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Home » What are the Best Substitutes for Greek Yogurt: 10 Best Picks

What are the Best Substitutes for Greek Yogurt: 10 Best Picks

Greek Yogurt is a delicious dairy product that is high in protein and low in fat. It has a tangy flavor and creamy texture. It is often served plain or mixed with fruit. It is also widely used in many recipes to enhance taste and nutritional value.

But, what will happen if you have planned up a recipe using Greek yogurt and are out of it? Don’t Worry! There are many best substitutes for Greek Yogurt that will turn out your recipe best!

So, let’s check out the best substitutes for Greek Yogurt that will help you make a perfect recipe with Greek yogurt!

10 Best Substitutes of Greek Yogurt:

Here are the 10 best substitutes for Greek Yogurt:

1.    Regular Yogurt

As we all know that straining the regular yogurt gets you the greek yogurt, it is the closest substitute to the Greek Yogurt that you can consider in your recipes. Do you know ,there are various uses of whey as it is a store-house of nutrition.

2.    Sour Cream

Regarding texture and tanginess, Sour cream is the closest substitute for Greek Yogurt. Especially in sauces and dressings, sour cream can replace Greek yogurt perfectly due to its enriched texture and higher fat content. The exact substitution stands at the ratio of 1:1 as both are similar in texture and flavor.

Remember, due to its high-fat content. You will enjoy a more indulgent bite and a succulent texture for your recipe where you are replacing the Greek Yogurt with sour cream.

3.    Cottage Cheese

Like Greek Yogurt, Cottage Cheese is a powerhouse of nutrition that comes with a high dose of calcium and protein and lower sugar content. With its enriched texture like Greek Yogurt, you can suitably replace it with a Greek Yogurt.

Recipes like lasagna, cheesecakes, and salads are excellent for this replacement. Try blending the cottage cheese before substituting it for Greek yogurt to get the same texture.

4.    Buttermilk

Once the butter is churned out, the residue left is known as buttermilk. It is also rich in flavor and many nutrients like whey. Buttermilk is widely used in many baking recipes as it gives a fluffy texture and helps them rise.

However, the consistency of buttermilk is runny compared to Greek yogurt. Hence, it would help if you considered substituting it as 1/4 cup for a 1 full cup of Greek yogurt to maintain your recipe consistency.

5.    Cream Cheese

Cream cheese and Greek Yogurt are often substituted for each other. While Greek Yogurt has become a trendy substitute for cream cheese over toast, cream cheese also successfully replaces the Greek Yogurt in various recipes.

The best part is, unlike buttermilk, you can substitute cream cheese for an equal ratio. As Cream Cheese is milder in flavor than Greek Yogurt, you can add some vinegar to add tartness. 

6.    Milk

Yes! Greek Yogurt is made from Milk, and hence it can be an excellent substitute for Greek Yogurt. Especially when baking, add one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to each cup of milk to get the sour flavor of greek yogurt.

But as milk has the same consistency as buttermilk, you should substitute it with only 1/4 of the Greek Yogurt to maintain the consistency of your recipe.

Alternatively, in the recipes that use water and greek yogurt, you can reduce the water quantity and increase the milk quantity.

7.    Avocados

If you are looking for a non-dairy substitute for Greek Yogurt, Consider mashed Avocados. For the dressings, recipes, and baked goods, avocados are an excellent choice with neutral flavors. As avocados have natural butter, it improves the richness and texture of your overall dish. 

To add some sourness to Greek Yogurt, consider adding lemon juice or vinegar.

8.    Ripe Bananas

Especially when it comes to making frozen Greek Yogurt, Mashed bananas are the perfect vegan substitute for Greek Yogurt to consider.

Mashed bananas are a great alternative to adding creaminess to recipes. If you want to cut back on fat and calories, try swapping out a cup of Greek yogurt for a mashed banana instead.

Bananas contain natural sugar, which will help keep your dessert moist, and they also have a mildly sweet flavor that Greek yogurt lacks. You may need to increase the sugar in your recipe if you replace Greek yogurt with mashed banana.

If you’re looking for a milder flavor, choose less ripe, yellow bananas instead of those that are darker and mushier.

9.    Soft Tofu

Tofu is an excellent replacement for greek yogurt. It is made from soybeans and water. You can buy it at any grocery store or create your own. Tofu comes in wide different varieties. Some are firmer while others are softer.

If you’re looking for something similar to Greek yogurt, try making your own. Add a few ingredients like lemon juice to a blender and blend until smooth to resemble its neutral flavor with greek yogurt.

Tofu doesn’t have any intense flavors on its own, so you can mix it with other foods to get different tastes. You can also blend it with other ingredients to create your unique flavors.

You can replace 1 cup of Greek yogurt with 1 cup of blended tofu for your recipe. 

10.Creme Fraiche

It also means Fresh Cream. Creme Fraiche largely resembles sour cream. Once the bacterial culture is added to heavy cream, it results in Creme Fraiche. However, it is less tangy compared to sour cream. The high amount of fat and calories in creme fraiche add richness to your recipes. 

11.Mayo

For sandwiches, Mayo is a great choice to replace greek yogurt. The taste is very similar to Greek yogurt. Mayo is often used as a spread for bread and bagels. The richness and the texture of mayo resemble the greek yogurt largely.

12.Other Vegan Options

Coconut milk and Cashew are other great options for a vegan to replace Greek Yogurt in their recipes. However, they have some strong flavors and should always be used in moderation to make your recipe perfect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can Replace Greek Yogurt in Baking?

The acidic properties of buttermilk make it a perfect replacement for Greek Yogurt in Baking. But as the consistency of buttermilk is watery, constantly adjust the volume to ensure the ideal consistency.

What is the healthier alternative to Greek Yogurt?

Regular Yogurt and Buttermilk are the healthier alternatives to Greek Yogurt.

What is the Best Substitute for Greek Yogurt?

Sour Cream and Regular Yogurt are considered the best substitute for Greek Yogurt.

Conclusion

Various recipes call for greek yogurt to toss with health and flavors. But if you are short of Greek Yogurt on any day, you can always consider the prescribed greek yogurt alternatives to turn out your recipes at best.

Yogurt Expert Sonia Uvezian was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. A renowned expert in Middle Eastern and Caucasian cooking and winner of a James Beard Award, she is the author of six other highly acclaimed cookbooks, such as Recipes and Remembrances From An Eastern Mediterranean Kitchen, Cooking from the Caucasus along with The Book of Yogurt.