5 Ways to Enjoy the Savory Side of Yogurt
On the list of things to add to your yogurt, vegetables of any way, shape, or form are likely at the bottom of your list. Layer in fruit jam and you’ve got DIY fruit-on-the-bottom. Swirl in honey and peanut butter and you’ve practically got dessert. So why even go beyond the world of sweet mix-ins and dig into something more savory?
Because it opens the door to a whole new world of snacking options. Inspired by these savory yogurts, the concept is simple: Stir in a bit of puréed vegetables to plain yogurt and you’ve just boosted both its flavor and nutrition.
The best contenders are those vegetables that have just a touch of natural sweetness. Try roots like beets, winter squash, and carrots — either roasted, steamed, or boiled, then puréed until smooth — or reach for tomatoes when they’re at their peak at the end of the summer (these can even be puréed raw). Stir a few spoonfuls into your yogurt (Greek is great!), along with a pinch of flaky sea salt and maybe a grind of black pepper, and forget all about your usual honey.
But snacking is just the beginning. Here are other ways to play around with vegetable-sweetened yogurt in the kitchen.
Turn It into Dip
You’re looking at an instant dip for crudité. Spice it up by adding a bit of minced garlic and a sprinkle of a spice blend like za’atar, or go for chopped fresh herbs like thyme, basil, or parsley.
Add to Smoothies
Maybe you’re already tossing in handfuls of raw greens to your morning smoothie, but adding yogurt that’s been hit with vegetable purée boosts the fiber content further while lending creaminess.
Read More: Breakfast Recipe: Mango Yogurt Smoothie
Stir It into the Batter of Baked Goods
These super-simple savory yogurt biscuits are just waiting for beet yogurt to lend a pretty pink hue to the dough. Or try carrot or squash yogurt in this pumpkin loaf to enhance the earthy sweetness of the pumpkin purée.
Read More: Quick and Easy Recipe: Yogurt Cake
Use as a Base for Salad Dressing
Enhance and add body to any salad dressing by whisking in a little yogurt. Or toss it with chicken to make a healthier — and more flavorful — chicken salad.
And Dollop It 0n Pretty Much Everything
Swap sour cream on your baked potato for this yogurt instead. Make tomato soup more tomatoey with a spoonful of tomato yogurt or that carrot soup more carrot-packed with a bit of carrot yogurt. Finish a spicy curry with a cooling scoop, or use it to upgrade your avocado toast.
Read More: 5 Savory Ways to Eat Yogurt for Lunch