Yogurt Dip Recipe

Dairy yogurt is the outcome of fermented milk. To prepare it, milk is first heated and bacteria is added for fermentation. It is then cooled, and eventually it turns into yogurt. It is full of nutrition, and is rich in protein, calcium, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. Yogurt has been a part of people's diets for about 4,500 years, and is present in cuisines throughout the world. It may be used as it is, flavored, or as an ingredient essential to the preparation of certain dishes. It is widely used in South-East and Middle East Asia. In India, it forms the basis of many preparations, and served as an accompaniment alongside most foods. Called Raita, this Indian recipe is often made by combining cilantro, cumin, mint, cayenne pepper, cucumber and onions in the yogurt.

Greek-Style Recipe for Yogurt Dip

Ingredients

• 2 cups plain yogurt
• 6 pita breads, cut horizontally in half, then cut into wedges
• 1 English hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, grated
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tbsp coarse salt
• 2 tbsp minced fresh dill
• ½ cup sour cream
• Olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Directions
This step needs to be done a day before you prepare the dip. Take a large sieve, and line it with cheesecloth. Empty the yogurt into the sieve, and place it on over an appropriately sized bowl. Carefully cover the sieve with plastic wrap and place it along with the bowl in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours. Sprinkle one tablespoon of salt on the cucumber and chill. Take a large bowl and transfer the drained yogurt to it. Add in the sour cream, dill, lemon juice and garlic. Bring out the cucumber and squeeze as much liquid out of it as possible. Add cucumber to the yogurt and sprinkle with pepper. Stir, cover and chill for about 2 hours. Serve cucumber dip with baked pita wedges brushed with olive oil.

Toasted Cumin Yogurt Dip

Ingredients

• 1 cup thick, strained, or Greek-style yogurt
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds or ½ tsp. ground cumin
• 1/8 tsp cayenne, plus more to taste
• 1 small clove garlic (optional)
• ¼ tsp. salt, plus more to taste
• 2 tbsp. sour cream (optional)

Directions
This dip recipe is perfect to serve along with raw vegetables such as carrots, fennel, celery, radishes, cauliflower, broccoli. Place a small frying pan over medium heat, and once hot, empty the cumin seeds into it. Shake the pan for the seeds to roast. In about a minute or two, they will be done. Pour them into a plate and let them cool. If you don't want to use them whole, you can grind them in a coffee grinder or you can use a mortar and pestle. If you have neither, you can pour them into a bag and pummel them with a mallet. Peel the garlic, and then mince it. Transfer the yogurt into a medium bowl, and then add sour cream, garlic, cumin seeds or ground cumin, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne to a medium bowl. Stir, cover and chill before serving.

Yogurt Fruit Dip Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups (16 ounces) fat-free plain yogurt
• 1 tbsp orange juice concentrate
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• Dash ground cinnamon

Directions
Place paper coffee filter or cheesecloth in a strainer, and place the strainer over a bowl. Empty the yogurt into the strainer and chill for 8 hours. Toss away the liquid that collects in the bowl, and empty the yogurt, orange juice concentrate, brown sugar and cinnamon. Serve as a dip along with fresh fruit. This recipe for yogurt fruit dip will make delicious yogurt dip, enough for two.

Fruit and Yogurt Dessert

Ingredients

• 1 (8 oz.) fat-free vanilla yogurt
• ¼ C. granola
• 5 whole frozen strawberries

Directions
Fill a wine goblet ¾ full with the yogurt. If the strawberries have syrup, drain it away. Then place a layer of strawberries over the yogurt. Cover them with the remaining yogurt on top, and tap it gently on the palm of your hand to make the yogurt settle. Refrigerate it overnight. Before serving, sprinkle the top with granola.

You can pick a yogurt dip recipe, according to what you plan to serve alongside the dip. Yogurt is very versatile and can be used in a multitude of ways. Try to incorporate it in your meals, and reap the health benefits it has to offer.