Yoghurt Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

*Yoghurt, plain
*salt
*white pepper (optional)
*cucumbers
*white onion, minced (optional)
*pressed garlic or minced shallots (optional)

Instructions

Take the yoghurt and place in a bowl. Skin the cucumber, cut lengthwise, and take out the seeds if you wish. Cut the cucumber into very small pieces, or grate it, using the large teeth of a grater. Add to the yoghurt along with salt, pepper, and the optional ingredients. Serve cold as a side dish or with rice dishes, or as a cold sauce in pita bread sandwiches such as falafal.

Yoghurt Cheese

Ingredients

*Yoghurt
*cheesecloth or thin white cloth (perhaps a thin T-shirt)
*Olive Oil
*Jar
*spices such as paprika and cumin (optional)
*colander (optional)

Instructions

Take the yoghurt and place it in the cloth, typing the corners of the cloth to make a sort of bag. Hang this from the faucet over the sink, or place it in a colander in the sink so the water drains off. Check the yoghurt periodically to see if it is the consistency you like. Different thicknesses of cloth will take different amounts of time to thicken the yoghurt. n to your liking, take the yoghut out of the cloth and either place as is in a jar or plastic container and place in the refrigerator, or else form the yoghurt into 1 1/2 inch balls and pack in a jar with some olive oil. n serving, some people like to roll the yoghurt balls in paprika or cumin before placing on it's serving dish. Good for breakfast with flat bread.

Homemade Yoghurt

Ingredients and Equipment

*Milk (whole, nonfat, or lowfat)
*small quantity of yoghurt
*Cooking Thermometer
*plastic or ceramic bowl
*saucepan
*towels

Instructions

Heat milk slowly in a saucepan until it reaches 185F (85C). If you don't have a thermometer, heat the milk until bubbles begin to appear around the edges of the pan. (be careful to keep stirring the milk or it will burn on the bottom and make a crust) Cool the milk until it is down to 110F (45C), or lukewarm.Put the yoghurt in a small bowl (about 1/4 cup for a gallon of milk, or 2 Tbs for 4 cups of milk) and stir until it is soft. stir in about 1/2 cup of warm milk with yoghurt until it is all mixed well. Add this yoghurt mixture to the saucepan with the rest of the milk, stirring SLOWLY, or it will become sour or tart. Rinse the bowl you are using with hot water and then pour in the yoghurt/milk mixture. Put on the lid firmly and then wrap the bowl in at least two layers of bath towels to keep the heat in. Set the towel covered bowl aside for at least 6 hours, usually overnight. Afterwards, store the yoghurt in the refigerator.