Many recipes call for Greek yogurt but what do you do if your diet means you can’t eat Greek yogurt?
Maybe you don’t have any dietary restrictions, but just don’t have any Greek yogurt in your fridge and no time or opportunity to buy any. In these scenarios, you will have to find a suitable substitute.
In this article, we will look at nine substitutes for Greek yogurt. Different substitutes are better for different recipes and we will also guide you through how much of each substitute you will need.
1. Avocado
This is one of the more unexpected and unusual substitutes for Greek yogurt. Avocados are a great option for anyone who is vegan or just has a love for avocados.
You will find that your recipe will taste a little different when using avocado instead of Greek yogurt, but as avocado doesn’t have a strong taste, it won’t be that noticeable.
Simply mash up some avocado and use it in the same quantities as the Greek yogurt. You can substitute avocado for Greek yogurt in recipes for sauces and dressings.
There are even a few recipes for baked goods that avocado would be suitable for.
2. Buttermilk
Buttermilk is produced when butter is churned. It’s the liquid that is left behind and is very rich in flavor. Buttermilk can help your cakes and bread rise due to its acidity levels and it has a tangy taste that is similar to Greek yogurt.
If you do use buttermilk as a substitute for Greek yogurt, you will need to reduce the amount used by a quarter. This is because buttermilk is thinner than Greek yogurt.
For example, if the recipe calls for a cup of Greek yogurt, you should use three-quarters of a cup of buttermilk.
3. Coconut Cream
Coconut cream is a great dairy-free substitute for Greek yogurt. Don’t get mixed up and use coconut milk (see also ‘10 Substitutes For Coconut Milk‘), however, as this is too thin and watery to be a decent substitute.
You can use coconut cream as a straight one-to-one swap.
4. Cottage Cheese
The consistency of cottage cheese is quite different from Greek yogurt and this means it often gets overlooked as a substitute.
However, it’s a great source of protein and calcium and is also low in sugar, so cottage cheese is definitely worth considering.
Cottage cheese (see also ‘12 Substitutes For Gruyère Cheese‘) can be used in the same quantities as Greek yogurt. It’s ideal for many different recipes including salads, cheesecakes, and pancakes.
If the texture does deter you from using it, you can blend it a little to make it more similar to the consistency of Greek yogurt.
5. Mashed Banana
This is probably not the first substitute for Greek yogurt that springs to mind, but mashed banana works very well in a variety of recipes.
They’re also dairy-free and vegan of course, so you should especially consider using mashed bananas if you’re vegan.
Bananas do not have the same tanginess as Greek yogurt so you can add a teaspoon or two of lemon juice to replicate this.
Mashed bananas are also sweeter than Greek yogurt, so you may want to reduce other sugar levels in your recipe.
We would recommend using mashed bananas as a substitute in recipes for baked goods. They can usually be substituted on a one-to-one basis.
6. Plain Yogurt
This is arguably the best substitute for Greek yogurt because it’s so similar. It has a slightly different texture from Greek yogurt but in many cases, you can simply substitute plain yogurt for Greek yogurt on a one-to-one basis.
It’s best to use plain yogurts that are plain and whole-fat and don’t have any additional sweeteners.
If you’re looking to replace Greek yogurt because you don’t have any to hand, then you can make your own Greek yogurt from plain yogurt.
It takes only one to three hours and is simple to do. In many cases, you may find making your own to be more convenient than going to a store and buying some.
7. Silken Tofu
Another vegan option is to use silken or soft tofu. The plainer taste of tofu is very different from the tanginess of Greek yogurt, so you may want to add some lemon juice to get the right flavor and acidity.
You can use tofu as a substitute for Greek yogurt on a one-to-one basis. You should blend the tofu until it is a smooth consistency and then use it in your recipes.
8. Sour Cream
Next to plain yogurt, sour cream is also one of the best and most versatile Greek yogurt substitutions.
It’s very similar to Greek yogurt as they’re both cultured dairy products and share the same creamy texture. Sour cream has a tangy flavor and its texture is a little looser than the texture of Greek yogurt.
You can use sour cream as a substitute for Greek yogurt in baking recipes, as well as for topping chili or tacos. It can be used in the same amount as a straight one-to-one substitution.
This substitution works both ways as you can often use Greek yogurt in place of sour cream (see also ‘14 Sour Cream Substitutes‘), too.
9. Vegan Sour Cream
If you’re vegan and need a substitution for Greek yogurt, then why not try vegan sour cream? Instead of using any dairy, vegan sour cream is made from tofu, cashews, and lemon juice. It has a texture and flavor that is very similar to yogurt.
It can be used in exactly the same way as regular sour cream unfortunately and is not suitable for baking recipes. It’s perfect, however, for chili and tacos.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we listed nine substitutes for Greek yogurt.
Some substitutes can be used in place of Greek yogurt on a one-to-one basis and in any recipe that calls for Greek yogurt, whereas others are best in certain types of recipes and in reduced amounts.
We also included some vegan options for those that don’t eat dairy products.
We hope that this article has been informative and will help you substitute Greek yogurt when you need to.
9 Substitutes For Greek Yogurt
Learn about 9 substitutes for Greek yogurt that you can use instead of the dairy product
Ingredients
Avocado
Buttermilk
Coconut Cream
Cottage Cheese
Mashed Banana
Plain Yogurt
Silken Tofu
Sour Cream
Vegan Sour Cream
Directions
- Decided on what substitute you need
- Pick a substitute from the list above
- Read what you need to substitute with
- Create the recipe and enjoy
Recipe Video
Cooking is great for your mental, physical, and emotional health. What’s the worst that could happen? Find a recipe that you like the sound of and cook it along with me. You might even unlock a new passion!
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