Tzatziki Sauce

Is it a relish, a chutney, or a salad? I don't know, but I love it by the spoonful, or slathered over Falafel, or Gyros... It is closely related to the Indian raita. It pairs two cool things -- mint and cucumber -- making it a great complement for very spicy dishes.

Dice a peeled cucumber. Salt to taste.

Mix in plain yogurt and chopped mint.

Add pepper or finely chopped garlic if desired.

That's it! If you're not fortunate enough to have a patch of fresh mint close, you can use dill or parsley, but it won't be as cooling. And start that mint patch ... it's good for tabbouleh, minted drinks, or just smelling. Mint is easy to grow and tolerant of soil and watering irregularities, but is invasive and needs some control -- I've planted it with a concrete barrier around it.