Greek Yogurt Dip

Greek yogurt is strained yogurt, and is also called yogurt cheese. This yogurt is strained using either a cloth or a paper bag or filter. Traditionally muslin cloth has been used to remove the whey from the yogurt. When the whey was removed, it had the consistency between yogurt and cheese, yet the distinctive sour taste of yogurt was preserved. How to make Greek yogurt is the question. To make Greek yogurt, milk is boiled to remove some water content or butterfat and powdered milk is added to the milk. Often people have the Greek yogurt vs regular yogurt confusion. Depending on what do you want to use the yogurt for, you can either use Greek yogurt or regular yogurt.

There are many Greek yogurt benefits. These days yogurt dips are chosen over mayonnaise, as it is higher in protein and lower in calories and saturated fat. It is also a live and active cultured product. Hence, it is beneficial for the digestive tract. We are all aware that yogurts are good for the digestive tract for the good bacteria they contain. Greek yogurt nutrition facts are bountiful as it is rich in probiotics and also contains vital minerals and vitamins.

How to Make Greek Yogurt Dip

Strained yogurt is mostly a part of Greek cuisine and is the base to make yogurt dip, also known as tzatziki dip. It can also be used to make desserts. Often honey, sour cherry syrup or spoon sweets are used to top the dessert made with Greek yogurt. Now that we know, what is Greek yogurt, we will turn towards how to make yogurt dip for vegetables and fruits.

Recipe # 1
This is the recipe to make cool cucumber dip or tzatziki. It has a tangy cucumber flavor with garlic and is a perfect dip for grilled meats and vegetables. It can also be served on the side with warm pita bread.

Ingredients

• Olive oil 3 tablespoons
• Peeled, seeded and diced cucumbers 2
• Finely minced garlic 2 cloves
• Salt ½ teaspoon
• White pepper ¼ teaspoon
• Vinegar 1 tablespoon
• Greek yogurt 1 cup
• Sour cream 1 cup
• Chopped fresh dill 1 teaspoon

Method

• In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, salt, white pepper and vinegar.
• Mix all the ingredients, till they are well combined.
• In another bowl, use a whisk to blend yogurt with sour cream.
• Then combine the olive mixture with the yogurt mixture and mix well.
• If required, you can use the whisk to combine all the ingredients well.
• At last add cucumber and fresh dill to cucumber.
• Chill the dip for a minimum of two hours, before you serve the dip.

Recipe # 2
This is a wonderful recipe to make yogurt dip for fruits and vegetables. It can be used as a dip, spread or even condiment.

Ingredients

• Greek yogurt 1 cup
• Grated English cucumber ½ cup
• Grated onion 2 tablespoons
• Snipped fresh dill weed 1 tablespoon
• Fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon
• Garlic cloves minced 2
• Chopped fresh mint 2 teaspoons
• Honey 2 teaspoons
• Extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon
• Dried oregano ½ teaspoon
• Salt ¼ teaspoon

Method

• In a mixing bowl, whisk Greek yogurt, olive oil, honey and lemon juice together, till well mixed.
• Then add the remaining ingredients to the yogurt mixture and mix well.
• Refrigerate the dip for 2 to 3 hours, before serving.

Greek yogurt dip is a good accompaniment for summer meals, especially when you play to have barbecue party. If you are health conscious, then you may want to substitute mayonnaise and other fat rich dips and dressings for this yogurt dip.