Better than Yia Yia's Tirokafteri on Ace Bakery Sesame Baguette with chopped plum tomatoes and fresh basil garnishBetter than Yia Yia's Tirokafteri on Ace Bakery Sesame Baguette with chopped plum tomatoes and fresh basil garnishHomemade 

Simple Snacks and Appetizers that are Better than Yia Yia’s

Sometimes you don’t have time to make a great appetizer or a snack from scratch. I have found the perfect Greek dips that are probably as close as you’ll get to homemade, without having to make the effort to mix the ingredients at home yourself. I first tried a sample of Better than Yia Yia’s Tzatziki at McKewan’s grocery store in Toronto and it quickly became my go-to Tzatziki dip that went well with fresh Greek pita bread, mini pita bread, baguettes and even crackers. And if you have time to cook a nice meal it is a great addition to use as a side dip with roast chicken or grilled shish kebabs.

The Tzatziki dip is delicious and has a hint of fresh dill flavour. I am not usually a big fan of dill but, this Tzatziki is so good I’m beginning to think why didn’t I like dill more before? It’s made with fresh ingredients and you can notice it after your first taste. If you are on a gluten-free diet you’ll love that this dip is gluten-free too. Traditionally Greek Tzatziki sauce is made with yogurt and this dip is also made with authentic Greek ingredients that include: Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, dill, vinegar, Greek extra virgin olive oil, Greek sea salt and pepper.

Better than Yia Yia's Tzatziki with Mini Pita Bread
Better than Yia Yia’s Tzatziki with Mini Pita Bread

I found out recently that Better than Yia Yia’s actually started out as a catering business in Toronto in 2015. The small mother and daughter team moved to making authentic and natural Greek dips soon afterwards in the following year. I was lucky enough to meet one of the owners, Deanna, at one of the locations that they sell their product in Toronto at and learned that they try and get as much of their ingredients locally in Ontario. They even get their Greek extra virgin olive oil from Greece. So, if you appreciate authentic food and recipes this family definitely has years of experience cooking Greek food.

Better than Yia Yia's Tzatziki with Rosemary Baguette
Better than Yia Yia’s Tzatziki with Rosemary Baguette

I also got a chance to try another dip flavour, their Tirokafteri aka Spicy Feta Tirokafteri Dip. If you like spicy food like me, I’m all for adding some heat to a dish and in this case a dip made with Ontario Feta cheese. Tirokafteri is also known as Ktipiti and is typically served with a mezze platter or fresh pita bread. But, I decided to try it with a sesame baguette topped with some fresh tomato and basil. It’s not the traditional Greek way but, I like to mix it up and experiment with flavours sometimes. It’s also great on its own on a toasted baguette and on mini cheese baguette crackers as a quick snack. The feta dip is not too spicy and the saltiness of the feta cheese is a nice compliment to the other ingredients (Greek yogurt, roasted red peppers, roasted chilli peppers, cayenne pepper, vinegar and Greek extra virgin olive oil).

Tirokafteri Tomato Basil Appetizer
Tirokafteri Tomato Basil Appetizer

Unfortunately, there are only a few locations in Toronto, Ontario where you can get your hands on their dips. However, I believe you can order it online at The Healthy Butcher and because they use no preservatives, fillers or sugars there may only be certain areas where they can deliver to. Luckily, I can always get some from a nearby premium grocer in Toronto.  I always enjoy finding and supporting authentic foods and cuisines in my local area and while travelling. So, if you’re interested in tasting their dips I don’t think you’ll be disappointed once you try it. I will definitely try some of their other dip flavours when I get a chance and they look equally delicious.

Better than Yia Yia's Tirokafteri on Ace Bakery Sesame Baguette with chopped plum tomatoes and fresh basil garnish
Better than Yia Yia’s Tirokafteri on Ace Bakery Sesame Baguette with chopped plum tomatoes and fresh basil garnish

 

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