Whats the deal w/ Greek Yogurt?

[mamadelbosque]

How is it different from, you know, normal yogurt? And why on earth does it cost twice as much?!?!

[nola79]

Greek yogurt has a lot of protein in it, about 15 grams or so. Most brands are low in sugar, but you have to read the labels because I've seen some that aren't.

[cristeen]

Its been strained. So you start w 2 c of yogurt and strain it to get 1 c of really thick stuff. Thats why the price difference.

[chattyprincess]

I had this question too. The brand I saw and looked at had so much protein probably from the added milk powder listed in the ingredients. You could easliy make this at home if that was the only difference.

[Arduinna]

well it's much better tasting, I've had some horrid thin sour yogurt from the health food stores YUCK. I love Greek yogurt, it tastes better, it's strained so it's thicker and I can get it from whole milk. For some reason in the US most of the yogurt is nonfat or lowfat.

[la mamita]

Greek style yogurt is easy to make at home! It's the same process as making regular yogurt but you add some milk powder and then strain the final product to get it thicker. Delicious.

[Owen'nZoe]

La mamita - how do you strain it? Cheesecloth?

[la mamita]

I've just used cotton cloth like the kind handkerchiefs are made out of. Cheesecloth would work as well, as long as you double it up or the weave is thick enough.

[treeoflife3]

Originally Posted by Arduinna 

well it's much better tasting, I've had some horrid thin sour yogurt from the health food stores YUCK. I love Greek yogurt, it tastes better, it's strained so it's thicker and I can get it from whole milk. For some reason in the US most of the yogurt is nonfat or lowfat.

How funny, I have the opposite problem!  I can find whole milk yogurt but I can only find low fat greek yogurt!

[wurzelkind]

Authentic greek yogurt is made with sheeps milk which naturally has a higher content of fat. Which, in return, makes for a creamier, fatter, protein-richer and better tasting yogurt ;)

Have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_yoghurt

[Gingercat]

Originally Posted by wurzelkind 

Authentic greek yogurt is made with sheeps milk which naturally has a higher content of fat. Which, in return, makes for a creamier, fatter, protein-richer and better tasting yogurt ;)

Have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_yoghurt

Exactly!

Real Greek yogurt is so thick that you could almost slice it with a knife!

It is prepared in small traditional natural clay pots and has a thin layer of fat on top that sticks on your finger.

Unfortunately, even here in Greece this type of yogurt is no longer readily available, especially in urban supermarkets.

But if one can find it is really delicious!

[velochic]

Originally Posted by wurzelkind 

Authentic greek yogurt is made with sheeps milk which naturally has a higher content of fat. Which, in return, makes for a creamier, fatter, protein-richer and better tasting yogurt ;)

Have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_yoghurt

This is what I was going to post, too.  My dh is from Turkey and the yogurts from this area of the world are completely different tasting than even the "greek yogurt" that you get in the US.  Unfortunately, I can't make greek yogurt at home because I don't have access to whole sheep's milk.  We *can* get authentic middle eastern yogurt at the middle eastern ethnic grocery in the city, though.  It's worth the expense, at least to us (and especially for dh, who eats a couple quarts of plain yogurt per week). It's not authentic greek yogurt, but it's the closest we can get.

In Turkey, the way people buy their yogurt is at a counter where there are tubs and tubs of bulk yogurt and you ask for a kilo or whatever.  They used to sell it along the streets and people would come out with their containers and buy it at their own door.  It's sooooo yummy!  And so different than anything sold in the US.

[Ellp]

We can get full fat vanilla flavoured greek yoghurt in our local grocery store.  A 500ml tub costs around $5.50.  The fat content is around 30+%!

I do love the stuff though.  Like PP said, its so thick it holds its own shape after you scoop it out.  In the summertime instead of giving my kids ice cream I'll take a scoop of the vanilla flavoured greek yoghurt and put it in an ice cream cone for them.  Its a lot easier to eat as it doesn't melt, doesn't roll off the cone, and tastes very similar to ice cream! :D

[motherofe11even]

There's no need to even buy yogurt - just make it yourself. my sister makes yogurt all the time. the only difference between regular and greek is being strained with a cheesecloth to be thicker.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by motherofe11even 

There's no need to even buy yogurt - just make it yourself. my sister makes yogurt all the time. the only difference between regular and greek is being strained with a cheesecloth to be thicker.

You need to go back and read the thread.  There is much more difference than just thickness between Greek and regular yogurt.

[alevagon]

the greek yogurt tastes much better!