Yogurt is so much more than a refrigerator snack. This versatile dairy is essential for both sweet and savory dishes in cuisines across the globe. But first, here's how to make your own yogurt.
Once you've mastered homemade yogurt, it's time to apply the stuff to your favorite global snacks. Bring a taste of India into your kitchen with our traditional mango lassi recipe—lassi are refreshing Indian fruit shakes that help soothe the heat of the most fiery curries. Or try one of our colorful raitas—India's most versatile condiment. Or head west to the Mediterranean, where classic chicken shawarma is marinated in yogurt then served on a stick.
Find all these dishes and more in our collection of yogurt recipes.
Grilled Yogurt-Marinated Lamb Shoulder Chops
These lamb shoulder chops tenderize in a yogurt marinade flavored with cumin and cardamom before grilling. Get the recipe for Grilled Yogurt-Marinated Lamb Shoulder Chops »
This potato curry recipe uses yogurt for a sauce, thickened with chickpea flour. Get the recipe for Potatoes and Peas in Yogurt Sauce
Yogurt Bundt Cake with Passion Fruit Sauce
This passion-fruit-drizzled cake gets its tangy moist crumb from yogurt. Get the recipe for Yogurt Bundt Cake with Passion Fruit Sauce »
Cured Fluke with Yogurt, Watermelon, Sunflower Seeds, and Togarashi
Breakfast, brunch, or snack, we could serve (and eat) this quick-cured, no-cook fish dish from John Karangis of Union Square Events, any time of day. It works exceptionally well as a summer starter, served with a savory lime yogurt and refreshing cubes of ripe watermelon, then sprinkled with flecks of shichimi togarashi: a spicy, tangy, earthy Japanese spice mix. Get the recipe Cured Fluke with Yogurt, Watermelon, Sunflower Seeds, and Togarashi »
Albanian Baked Lamb and Rice with Yogurt (Tave Kosi)
Garlicky lamb and rice baked under a thick, tart veil of yogurt is a dish beloved throughout Albania. Get the recipe for Albanian Baked Lamb and Rice with Yogurt (Tave Kosi) »
In Minnesota’s “Finnish Triangle,” vispipuuro, a sweet, whipped, pudding-like porridge, is sometimes made with a tart wild fruit called the highbush cranberry. Get the recipe for Finnish Whipped Porridge with Yogurt Cream (Vispipuuro)
Kohlrabi and Watercress Salad
For a twist on the classic Waldorf salad, try tossing sweet apples with crisp watercress and nutty kohlrabi in a sumac-infused yogurt dressing.
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Cucumber-Tomato Yogurt
This basic raita is a cooling counterpoint to fiery foods, thanks to its foundation of full-fat yogurt, cucumber, and mint. Plum tomatoes add a hint of acid, Thai chiles heat, and cumin a slight earthiness.
Spicy Pineapple Yogurt (Kaitha Chaka Pachadi)
This zippy raita gets its punch from green Thai chiles and its sweetness from pineapple. A piquant mixture of black mustard seeds, dried red chiles, and curry leaves lends the sauce an earthy spice. Get the recipe for Spicy Pineapple Yogurt (Kaitha Chaka Pachadi) »
Rajasthani White Chicken Curry (Safed Maans)
A seasoned coconut chicken curry is tempered with yogurt.
Curried Yogurt Stew (Kadhi)
Chickpea flour acts as a stabilizer, preventing yogurt from curdling in this aromatic soup.
Yogurt with Banana and Grated Coconut (Kela ka Raita)
At the Indian table, a variety of yogurt-based raitas mollify the tongue-searing effect of chiles. This version, made fruity and sweet with the addition of coconut and banana, is adapted from Foods of the World: The Cooking of India (Time Life, 1969). Get the recipe for Yogurt with Banana and Grated Coconut »
Sweet Yogurt with Saffron and Pistachios (Shrikhand)
Pistachios, cardamom seeds, and saffron are mixed into yogurt to make this cool and creamy dessert.
Mango Lassi
Use the ripest, sweetest, smoothest mangos you can find, such as Champagne or Haitian varieties, to make this yogurt-enriched Indian fruit shake. The sweet-tart drink makes a fine breakfast smoothie, or cooling accompaniment to spicy meals.. Get the recipe for Mango Lassi »
Smoked Yogurt
Smoking yogurt over wood and mixing it with white miso creates a complex, unusual dip. Get the recipe for Smoked Yogurt »
Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Shawarma
Soak up the flavorful juices of these Mediterranean-spiced chicken skewers by resting them on grilled pita during the final stages of cooking in this dish from Ana Sortun, who uses yogurt’s natural acidity to tenderize tough cuts of meat. Get the recipe for Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Shawarma »
Cilantro Yogurt Chutney
This creamy yogurt-based chutney is made with cilantro, lime, and fresh green chiles. Get the recipe for Cilantro Yogurt Chutney »
Red Leaf Salad with Ranch Dressing
Light, tangy yogurt replaces rich mayonnaise in the herb-laced dressing for this salad.
Eritrean Spicy Tomato Bread Salad with Yogurt (Fata)
In the Horn of Africa, they serve a version of panzanella tossed not with fresh tomatoes, but with a rich, spicy tomato stew. Crusty bread soaks up the juices and cooling yogurt provides contrast and sweet relief. Get the recipe for Eritrean Spicy Tomato Bread Salad with Yogurt (Fata) »
Cold Yogurt and Herb Soup with Chickpeas
Rice and garbanzos add body to this vegetarian soup laced with fresh greens and herbs. Serve it chilled—as we have done—or, if you prefer, just slightly warmed. Get the recipe for Cold Yogurt and Herb Soup with Chickpeas »
Spinach, Chive, and Yogurt Soup with Grilled Scallions
Spinach, Chive, and Yogurt Soup with Grilled Scallions
Lotus Root in Yogurt Sauce (Nadru Yakhni)
Porous lotus root sops up spiced yogurt gravy in this Kashmiri specialty.
Strawberry Rhubarb Yogurt Pops
These refreshing frozen treats come from pastry chef Jen Yee at New York City’s Lafayette. Get the recipe Strawberry Rhubarb Yogurt Pops »
Turkish Poached Eggs in Yogurt (Cilbir)
Looking for a March breakfast? This egg dish is perfect. Pair it with warm bread to mop up extra egg yolk and yogurt.
Bangladeshi Spiced Yogurt Drink (Burhani)
Cumin and other savory spices combine with mint, cilantro, and chile to flavor this Bangladeshi yogurt drink. Get the recipe for Bangladeshi Spiced Yogurt Drink (Burhani) »
Our version of the classic is lighter, fresher, and brighter than what you’ll get at most restaurants. Get the recipe for Chicken Tikka Masala »
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