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We’ve given up trying to lose weight as a New Year’s resolution, so more than a decade ago, we decided we’d give up a different less-good-for-you food every year.
These included fried foods, drinks with sugar, pizza and whole milk. Instead of every day or every week, we have them four times a year or so (O.K., pizza is once a month).
One of these resolutions was to substitute 0% or 2% Greek yogurt for sour cream.
We eat a lot of crudités with dips, so it was a good reduction in fat and calories.
The recipe follows, but first, for your consideration:
> The history of yogurt.
> The different types of yogurt: a photo glossary.
> The year’s 18 sauce, dips, and dressings holidays.
> The year’s 7 yogurt holidays are below below.
RECIPE: HERBED GREEK YOGURT DIP & SAUCE
This dip is very flexible.
Use whole milk yogurt for a thicker dip.
Turn it into a salad dressing by thinning with 1/4 to 1/3 cup milk or olive oil.
You can also use the thinned dressing as a marinade.
For more flavor, add two tablespoons of lemon juice and a clove of minced garlic.
Use it as a sauce on chicken, fish and lamb, and as a garnish on grains or cooked vegetables.
Ingredients
2 cups plain non-fat Greek yogurt
1-1/2 tablespoons finely minced fresh parsley
1-1/2 tablespoon minced fresh dill
4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon sea salt or to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
For The Garnish
Extra virgin olive oil
Optional: cucumber slices
To Serve
Crudités
Toasted pita wedges or pita chips
Preparation
1. COMBINE the ingredients in a medium bowl. Taste and adjust the seasonings.
2. COVER and chill for at 4 – 8 hours or preferably, overnight, to allow the flavors to blend.
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[1] Herbed yogurt dip in a beautiful presentation from Elea Restaurant in New York City (photo © Elea).
[2] Crudités. Perhaps you have some serving dishes that will make the presentation more dramatic, like this seafood tower (photo © Australian Asparagus Growers)?
[3] Our favorite Greek yogurt is FAGE, pronounced FAH-yeh. It means “to eat” or simply, “eat!” in Greek (photo © FAGE USA).
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3. GARNISH with a drizzle of olive oil. We like the idea of crowning the dip with cucumber slices for an arresting presentation.
THE YEAR’S 7 YOGURT HOLIDAYS
February 6: National Frozen Yogurt Day*
June: National Frozen Yogurt Month
June, 1st Sunday: National Frozen Yogurt Day*
June, 1st Week: National Frozen Yogurt Week
June 21: National Smoothie Day
October 3: Global Smoothie Day
November 9: National Greek Yogurt Day
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*Both dates are observed as National Frozen Yogurt Day. February 6th is the date recognized by many national day calendars and is widely celebrated by frozen yogurt chains. The first Sunday in June was established by TCBY (The Country’s Best Yogurt) in 1993, and is also celebrated.
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