by Katerina Nikolas

Created on: October 20, 2010

Wonderful thick and creamy Greek yogurt is a staple of every Greek home, traditionally served with local honey. Forget thin and runny artificially colored and flavored yogurts with preservatives, and indulge in healthy Greek yogurt. It is a rich source of calcium, packs double the protein of usual yogurts and has only a trace of natural sugar. The most popular of yogurts is Fage Total which comes in a choice of 0%, 2%, 4% and 6% fat, not to mention ‘the stand your spoon up in it’ full fat. It has been so sucessful as an export that the Greek company Fage now produces it in other countries.

Honey from the Mani is generously added to Greek yogurt, with walnuts being a popular addition to the dish. The other traditional way of serving it is with fresh cut seasonal fruits, with pomegranate seeds making a daring change from bananas and pears. It works with berries, kiwis, apples and almost any fresh fruit you can imagine. It makes a fantastically healthy choice for children and pureed fresh fruit can be stirred into yogurt for babies.

If you are looking for other ways to spruce up your yogurt then fresh figs when in season are the perfect combination to add to Greek yogurt, either baked and served with yogurt as an alternative to cream, or simply by marrying fresh figs with the yogurt. Cinnamon can be added to the yogurt to compliment the figs. As a breakfast choice top your cereal with yogurt and fresh fruits.

Greek yogurt makes the most superb ice cream and is far healthier than the regular kind. Fresh vanilla pods added to yogurt ice cream, or fresh fruits such as strawberries or raspberries, make a light alternative to ice cream and is perfect on hot summer days. A very simple alternative is to simply add a vanilla pod to a tub of Greek yogurt and pop it into the freezer. Other additions which work well are grated lemon or orange, to add a tangy refreshing zest, or grated plain chocolate for the luxurious taste.

Greek yogurt is extremely versatile and doesn’t need to be restricted in use, as it works very well with savoury dishes. You can serve it as a side dish to go alongside meat by adding spices and herbs. The most famous way in which Greek yogurt is used is as the base of the traditional Greek dip of tzatziki. Add grated cucumber, garlic, mint, and a drop of olive oil, to make tzatziki.

The addition of Indian spices such as cumin makes it perfect to serve with meat. It also works well as a marinade for chicken when mint is added, and can be used as the base of curry dishes when stirred into the spices and meat.

Of course Greek yogurt is so good it can be enjoyed just as it is, but for the traditional taste try it with local honey as the perfect start to the day. Those who discover it rarely return to other yogurts as Greek yogurt is without doubt the best of all yogurts.

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