When preparing a recipe, you may need Greek yogurt substitutes if you don’t consume it on a regular basis. Decide between these 13 Greek Yogurt Substitutes for the best option in your recipe!
Greek yogurt is a delicious and creamy dairy product that’s often paired with fruit and muesli as a breakfast option, but it’s also featured in many recipes for its texture and nutritional value!
What is Greek yogurt?
Greek yogurt is a more heavily loaded version of regular yogurt. The processing techniques and certain ingredients result in a flavorful, thick and protein-rich product!
How Greek yogurt is made
Greek yogurt actually starts the same way as regular yogurt. It starts with pasteurized milk and bacterial starter cultures. It is fermented and then strained. What’s left is the thick and flavorful product you know as Greek yogurt.
Because it has to be sifted through a sieve to make it thicker, making Greek yogurt requires more dairy than regular yogurt. Now you know why a pot of regular yogurt is about $4 and a pot of Greek yogurt is about $6 – it calls for more dairy!
Greek yogurt versus regular yogurt
Greek yogurt and regular Yogurt (from now on I’ll just refer to it as yogurt) are similar, but with many key differences.
Greek yogurt is quite a bit thicker than yogurt. It stays together on the tines of a fork without dripping. On the other hand, yogurt would slip right through the tines!
Another key difference between the two is diet. As you can see below, an equal 200g serving of each has about the same amount of calories and fat, while the Greek version has twice the protein and almost half the carbs.
Reasons to substitute Greek yogurt
There can be many reasons you may need Greek yogurt substitutes in your recipe. You may be allergic, looking for a different texture or taste, or just don’t have any on hand!
Choosing Substitutes for Greek Yogurt
Not all Greek yogurt substitutes are easy to swap out in a 1:1 ratio. Certain replacement parts would be a delicious swap, while others wouldn’t go well together.
Substitute for Greek yogurt
cottage cheese
Cottage cheese is a similar food visually and nutritionally. While there are those classic “lumps” that come to mind when you picture cottage cheese, you won’t notice it when you use it in certain recipes!
Ultimately, if you substitute cottage cheese for yogurt in a baked goods mix, you won’t notice any difference in texture.
sour cream
Sour cream is similar in texture and appearance to Greek yogurt. It does one of the best Substitute for Greek yogurt. Sour cream is something that many people keep in the fridge all the time, so it’s easy to swap out in an emergency.
Have you heard that some people substitute Greek yogurt for their sour cream on Taco Tuesdays? That’s because it’s so similar. Therefore, the reverse exchange is also possible.
Mashed Banana
Banana puree serves as a substitute for Greek yogurt some recipes. It may be able to maintain a similar texture, but the final consistency may vary.
If you’re making a batch of overnight oats that calls for a batch of Greek yogurt and you’d rather skip it, mashed banana would be a great substitute! Plus, There’s still some great nutritional value in the mashed banana!
cream cheese
Cream cheese is a great substitute for Greek yogurt! It’s thick in consistency, just like Greek yogurt, but it’s also easy enough to use in almost any recipe. A added bonus? Chances are you already have a block of cream cheese in your fridge.
yogurt
Natural yoghurt is a sensible alternative in many recipes. The only difference you would really see is that the recipe is a little less “held together” and sweeter.
mayo
Well, using mayo as a substitute for Greek yogurt sounds a little crazy, but it works. Both mayo and Greek yogurt have a similar texture and tart taste.
buttermilk
After stirring the butter, a sour liquid is left behind. This is buttermilk. Basically the buttermilk! Using buttermilk is a great substitute for Greek yogurt as it naturally has a similarly tangy flavor.
One difference in this swap is consistency. Buttermilk is runnier than Greek yogurt. Depending on your recipe, you may need to use additional dry ingredients to make up the difference.
tofu
Tofu is something you can keep in your pantry as a reserve.
All you have to do is place a block of silken tofu in a blender and blend! If you need the more tart flavor of Greek yogurt, add lemon juice a teaspoon at a time until you reach the flavor you like.
coconut cream
When I say coconut cream, I don’t mean coconut milk. When you open a can of coconut milk, the thick top layer works well as a substitute for Greek yogurt.
It will be thick and creamy but also has a coconut flavor. These can be a great addition to your recipe, or they can be completely at odds with each other.
milk
It’s possible to use milk as a substitute for Greek yogurt, but it’s a little tricky.
Milk is significantly more runny than Greek yogurt, which means the end result may be more runny as well. The benefit is that adding some lemon juice to increase the acidity gives it a similar taste!
Mashed avocado
Similar to mashed banana, mashed avocado is a viable alternative in some, but not all, situations. The fat content is slightly higher than Greek yogurt, so the recipe for a baked treat can be easily modified. On the plus side, this is a way to get a simple dose of healthy fats that are good for you!
nut butter
Nut butter has a great texture and consistency similar to Greek yogurt.
Opt for a natural nut butter if the recipe doesn’t rely on yogurt for stability. If you need more stability, use a more processed nut butter (such as Jif).
Homemade Greek Yogurt
Now you might get mad at me for suggesting this. If you’re in dire need of Greek yogurt and don’t want any of the previous substitutes, you can always make your own! Make this recipe from Live Eat Learn using only whole milk and non-fat yogurt.
Do something with your new knowledge!
Now that you know all of these different Greek yogurt substitutes, here are a few recipes that include Greek yogurt. Try one of these substitutes if you don’t have Greek yogurt on hand!
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