There are a lot of things I eat regularly but don’t talk about here because they just aren’t especially remarkable. Unlike my creamy avocado pasta or the butter-dipped cinnamon sugar donuts, the cereal or yogurt that I eat in the morning usually aren’t worth sharing. However, I was recently contacted by the Clever Girls Collective to participate in a blog tour on behalf of Dannon. I eat a lot of yogurt but I truly don’t have one favorite brand, so I was tempted to give Dannon’s new line a shot.
Let’s get some business out of the way: I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour conducted by Clever Girls on behalf of Dannon. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program but my opinions are my own.
For more information and recipe ideas, visit www.oikosyogurt.com or www.Facebook.com/oikos. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.
The thing with Greek yogurts is that to me, a lot of them taste the same. With the exception of Fage, which I find to be the thickest, creamiest and most tart, the other varieties out there all taste pretty similar. For the blog tour, I tried five of the new Danon Oikos varieties (plain and fruit on the bottom) and used some of the plain yogurt in a creamy macaroni and cheese recipe that I’m sharing later this week.
Before I tried the yogurts, I was initially confused about their labels. Wasn’t Oikos a Stonyfield brand of yogurt? According to Dannon’s website, oikos is the Greek word for house and is made with with a “centuries-old straining method that removes the whey (liquid) from the yogurt.” Called “yiaourti” in Greece, Greek yogurt is thick and creamy, and its production requires about three times the amount of milk used to make regular yogurt. Dannon and Stonyfield have partnered to bring this type of yogurt into homes, which I think is pretty darn cool.
I enjoyed the Plain yogurt as much as any brand I’ve tried before, but I especially love it for cooking. These meatballs? Made with Greek yogurt. Yogurt can substitute for so many ingredients that it’s always a staple in my fridge.
As for the Fruit on the Bottom yogurts, they contain a little more sugar than I usually like in yogurt (I like to save my sugar intake for cakes thankyouverymuch), but were certainly tasty and lacked the artificial aftertaste that so many Fruit on the Bottom yogurts impart.
Nutritionally speaking, they are a good bet. Both Plain and Fruit on the Bottom contains 0% fat, while the Dannon® Oikos® traditional blended varieties contains about 3% fat. Both are an excellent source of protein, twice that of most regular lowfat yogurts. Dannon Oikos 0% fat varieties contain active yogurt cultures and range from 80 calories (Plain) to 130 calories (Fruit on the Bottom) per 5.3 oz. cup.
So, if you’re looking for ways to cook with Greek yogurt, where do you start? A few of my favorites….
Turkey, Cranberry & Balsamic Meatballs
Shrimp Salad with Dill & Cucumber
What are your favorite ways to cook with Greek yogurt?
Disclaimer: I have partnered with Dannon to help promote the Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt Series. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program, which includes writing about the promotion and product. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
I really dont cook with Greek yogurt but I know that dips made with it are great.
I love Greek yogurt! My favorite way to use it is as a fat replacement in baking and as a base for dips and creamy salad dressings.
Like Averie, I haven’t done a ton of cooking with Greek yogurt, but I’ve made dips. Love it in my smoothies too for the added protein.
Love that you switch up your bacon potato salad with yogurt! Need to balance out the bacon right?
Thanks for sharing, I haven’t tried this one, but will check it out per your suggestion! Thanks!
I have heard of using buttermilk for meatballs and Mascarpone cheese but no yogurt. It makes sense though as far as consistency. Great review and i will be trying those meatballs here soon!
Im a big oikos fan! I love using the plain in place of sour cream on top of chili. Also love it in muffins or bread!!
I love Greek yogurt for breakfast and for cooking. I use it for lots of dishes: Greek, Indian, instead of sour cream in Mexican dishes, etc. Haven’t tried Oikos, pretty loyal to Fage, but will check it out.
I have never thought to make meatballs with greek yogurt, but that is an awesome, healthy substitute!
This has become a staple in my house in the last year. Greek yogurt that is, not any one brand. Thanks for the run down. I have trouble finding the generic brand at the store a lot in the right size, so will keep an eye out for this.
Hi Maris… very interesting article! After reading, I went to my refrigerator and found a container of “Stonyfield Oikos.” You said that they partnered.. is the organic brand Oikos always called Stonyfield Oikos and the non-organic brand called Dannon Oikos? Just curious.
I just tried Greek yogurt for the first time last week (I know, I’m ridiculous), and I loved it–thanks for these new ideas.
I always go for plain (usually whole milk or 2 %, 1/2 cup is not that many calories) and add my own fruit or gains. Whenever I use lower fat yogurt they just aren’t that good. They are also amazing to cook with!
I really just like to eat it.
However, I’ve made coconut cream pie cookies with it and they turned out great. I like the idea of using it as a binder for meatballs, though!
I always have greek yogurt. I don’t think a day goes by without me eating it in some way. I’ll have to try this. Lately mainstream brands seem gritty, but I have a coupon for these so I’ll give it a go.
I haven’t seen these on shelves yet but I’ll definitely be giving them a try. Right now I buy the dannon plain whole milk yogurt, but I prefer greek style. I just don’t usually buy it cuz I go through yogurt so fast, and it can get pricey.
I love Fage but can’t always afford it; same for Greek Gods (which I believe was one of the first brands on the scene when Greek yogurt took over ~three years ago), although Fage is by far my favorite.
I try to stay away from the cheaper ones, as they also reduce the milk fat content – my favorite part!
I love to bake with Greek yogurt… like it in my pancakes, too.
I use greek yogurt all the time to replace some of the mayo in my mayo-based salads. In fact, I did it last night when making chicken salad.
Love Greek yogurt! The recipes look delish!
Will have to try Dannon’s product sometime. I haven’t seen it in Canada yet though.
It’s like a yogurt meatball!
You can use the sweetened yogurt to make cakes, so you end up eating the sugar in cake form:)
i’ve never eaten greek yogurt before b/c i’ve been lactose intolerant for so long! love the idea of using it in meatballs and such! i’ve seen it used for dips and cream bases for potato salads too!
ooh I absolutely love Greek yogurt but have mostly only baked with it or used it in tzatziki. Those meatballs look delish though!
Maris, nice post and great information about Greek yogurt. I love cooking with yogurt and feel that I should use more often.
Hope you are having a great week
We’ve just discovered Greek yogurt at our house, so we’ll have to give this kind a try – and thanks for the recipe ideas to use it with, too.
Lately greek yogurt goes in everything. I mix protein powder in it for a post workout snack, use it in baking muffins/breads, make sauces with it, use it in place of sour cream on tacos, in smoothies or with cut up fruit. I have been buying the biggest tub available and I think I’m going to have to start buying two each week!
I love Oikos yogurt! I just bought a whole bunch today. Can’t wait to try your recipe with the yogurt.
I love making tzatziki with it! And salad dressings and sweet breads like banana!
I want to like greek yogurt, but I just don’t… It’s the bitterness or tartness, I think? not sure. When i used to consume dairy, I would eat it someone often but then one day I realized I was not really enjoying it! I like the idea of using it in cooking, though!
I love Greek yogurt, eat it all the time (and in smoothies!)
Not a fan of fruit on the bottom yoghurts at the best of times – I prefer to add fresh fruit myself. I’m like you in that I LOVE using greek yoghurt in cooking. It only occurred to me when reading your post that I could use it in my potato salad though – so thanks!
I try to avoid yogurt since dairy hasn’t been my bestest friend these days, but I keep half-trying to get into Greek yogurt. This might be a good start!
I’ll use it in some baked goods but prefer to eat it by itself with fresh fruit and top it off with nutritional boosts like nuts, flax meal, hemp seeds, etc.
Love Greek Yogurt, and that’s about all I eat now. Regular yogurt just isn’t creamy enough for me anymore. Tried Oikos and liked it, although as you mentioned, Fage is a bit thicker and creamier. I’ll take either, though. Great review!
i need a recipe to use it for dinner any ideas ??