Tricks replace ingredients in your recipes with yogurt and take advantage of its benefits

Yogurt provides important nutrients and is very healthy. It is an excellent source of protein, calcium and it is also probiotic. It benefits your muscles, bones, microbiota and your health in general.

It is a food that is also an excellent substitute for cooking ingredients. It can improve the flavor and texture of your meals.

To marinate

If you want to avoid a dry chicken, the key is yogurt. Natural yogurt, preferably whole milk, is one of the best ingredients with which you can marinate your meatits lactic acid, acidifies the muscle fibers and makes the meat more tender and juicyno matter what fried, grilled or pan-fried.

This successful technique for marinating meat with yogurt has been around for centuries. It is perfect for chicken and other meats. Unlike other acidic ingredients, like lemon juice or vinegar, yogurt (with its higher pH level) is much milder.

The yogurt saves you other ingredients, like using something fatty (olive oil); something sour (vinegar or lemon). You just need to add salt, also spices if you wish; some options are rosemary, thyme, curry powder, black pepper, and crushed red pepper.

To substitute baking ingredients

Butter. For 1 cup of butter, use ½ cup of butter plus ¼ cup of 2% Greek yogurt.

Oil. For 1 cup of oil, substitute ⅓ cup of oil for ⅔ cup of yogurt.

buttermilk. For 1 cup of buttermilk, use ⅓ cup of milk plus ⅔ cup of yogurt.

Cream cheese. For 8 ounces of cream cheese, use 4 ounces of cream cheese plus ½ cup of yogurt.

Substitute cream cheese, cream or mayonnaise

You can use reduced-fat (2%) Greek yogurt as a substitute for creamy, high-fat ingredients. You will have a similar texture and great flavor.

Greek yogurt can completely replace the crème agria or crème fraiche.

To replace part of ricotta cheese, cream cheese, mascarpone, heavy cream or mayonnaise; use about half of the original ingredient and half of the yogurt.

Use in soups or hot sauces

When using in hot soups or sauces, to prevent the yogurt from curdling, do not use fat-free yogurt and add yogurt after the preparation is removed from the heat. When reheating, do it gently and never boil.

Whipped cream

You can make whipped cream with Greek yogurt. Add ¾ cup yogurt, ⅔ cup heavy cream, 2 tablespoons sugar, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract to a chilled bowl. Beat slowly, then increase intensity until stiff peaks form.

Choose natural and unsweetened yogurt, either strained (Greek) or unstrained. Flavored varieties are often high in added sugars. As for the Greek yogurt, check qthat is without gum, gelatin or pectin, they work better.

Ten beware are those yogurts that are promoted as low fatcan be low in fat, but high in added sugar to enhance flavor.

It may interest you:

• 4 excellent reasons to eat a cup of yogurt before bed
• How to make Greek yogurt at home? It’s easier than you think