Most Western chefs use raw yogurt for sweets or beverages. Many Indian chefs use it as a souring agent to tenderize meat. It uses as a basis for softly textured curries. In India, people use it in sweets and to make homemade buttermilk.
What type of yogurt is usually used in Indian cooking?
Let’s get started to find more!
What Type of Yogurt do We Use in Indian Cooking?
Commonly, Indian people use yogurt in cooking. This type is called ‘Dahi,’ which uses Indian cuisine. It adds a creamy and light texture to the dishes without weighing them down. Further, it is a sourcing agent and helps tenderize the meat.
We make Dahi from curdled milk. It is sourer and thicker than yogurt. So, it is the perfect addition to curries and other savory dishes. At Little India of Denver, we add this type of yogurt to make curries tastier and more delicious.
Preparation: You can easily make dahi at home. For this, you need to add a small amount of vinegar or lemon juice to the milk. Allow it to sit until it thickens.
Why is Yogurt Added to Curry?
It’s common practice in India to add yogurt to Indian cooking. People add it to curry to balance the spices and lighten the dish. It can also make thick curry, a thin. Hence, it can really elevate the flavors of the dish.
Does It Thicken Curry?
It will not actually thicken the curry. It only adds a creamy texture to the curry. If you want to make your curry thicker, you will need to add some other ingredients like flour or coconut powder.
It is Best for Curry
It is one of the ideal ingredients you can use for a curry. Also, it helps to bring out all the other flavors in the dish.
The acidity of yogurt helps to balance out the spices in the curry. So, it makes curry more palatable for western audiences.
Can You Use Greek Yogurt Instead?
Greek yogurt is more acidic and tarter than dahi. You can use it in place of dahi, but it can make the curry too sour. However, you can add a bit more sugar or spice to balance out the flavors if you want to use Greek yogurt.
How is It Added to Curry?
Typically, it is added to curry near the end of cooking. It prevents curry from curdling.
Add the yogurt slowly and whisk it into the curry till it is fully incorporated. You should not let the curry boil once you have added it. It can cause the yogurt to curdle.
The Bottom Line
Yogurt adds a creamy and light texture to dishes, a common ingredient in Indian cooking. Visit Little India for the most authentic and the best Indian food in Denver. We make sure to cook every dish as heartily as we can. Our chefs infuse authentic Indian flavors through the use of spices.
We are the most recommended Indian restaurant in Denver. We have four locations: 330 E. 6Th Avenue, 2390 S. Downing St, 29th Avenue Central Park, and 32nd & Lowell Highland.
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FAQs
Apart from marinating, yogurt is often used in gravies and curries to add a creamy texture and counterbalance the heat of spices. Indian cuisine is known for its spices, and yogurt tempers the intensity of these flavors, providing a cooling effect. It serves as a refreshing accompaniment to spicy curries and biryanis.
Why does Indian food use so much yogurt? ›
Apart from marinating, yogurt is often used in gravies and curries to add a creamy texture and counterbalance the heat of spices. Indian cuisine is known for its spices, and yogurt tempers the intensity of these flavors, providing a cooling effect. It serves as a refreshing accompaniment to spicy curries and biryanis.
How to eat yogurt with Indian food? ›
Raita is a creamy Indian yogurt sauce or condiment traditionally served alongside spicy Indian dishes. It is used to cool down the palate, often served with spicy curries, dal, tandoori chicken, biryani, rice dishes, kebabs, Indian butter chicken or as a yogurt dip, with a side of roti, paratha, or toasted naan.
Why does yogurt curdle in curry? ›
8 Answers. You are trying to add the yoghurt at too high a temperature. Let the dish cool to around 75 deg C before adding the yoghurt, and make adding the yoghurt the last thing you do before serving. Yogurt is a mesh of denatured milk protein that traps the whey.
Is yogurt popular in India? ›
Traditionally, dahi has been a staple in the Indian diet and is widely regarded as a functional food that aids digestion and improves immune support.
What type of yogurt is used in Indian food? ›
Dahi yogurt is a popular choice for making desserts and savory dishes in Indian cuisine.
What is the yogurt culture from India? ›
Traditional Dahi curd yogurt culture has been a staple in the diet of many in the Indian Subcontinent for generations. Originating from this region, dahi is a beloved yogurt made predominantly from cow's milk and is cherished for its rich, creamy texture and delightful taste.
Why do Indians eat yogurt with rice? ›
A staple of South Indian cuisine, particularly during sweltering summers, yogurt rice or curd rice in its simplest form is steamed white rice tossed with plain whole-milk yogurt. It is usually eaten cold at the end of a meal to help aid in digestion and cool the palate after eating spicy, warming foods.
What does yogurt do to Indian curry? ›
It's common practice in India to add yogurt to Indian cooking. People add it to curry to balance the spices and lighten the dish. It can also make thick curry, a thin. Hence, it can really elevate the flavors of the dish.
What is another name for Indian yoghurt dish? ›
This cool, creamy condiment is a must with spicy Indian recipes.
If you don't have fenugreek (or you have added some bit it still isn't enough) you could try to add more curry spices like cumin, coriander, and mustard and try to overpower the yogurt taste.
Does yogurt make curry thick? ›
1. Add dairy. Many curry sauces have a creamy texture, so try adding more dairy—like Greek yogurt, heavy cream, or a thick non-dairy ingredient like coconut cream—to thicken a watery curry sauce.
Why is yogurt served with Indian food? ›
While most Western chefs use raw yoghurt for sweets or beverages, Indian chefs use it to tenderize meat, as a souring agent, and as a basis for softly textured curries.
What culture eats the most yogurt? ›
Which countries consume the most yogurt? France, followed by Turkey. 57 percent of French citizens eat yogurt each day, with Turkey close behind at 52 percent. In general, Europeans consume about 40 pounds per year, mostly in the afternoon and evening.
What's the difference between American and Indian yogurt? ›
In reality, while Indian yogurt isn't in an entirely different food category than off-the-shelf U.S. yogurt, it is made through a slightly different process, with the result that it is thicker and slightly more sour.
Why does Indian food have so much dairy? ›
Dairy products became further entrenched in Indian cooking by virtue of their being a protein-rich alternative to meat. In a region long plagued by hunger, there's no disputing that dairy products can provide valuable nutrients to people at risk of malnutrition.
What is a substitute for yogurt in Indian food? ›
While cow's milk yoghurt is the most common variety in India, an oat- or soy-based alternative works really well. Coconut yoghurt isn't recommended, as it will impart too much of the coconut flavour into the food.
Why is Indian food so complex? ›
Indian cooking often involves layering flavors through the careful addition of spices at different stages of the cooking process. This technique allows each spice to release its unique flavor, creating a complex and harmonious taste profile.
