulsified sauce.
Chilling: Chilling improves both flavor and texture, especially if serving as a dip.
Consistency: Thin with olive oil or extra lemon juice if using as a dressing.
Dietary Info:
Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan and Dairy-Free Option (use dairy-free yogurt), Nut-Free, Egg-Free
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
¼ cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 41Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 178mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 3g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
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