Yogurt
Yogurt is way more than just a little bowl of fruity goodness to eat for breakfast. No, yogurt is super verstile and can be used in cooking and baking in addition to just being enjoyed by itself.
What is yogurt?
Yogurt, also sometimes seen as yoghurt, yogourt or yoghourt, is a creamy food produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. The bacteria used to make yogurt are known as yogurt cultures.
To make your own yogurt, you’ll need some of these cultures. Similar to making kombucha or sourdough.
What does yogurt taste like?
Most people probably don’t know since they buy it flavored. Plain yogurt is slightly tangy and tart.
Add fruit, honey and other add-ins to modify the flavor or sweeten it up for the kiddos.
The consistency changes depending on what it was blended with and how many times it was strained. Full fat greek yogurt is the thickest and creamiest because it uses full fat and strains the longest. I find this one best for sauces and dips.
Regular fat free yogurt will still be creamy, but far from thick and able to hold its shape. This one is best for baking and eating for breakfast.
What Can I Use Yogurt For?
Yogurt can be used in so many ways. The best is probably as a substitute for mayo or sour cream. It doesn’t work in all recipes, particularly ones that rely on the egg in mayo, but for about 75% it works wonders.
I also use yogurt for marinades. It is naturally acidic and therefore helps to tenderize meats. You can blend it with a number of spice blends and seasonings, even citrus, and the creamy base helps it to cling to food.
Those same spices and seasonings can be made into sauces and dressing too. Blend and dip or top away!
Can I Freeze Yogurt?
Well, yes, that is how we have frozen yogurt. You can literally just freeze the yogurt and wait until it hardens or blend it well with fresh fruit (you’ll actually need to freeze the fruit first) and then freeze.
No ice cream maker needed, although it will be smoother if you use one. I do suggest using full fat yogurt opposed to light or fat free.
It stays food in the fridge for up to 6 months.
Can Yogurt Go Bad?
Sure it can! It can develop yucky bacteria or mold on the top. If it is organic or homemade yogurt, chances are it doesn’t have any preservatives to keep it fresh, so it will start to turn in about a week.
Store bought yogurt has a sell-by date on it. Try to use it within a week of this date.
Recipes that Use Yogurt:
- Red Bean Salad
- Harissa Chicken
- Lemon Yogurt Pound Cake
- Greek Yogurt DressingÂ
- Green Curry Sauce
- Chocolate Cake Mix Dip
