Greek yogurt is a great ingredient to have in your fridge. It is much thicker and creamier than yogurt and works amazingly in different sauces, marinating, and baking.
There are endless opportunities when it comes to greek yogurt, as its tanginess and consistency lend a great flavor to sauces, and also helps keep baked goods moist. But what if you’ve run out of greek yogurt, or you can’t find any?
Substitutes for Greek Yogurt
The following substitutes can successfully replace Greek yogurt in your recipes and save your meal. So, let’s take a closer look at each substitute and learn more.
1. Buttermilk
This product has been used in cakes for decades because it lends a great moistness to them. It also has a slightly tangy flavor, comparing it to the flavor of greek yogurt.
Buttermilk is a great substitute for Greek yogurt in baking and making dressings, as you can add it to cakes to moisten them, and you can use it to make a creamy, rich, and a bit tangy dressing.
Buttermilk is also known to tenderize meat, so you can use it when marinating chicken instead of greek yogurt, or make a sauce to go alongside your dish.
If you use buttermilk as a substitute for Greek yogurt, use a little bit less than the recipe states as buttermilk is more liquid than Greek yogurt.
2. Sour cream
Sour cream is one of the most popular substitutes for Greek yogurt because it has the same consistency and similar creamy, slightly tangy taste.
You can use sour cream to make dressings and sauces and marinate meat instead of Greek yogurt. It also tastes incredibly similar so most people wouldn’t know the difference.
This cream does wonders for baking, and many bakers opt for sour cream in their cakes for extra moistness. You can use the same amount of sour cream as buttermilk and you will achieve the same results.
3. Cream cheese
Cream cheese is a readily available product and also a great substitute for greek yogurt because of its similar flavor profile and consistency.
Make sure that the cream cheese comes to room temperature first, as it can be difficult to mix when it comes straight from the fridge.
You can use cream cheese in different savory dishes and sauces, or baked goods like cakes, as it adds richness and moistness, and a nice tanginess.
It also works in pasta sauces and dressings. And you can use the same amount of cream cheese as Greek yogurt as long as it comes to room temperature first.
4. Mayonnaise
Believe it or not, mayonnaise is a perfect substitute for Greek yogurt in sweet and savory recipes. It has a similar consistency and flavor profile and works well in various dressings as it adds great flavor and thickens them.
It is also brilliant in cakes, as it adds a lot of moistness to them, and you would never be able to taste that there’s mayonnaise inside. Try it for yourself!
You can substitute the same amount of mayonnaise as Greek yogurt and use it for various dishes to yield great results.
5. Cottage cheese
Cottage cheese has a similar consistency to Greek yogurt and is also quite thick. Therefore, it is a great substitute for your recipes.
You can use it in both sweet and savory recipes. However, keep in mind that the texture is different. If the texture doesn’t matter too much, you can add the cottage cheese as it is.
However, if you want it to be smoother or creamier, just blend it before adding it in. You can use this for dressings or baked goods, and substitute it for the same quantities.
6. Plain yogurt
If you lack Greek yogurt, plain yogurt is always available and can do the trick. Although it might not be as thick as Greek yogurt, it has that same creamy, tangy flavor and the two can be used interchangeably.
You can use plain yogurt in dressings, marinades, and sauces. You can also use it in baking to make your cakes moist. Just make sure to use a little less than stated, as plain yogurt is more liquid.
You can always add more as you go along. Additionally, you can also experiment with flavored yogurts for baked goods to add more flavor.
7. Silken tofu
If you need a non-dairy option for Greek yogurt, this is a great one. Silken you is made of soybeans and has a creamy and slightly tangy taste.
Therefore, it is the perfect non-dairy substitute for Greek yogurt.
Make sure that you buy silken tofu as it is much softer and creamier than regular tofu and can be blended for an even creamier consistency.
It is recommended to blend it before using it for sauces and dressings in the same quantities as greek yogurt to yield great results.
You can also add silken tofu to cakes instead of Greek yogurt for added moistness.
8. Coconut cream
This is another great non-dairy option that is available at most supermarkets and can substitute greek yogurt.
Coconut cream is also thick and creamy, especially when refrigerated and then whipped. It works amazingly in different baked goods and some sauces.
It might not be suitable for dressings due to the overpowering coconut flavor. However, it is just perfect for baked goods and to add creaminess to sauces.
You can use the same quantity of coconut cream as you would Greek yogurt.
9. Avocado
Avocados can be used for almost anything when it comes to making food. They make a perfect substitute for Greek yogurt when mashed.
Avocado has a thick, creamy consistency. And although it is not as tangy as Greek yogurt, you can add some lemon in as well to give your recipe that tanginess.
You can use avocado to make dressings and even in your baked goods. They may have a slightly green hue after baking, but will add moistness and you will hardly be able to taste it.
Avocado is also a great substitute in dressings and goes well with salads, but it should not be used in cooked sauces as it could alter the flavor of the sauce.
10. Mashed bananas
Mashed bananas are a great dairy-free alternative to sour cream, but should only be used in baking recipes, as they would not work in savory recipes.
The mashed banana adds a lot of natural sweetness and moistness to any baked good, and will really elevate your cakes instead of having to use sour cream.
It might give off a slight banana flavor. However, it will make your cakes incredibly moist. You can use the same quantity of mashed banana as sour cream.
11. Almond butter
Almond butter is a perfect dairy-free substitute for anything creamy. It also has a natural sweetness that is a great addition to any baked good.
You can use it for vegan baking instead of sour cream in baked goods for extra moistness and binding the ingredients. However, almond butter does not work in savory recipes like dressings, as it will alter the taste of the dressing or sauce completely.
Use half the amount of almond butter in baked goods. You can also melt it in the microwave for 20 seconds before adding it to make it easier to mix in with the other ingredients.
12. Homemade Greek yogurt
You might not have known this, but it is super easy to make your own Greek yogurt with natural yogurt! All you need is plain yogurt, a cheesecloth, and a strainer.
Pour your yogurt into a cheesecloth and let it sit in a strainer, covered, for about 3 hours. The liquid will durian out of the yogurt making it thicker and creamier.
You can use this for all your recipes without ever having to purchase Greek yogurt.
Substitute For Greek Yoghurt in Curry
The best substitutes for greek yogurt in curry include sour cream, plain yogurt, or coconut milk. Coconut milk is a regular ingredient in curries. Therefore, it makes a great substitute when making one without Greek yogurt.
Plain yogurt is also a perfect substitute. It has the same flavor profile and will add a lot of creaminess to your curry without altering the taste.
Substitute For Greek Yoghurt in Baking
The best substitutes for greek yogurt in baking include sour cream and buttermilk as they take part in many baking recipes and add moistness to baked goods. They also have similar flavor profiles to greek yogurt so the flavors will not change.
Non-dairy substitutes for greek yogurt in baking are mashed banana, coconut cream, and almond butter. Coconut cream has a similar consistency and will add a lot of moistness to your cake, as well as mashed bananas. However, mashed banana has a slight flavor.
Almond butter will also add a creaminess and softness to your cake, but make sure to add about half as it is much thicker than Greek yogurt.
Is There A Substitute For Plain Greek Yoghurt?
Perfect substitutes for plain Greek yogurt include sour cream, buttermilk, cottage cheese, and regular yogurt, for both sweet and savory recipes.
When substituting plain Greek yogurt in baking, you can use all of the above. However, you can also use mashed bananas, coconut cream, and almond butter.
Some of these may slightly alter the flavor but will result in a moist cake.
Can I Use Milk Instead Of Greek Yoghurt?
You can replace greek yogurt for milk but bear in mind that milk is a lot more liquidy than greek yogurt, so this will really alter the texture
In recipes like sauces, this can still work. However, make sure to add in half the amount at first, as Greek yogurt is a lot thicker.
You can also use milk in baking, by adding in half the amount, and the cake will still be moist. It is also recommended that you squeeze in the juice of half a lemon to get that tanginess.
It is not a good idea to use milk as a substitute for yogurt in dressings as the texture will be too watery. If you’re really in a pinch, you can use half the amount of full-fat milk as a Greek yogurt substitute.
Can Sour Cream Be Substituted For Greek Yoghurt?
Sour cream is one of the best substitutes for Greek yogurt due to its similar consistency and flavor profile. You can substitute greek yogurt with sour cream in any recipe and use the same quantity, and this will yield you great results.
1 comment
Thank you! Definitely very helpful. So glad o found your blog!