People who know me, know that I love Greek yoghurt. A lot. And one of the main reasons I think it is so excellent is its versatility. So, in honour of my favourite dairy-based product, I decided to write this article about the many uses of Greek Yoghurt (sorry to those who are lactose intolerant 🙁 ) 

Despite being hated by vegans, Greek Yoghurt has many health properties. It is high in calcium, making it excellent for your bones. It holds many different bacteria species, and while many people think bacteria is an inherently bad thing, the fact is there are many species of good bacteria in your stomach right now. It can restore balance in your body and improve how you feel, generally. Greek Yoghurt makes you feel good internally, because of its many health benefits, and externally, because it is so delicious.  

Disclaimer: I am not a dietician or medical expert. Please consult your doctor when determining if Greek yoghurt is good for you. 

Breakfast: 

Believe it or not Greek Yoghurt is a great breakfast food. You can have it on the side of your usual breakfast, all you must do is mix a tablespoon or so of honey for some sweetness to counteract the tangy yoghurt. You can also add it to cereal to complement or even replace full cream milk.  Dipping fruit in Greek yoghurt also works really well, banana or even strawberry tastes great paired with the Greek delicacy.  

Lunch: 

Greek yoghurt can also be added to almost any lunch. Its tangy taste is the perfect addition to basically everything. Using Greek yoghurt instead of butter on sandwiches or hot dogs (hot dogs are not a sandwich by the way) can add flavour and richness to your boring meal. Greek yoghurt can also work with salads, especially paired with Feta cheese and olives.  

Dinner: 

Greek yoghurt might be great for breakfast and lunch, but trust me, it excels at improving your dinner. Whether you are eating Mexican food, Italian, Indian or Greek (shocking), Greek yoghurt will make your dinner unbeatable. For butcher enthusiasts, adding it to chicken, lamb, beef, fish and pork is MAGNIFICENT! And for lovers of furry friends, it of course works with vegetarian options as well.  

 I’m going to finish this section with a controversial statement for you. There is not a single meal that doesn’t work with Greek Yoghurt. Seriously, if you find a meal that doesn’t work with Greek Yoghurt, come find me and let me know. (I’ll probably find a way to make it work.) 

Below are some quotes from my friends who have started eating more Greek yoghurt in their daily lives. I’ll let them do the talking. 

“Greek yoghurt on hot dogs is absolutely beautiful, you wouldn’t think it would match but it does. I recommend it” -Thomas J Year 10 

“Greek Yoghurt has changed my life; I eat it almost every day and love it.” -Callum G, Year 10 

“I recently started eating Greek Yoghurt more in my life. I love it, it has changed my life” -Luca H year 10. 

Recipes: 

Now, hopefully I have won you over about the benefits of Greek Yoghurt. But if you are still on the fence, I am going to include a few recipes for you to try that will change your life.  

A delicious desert: 

Let’s start simple with a healthy dessert meal. For this you will need only 3 ingredients. 

• Greek Yoghurt 
• Honey 
• Mixed berries (any berries work, though raspberries, blackberries and strawberries are a personal fave) 

To make this desert all you must do is mix the honey into a bowl of Greek yoghurt and then add the berries on top. Now you can enjoy a delicious, healthy dessert. 

Recipe inspo: https://www.thekitchenmagpie.com/greek-yogurt-fresh-berries/ 

Greek-Style Chicken with a cucumber salad: 

This is a great dinner dish that is great for around this time of the year. This meal is a chicken dish with a delicious Greek yoghurt marinade and salad. 

 Source of recipe:Greek Chicken with Yogurt Cucumber Salad – 31 Daily 

Ingredients: 

• 1 ½ cups plain Greek yogurt 
• 3 garlic cloves, finely grated 
• Salt and pepper to taste 
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano 
• 1 pound thin-cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts 

• 1 to 2 English cucumbers, cut into 1-inch pieces 
• 10-ounces cherry tomatoes, halved 
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed 
• 4 ounces feta, crumbled (about 3/4 cup) 
• ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved  

Instructions: 

For the Salad: 

1. In a large bowl, combine yogurt and garlic; season to taste with salt and pepper. Reserve and set aside 1/2 cup for the salad. With the remaining yogurt, add the dried oregano.
2. Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the oregano seasoned yogurt and turn to coat and set aside.
3. While the chicken is sitting in the yogurt, begin the salad. Cut the cucumbers first in half and then into 1-inch pieces from each half. If using an English cucumber, you will not need to remove the seeds. Set them in a colander over the sink or a bowl. Then half the cherry tomatoes and add to the cucumbers. Sprinkle 1 ½ teaspoon of salt and toss to combine. Leave in the colander to drain. 
4. In a large non-stick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium. Remove excess yogurt marinade from the chicken and cook in the skillet until well browned and releases from the pan; about 5 to 7 minutes. Turn and cook on the other side until cooked through; another 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate to rest. 
5. With the reserved yogurt, add the feta and mash together with a fork until it has a paste-like texture. Shake the cucumbers and tomatoes to remove excess moisture. Add to the feta yogurt mixture along with the Greek olives, if using. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with the chicken. 

Hopefully this article has made you realize the many uses of Greek yoghurt and maybe even convinced you to start using it more in your everyday lives. At the very least I think we can all agree that Greek Yoghurt is the greatest superfood.