Sheep's Milk Yogurt Benefits & A Yogurt Dip & Sauce Recipe - The Nibble Webzine Of Food Adventures Sheep's Milk Yogurt Benefits & A Yogurt Dip & Sauce Recipe
 
 
 
 
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Sheep’s Milk Yogurt Benefits & A Yogurt Dip & Sauce Recipe

Sheep's Milk Yogurt Dip  In Bowl
[1] The recipe for this yogurt dip and sauce is below (photos #1 and 5 © Heraclea Olive Oil).

Pint Of Old Chatham Creamery Sheep's Milk Yogurt
[2] Old Chatham is one of the two artisan brands of sheep’s milk yogurt in the U.S. (photos #2 and #4 © Old Chatham Creamery).

Container Of Bellwether Farms Sheep Yogurt - Plain
[3] The other delicious sheep’s milk yogurt is made by Bellwether Farms. Do you know what a bellwether is? See the footnote‡ (photo © Bellwether Farms)?

The Head Of A Sheep (Ewe)
[4] Thanks for the milk!

Bottles Of Heraclea Olive Oil
[5] The dip recipe was created by Berk Bahceci for Heralea Olive Oil.

 

Most of the yogurt sold in the U.S. is cow’s milk yogurt, and 51% of that is Greek-style yogurt [source]. In addition to cow’s milk yogurt, you can find yogurts made from:

  • Goat’s milk
  • Sheep’s milk
  • Water buffalo’s milk
  • Nondairy milk (almonds, cashew, coconut, flaxseed, oat, and soy)
  •  
    Today, we’ll focus on a true foodie delight, sheep’s milk yogurt, which few yogurt-eaters have ever tried. Why not?

    First, because sheep’s milk yogurt is more expensive to produce, few companies make it. In the U.S., we’ve only found it in artisan brands like:

  • Bellwether Farms wether Farms Sheep Milk Yogurt
  • Old Chatham Creamery Sheep Yogurt
  •  
    Second, sheep’s milk yogurt can be twice the price of cow’s milk yogurt. Sheep are difficult to raise and don’t yield much milk, hence the premium.

    And third, as a premium-priced product, it is typically only available at high-end markets and specialty food stores.

    But if you’re a yogurt fan—or a sheep’s milk cheese fan—treat yourself to some and get to know this delicious variety.
     
     
    WHY SHEEP’S MILK YOGURT IS BETTER

    Ounce for ounce, compared to cow’s and goat’s milk yogurt, sheep’s milk yogurt:

  • Has 60% more protein.
  • Is a complete protein, with all 10 essential amino acids.
  • Does not contain the inflammatory A1 protein*.
  • Has more of the good fats: mono- and polyunsaturated fats, including Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids.
  • Is higher in vitamins and minerals: A, B, B1, B6, B12, C, E, and calcium.
  • Also has more magnesium, phosphorous, and zinc, which may help combat allergies and eczema.
  • Is easier to digest (the fat globules are smaller) and less likely to cause high cholesterol.
  • Is higher in medium- and short-chain fatty acids†.
  •  
     
    RECIPE: SHEEP’S MILK YOGURT DIP

    Enjoy this dip with cocktails, or as a sauce for chicken, fish, lamb, pork, or vegetables.

    Sheep’s milk yogurt is naturally thick and doesn’t require extra straining, although you can substitute Greek-style yogurt.

    Thanks to Heraclea Olive Oil for the recipe.

    Prep time is 10 minutes.
     
    Ingredients For 4 Servings

  • 2 cups strained yogurt (sheep’s milk or Greek cow’s milk)
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 10 dill springs, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried mint
  • 8 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Dippers: crudités, pita wedges
  •  
    Preparation
     
    1. MIX the yogurt, oregano, dill, and mint in a large bowl.

    2. USE a separate, smaller bowl to mix the garlic, salt, and vinegar; then add it to the yogurt mixture. Combine well.

    3. DRIZZLE with olive oil and serve.
     
     
    A BIT OF SHEEP HISTORY

    The domestication of sheep—as well as that of goats and cattle—first took place roughly 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent of Mesopotamia and the nearby mountain zones of western Asia.

    This happened when humans, who had been hunter-gatherers, settled into agricultural communities. Being stationary enabled animal husbandry and domestication the first plant crops like barley and wheat [source].

    Today, the countries of the Mediterranean remain the world’s biggest sheep dairy producers.

     
    The extraordinarily long lives of Bulgarian shepherds are often attributed in part to the health-giving benefits of sheep milk, and when the brand was in expansion mode in the U.S., Dannon yogurt created this fun commercial.
     
     
    ________________
     
    *The inflammation from A1 beta-casein can cause lymphatic congestion, metabolic suppression, and weight gain. It can also worsen acne, eczema, upper respiratory infections, asthma, and allergies. Finally, A1 beta-casein can stimulate mast cells in the gut and cause digestive problems and lactose intolerance [source]. 

    †Short-term fatty acids improve gut health through a number of effects, from maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity, mucus production, and protection against inflammation to the reduction of the risk of colorectal cancer [source]. Medium-term fatty acids (triglycerides) promote “fullness,” reduce fat deposits, increase energy expenditure, and are more easily metabolized (i.e., turn into energy).

    ‡A bellwether is the leading sheep of a flock, with a bell around its neck. Why? Long ago, it was common practice for shepherds to hang a bell around the neck of one sheep in their flock, to hear the sheep when they wandered. The word was formed by a combination of the Middle English words belle (meaning “bell”) and wether (a noun that refers to a castrated male sheep). The term first appeared in English in the 15th century. It eventually came to refer to an indicator or predictor of something, or to someone who takes initiative or who actively establishes a trend that is taken up by others.

     
     

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