Kefir is a fermented dairy drink brimming with gut-friendly probiotic cultures. Kefir has been shown to aid in digestion and reduce inflammation. It’s also full of calcium and vitamin K. Like a good Greek yogurt, kefir is a little sour and very tangy. However, the consistency is much milkier. It also has a lovely fizz, thanks to carbon dioxide. If you’re looking for innovative uses for this highly cultured beverage, you’re in luck! These 10 amazing kefir recipes will spark culinary creativity and tickle your tastebuds. I’m glad you’re here… it was fer-MENT to be!
10 Surprising Ways to Use Kefir
1. Chocolate Kefir Cake
This easy, one-bowl chocolate cake will become your go-to dessert. It’s chocolatey, light, moist, and not cloyingly sweet. Honestly, it’s luxurious, despite its simplicity. The kefir does several things in the cake. It works as a leavening agent, adds richness to the flavor, and keeps the cake moist. This cake is eggless, which isn’t very common in the cake world. So, it’s great for those with egg allergies. Don’t worry, the texture is still phenomenal, thanks to the kefir! Sadly, the probiotics in kefir do die off due to the heat of baking. But what can I say? It’s cake, so it’s not the healthiest option. But it is good for your soul, waistline-be-darned.
2. Strawberry Kefir Smoothie
Getting your probiotics has never been easier or more delicious. If you want a healthy breakfast, lunch, or snack smoothies are the way to go. This kefir smoothie is so easy to make and uses only four ingredients. Simply add plain kefir, frozen strawberries, lemon juice, and honey to a blender. Then, blend and serve! You get a dose of probiotics, calcium, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins with every sip. Feel free to add more fruits and veggies!
3. Kefir Pancakes ‘Oladi’
One thing I love about pancakes is how every culture seems to have its own version. These Russian oladi might be my new favorite. These little pancakes are just so fluffy. This is due to a few things, including the way they’re fried. But the most important element for fluffy pancakes is due to science! Specifically, a school science fair volcano-like reaction between the kefir and baking soda. It’s not quite so explosive, but the principle is the same. And that means super fluffy pancakes.
4. Kefir Avocado Green Goddess Dressing
This vivid dressing is as good for you as it is green. It’s packed with superfoods and is compliant with several diets. You really can’t go wrong here! It’s creamy, bright, herbaceous, and utterly delicious. It’s rich in probiotics, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Slather it on salad, chicken, or bread.
5. Blueberry Muffins with Kefir
In just 30 minutes, you can have fresh, warm, and delicious blueberry muffins. There’s not much better than that! Like with the chocolate cake on this list, the kefir does three things. It adds flavor, moisture, and is responsible for the leavening. These muffins are soft and moist and bursting with bright blueberries. They’re slightly tangy, buttery, and sweet. They’re topped with a brown sugar streusel, which is utterly fantastic!
6. Cold Summer Soup “Okroshka”
Cold, fizzy, and soup are three words you normally wouldn’t see describing the same dish. I’ll give you cold and soup if you’re a fan of gazpacho, but fizzy? Okroshka is a delicious soup that defies all expectations unless you’re from Eastern Europe. It’s fresh, tangy, and just a little fizzy (at least on the first day). It also has great textures. Okroshka is quite healthy! It’s loaded with protein from eggs, kefir, and smoked turkey. This soup is rich in antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This soup may sound unusual, but I promise it’s so flavorful. You’ll love it!
7. Easy Probiotic Kefir Cultured Ghee
Ghee is a fabulous butter substitute, made from clarified butter. That means its water and milk solids have been removed. It’s great for those with lactose intolerance. Plus, It’s absolutely chock-full of healthy fats. It’s also been shown to reduce gut inflammation and support a healthy heart. This ghee recipe is also high in probiotics. This recipe is really cool because you get three cultured dairy products in one process. You get to make your own probiotic butter, buttermilk, and ghee. Now, this process is time-consuming. It takes approximately 48 hours for the kefir, cream, and yogurt base to ferment. Then, you have to make the butter and clarify it. This ghee is worth the work! It’s nutty, creamy, and divine.
8. Coriander Chicken Kebabs with Cilantro Kefir Sauce
Give a nod to Mediterranean flavor with these superb kebabs. The chicken is succulent, citrusy, and perfectly seasoned. The cilantro kefir sauce is tangy, fresh, and garlicky. Plus, you get a double dose of kefir in this dish. The first dose comes from the chicken marinade. The acid in the kefir breaks down the meat, so it’s mouthwatering and tender. The second dose obviously comes from the sauce. Not only is it delicious, but you get all of the benefits of raw kefir. I personally would add more veggies to the kebabs, like red peppers and zucchini. That way, there’s both a nutrient and a flavor boost!
9. Kefir Ice Cream
If any ice cream could be considered good for you, it’s this one. Probiotics? Check. Protein? Check. No refined sugar? Check. This recipe uses a custard base made with kefir. The kefir is added after the cream and egg custard has cooked. So, you still keep all those good gut bacteria. Then it’s scented with vanilla and sweetened with honey. The result is creamy, floral, tangy, and lightly vanilla-flavored ice cream. This recipe uses an ice cream maker. However, you can easily make custard-based ice cream without one. It’s just a bit more time-consuming.
10. Kefir Popsicles
Say cheers to summer with these fruity probiotic popsicles! They’re fresh, sweet, tangy, and totally customizable. All you need is kefir, a fruit of your choice, and honey to taste. You could even sneak in some veggies. These fruit pops are healthy, but that doesn’t mean they’re bland. Kids and adults alike will love them. I’ve listed some fruit combos below to inspire you.
Pineapple and passion fruitMango and strawberrySuper Berry! (Raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries)Peach and cherry
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