How to Thicken Yogurt for a Creamy, Delicious Treat
Nothing is better than a good thick yogurt as a side dish to Persian Khoresh and polo rice. If you are buying yogurt, then buy the Greek yogurt as this is already traditionally thick but I prefer to my own homemade yogurt.
I often get asked how to make thick yogurt, and there is a simple trick that I use. When I make yogurt I always add a good quantity of dried milk powder, I add enough to double the consistency of the milk, for example if I am using 1 liter of milk, I add enough dried milk powder to make a liter of milk. For details of how to make yogurt is on my yogurt recipe.
A more traditional way of making thick yogurt it to strain it through a thin cheesecloth overnight, but an alternative to this is to place a clean toweling cloth on the top of freshly homemade yogurt, and place in refrigerator overnight. The cloth will absorb excess liquid making the yogurt a much thicker consistency, and I find it is less messy.
Thick Yogurt in Recipes
There are many ways to enjoy thick and creamy yogurt. You can eat it plain, or use it as a base for milkshakes, smoothies, dips, or salad dressings. You can also bake with it.
We use plain yogurt as side dish for khoresh and curries. If the dish is a little spicy, a dollop of plain thick plain yogurt will reduce the heat. I like it on the side to polo rice dishes and kebob also as it helps the meal from becoming too dry.
Thick yogurt is essential when making yogurt dips like Mast-o-Khiar (tzatzoki) or Borani Esfenaj otherwise the dip will be watery.
Recipes with Yogurt
Now that you know how to thicken yogurt, why not put it to good use with one of these delicious recipes?
