Greek yogurt (strained)

Famous the world over, Greek yogurt has come to fashion during the last 15 years. It is strained yogurt (from cow’s pasteurized milk), a procedure that by itself enriches the yogurt’s texture and taste. It is also rich in vitamins (much richer than plain yogurt).

Its increased popularity is also due to the fact that it has lower levels of lactose, which makes it ideal for people who are lactose intolerant but still love yogurt and want to keep eating it.

You can find it in most parts of the world, where dairy products are consumed. Most brands offer 2 varieties of Greek yogurt, the full fat (10%) and the low fat (2%).

Where to use it

Its thick texture makes it an ideal substitute of whipped cream and can also be used in several sauces, snacks and various sweets. But among its most delicious versions is the much loved yogurt with honey and walnuts, a desert full of vitamins, antioxidants and nutritional value.

On Naxos, it is quite common to be offered as a desert and usually for free. It clears the palette, aids digestion and reduces the effect of the alcohol. Instead of honey, other syrupy sweets may be offered on top of the yogurt. These sweets are called “glyka tou koutaliou” in Greek and they are made usually out of fruit and sugar (maybe some almonds as well). Such fruit can be oranges, lemons, strawberries, quince, figs …. They go extremely well with the Greek yogurt.

Find out which are the best holiday foods to eat and see what's cooking on Naxos by reading our favourite recipes from Naxos island.