Substitute for yogurt in Greek recipes?

[jrustyw]

My new girlfriend is highly allergic to yogurt. I love several Greek dishes that include yogurt - such as moussaka or tzatziki. Is there a good substitute for Greek yogurt in these kinds of dishes? I found a few recipes that suggest cottage cheese. I was wondering if anyone here has tried it or has other suggestions.
Thanks!
Rusty

 

[CraigC]

Is it just the yogurt she has a problem with or does it extend to other dairy? I know you mention cottage cheese, but is she ok with that?

Welcome to DC!

 

[jrustyw]

Thanks for the welcome...
She says it is only yogurt and all other dairy is OK. She can even eat frozen yogurt. This puzzles me - but she says she worked with a doctor and did the food journal process to narrow it down. Anything with yogurt - even cooked or yogurt coated raisins - will give her vicious migraines. But she is OK with all other dairy - including frozen yogurt.

 

[jennyema]

Maybe some sour cream thinned with lemon juice?

Cottage cheese doesnt seem like a good sub to me...

 

[jrustyw]

I thought about sour cream since yogurt is often substituted the other way. And a bit of looking after your post reveals some 'sour cream, cucumber and dill dips' that sound remarkably like tzatziki. I'll give that a try. How much lemon juice would you suggest? And any other modifications if the recipe is baked?
Thanks!

 

[buckytom]

i agree about the sour cream, but would add red wine vinegar if you're goin' tsatsiki.

i'll lookk for my tastsiki recipe that i think i posted here in a little while

 

[Snip 13]

Maybe some sour cream thinned with lemon juice?

Cottage cheese doesnt seem like a good sub to me...

I would go for sour cream or cultured buttermilk. It doesn't need thinning when you cook with it. It will melt anyway.

 

[Gravy Queen]

I use creme fraiche in place of yogurt but it is similar so not sure if she could eat it ? Has she tried creme fraiche ?

 

[Siegal]

I usually use labne instead if yogurt (yummier in my opinion) not sure if its too similar to yogurt thought

 

[buckytom]

i thought i'd posted it here before, but i couldn't find it, so i just posted it as a new recipe.

here's my tsatsiki sauce http://www.discusscooking.com/forums/f76/buckytoms-basic-tsatsiki-sauce-83893.html#post1230130 with which you could sub sour cream for the yogurt. hth.

 

[Kayelle]

Sorry I don't have an answer for you. I'm having a hard time understanding what component yogurt has that sour cream doesn't? Many people are allergic to lactose, but that's the component of all dairy.

 

[jrustyw]

I'm having a hard time figuring out what the difference might be between frozen yogurt and anything else with yogurt... It's a peculiar food allergy. Definitely not lactose since she eats plenty of other dairy with no issues. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to try sour cream for the dishes this weekend and I'll let you know whether a) it's tasty and b) it makes her sick...

Sorry I don't have an answer for you. I'm having a hard time understanding what component yogurt has that sour cream doesn't? Many people are allergic to lactose, but that's the component of all dairy.

 

[jennyema]

What are her symptoms?

If they are digestive, it might be due to the probiotics.

 

[jrustyw]

I'm happy to report that sour cream works beautifully in cooked dishes. I couldn't tell the difference between that and yogurt in the moussaka. The tzatziki with sour cream tasted slightly peculiar to me - but everyone else liked it, so that appears to be a success as well. I just did a direct one for one substitution between the two. Thanks for the advice.

 

[CWS4322]

You could try mock sour cream.

http://www.discusscooking.com/forums/f12/whos-trying-to-lose-weight-45592-44.html#post1197579

It is on page 44 but I think that is in the URL.

You could try 1/2 of that and 1/2 sour cream. Add some buttermilk to get the tartness, skip the additional salt (cottage cheese has lots of sodium).