Natural yogurt is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of ways, from simple snacks to enhancing cooked dishes. You can use a pot of natural yogurt to make simple recipes like creamy dips and breakfast bowls, or add it to curries, marinades and flatbread dough.
Versatile Uses for Natural Yogurt
Natural yogurt serves as an excellent base or addition to many dishes, offering a creamy texture, tangy flavour, and often a boost of probiotics.
Here are some popular ways to incorporate natural yogurt into your cooking and meals:
- Creamy Dips: Blend natural yogurt with herbs, spices, garlic, or vegetables to create light and healthy dips for chips, crackers, or crudités. Think tzatziki (with cucumber and mint) or a simple herb dip.
- Breakfast Bowls: Layer natural yogurt with granola, fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, or a drizzle of honey or maple syrup for a nutritious and satisfying breakfast or snack.
- In Curries: Stir a dollop of natural yogurt into curries at the end of cooking (off the heat to prevent splitting) to add richness, creaminess, and a cooling contrast to spicy flavours.
- Marinades: The acidity in natural yogurt helps tenderize meat, poultry, or fish. Mix it with spices and herbs to create flavourful marinades for grilling or baking.
- Flatbread Dough: Incorporating natural yogurt into dough can result in softer, more tender flatbreads, such as simple no-yeast versions cooked on a griddle.
- Smoothies: Add a scoop of natural yogurt to your fruit or vegetable smoothies for extra protein, calcium, and a creamy texture.
- Substitute for Cream or Sour Cream: In many recipes, natural yogurt can be a lighter alternative to sour cream, crème fraîche, or heavy cream in sauces, dressings, or as a topping.
Using natural yogurt is a simple way to add flavour, texture, and nutritional value to a wide range of dishes.
