Lemon Chive Yogurt Cheese

This Lemon Chive Yogurt Cheese is a creamy cheese-like spread, beautifully flavored with lemon and fresh chives.  Made by straining yogurt, it is a healthy choice that is a great sandwich spread or dip for your favourite vegetable tray. The purple chive flowers add a pretty garnish when they are blooming in the spring.

Why Yogurt Cheese?

Yogurt cheese is low in fat, a good source of protein, calcium rich, and has many other nutrients as well as gut friendly bacteria. It also gives your immune system a boost, aids digestion and helps lower cholesterol. This simple spread is a healthier choice than cream cheese or many dairy or mayonnaise based dips.

How can I use Yogurt Cheese?

Similar to quark cheese, this simple, light cheese is very versatile.  It can be used in place of:

• butter or margarine
• mayonnaise
• cream cheese or other dairy based spread        

Lemon Chive Yogurt Cheese spread on a slice or two of whole grain bread, topped with avocado, cucumber, tomato and sprinkled with salt & pepper makes a great lunch.  It also makes a wonderful dip for your favourite vegetable tray or addition to your cheese tray.

What kind of yogurt should I use?

When choosing a yogurt I look for one that has:

• low fat (I like 1%)
• no gelatin (it changes the texture)
• lots of active bacteria ( I prefer the amounts be listed)
• added Vitamin D

You can also make yogurt cheese with Greek yogurt and it will reduce the straining time. If you use yogurt with no fat, I recommend adding 1 tablespoon of olive oil to round out the texture. Once the cheese is made you are ready to add flavour and many herbs work well.  I like lemon and chives but dill and parsley work well too. 

I use yogurt a lot in my cooking and baking and it is a staple in my home. Other recipes to try, are this delicious Yogurt Cake with Roasted Strawberries and Rhubarb or these gorgeous Ruby Rimmed Stuffed Eggs .

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Hearing from my readers brightens my day and I welcome your questions or comments.  If you try this recipe please let me know  and rate it by hitting those rating stars or tag me on social media.

5 from 2 votes

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Lemon Chive Yogurt Cheese

This Lemon Chive Yogurt Cheese has a luscious cream cheese like texture beautifully flavored with lemon and fresh chives.  Made by straining yogurt, it is a healthy low fat cheese like spread or dip.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword Yogurt Cheese, Healthy Sandwich Spread

Prep Time 1 day 2 hours 30 minutes

Servings 12

Author makinghealthychoicesca

Ingredients

• 1 750gram Yogurt I like 1%
• 1/4 cup fresh chives
• 1 lemon
• pepper
• salt

Instructions

1. Set up a sieve over a medium size bowl and empty container of yogurt into sieve. Cover and put in the fridge for about 24 hours. During this time, the liquid will drain from the yogurt leaving a cheese-like thick yogurt.

2. Empty drained yogurt into a small bowl.

3. Finely chop chives and add to yogurt

4. Zest lemon and add to yogurt and stir.

5. Add salt and pepper, tasting to adjust the seasonings. Cover and place in refridgerator for flavours to blend for 1 hour.