10 Traditional Yogurt Recipes From Around the World to Try at Home

From rich Indian curries to refreshing Middle Eastern dips and Turkish soups, yogurt appears in recipes that are surprisingly different from one another. These international yogurt recipes are also a great way to discover how one simple ingredient can take on completely new flavours depending on how it is prepared.

1. Indian Kadhi: Yogurt Turned Into a Comforting Curry

Kadhi is a popular Indian dish that shows just how far yogurt can travel from the breakfast table. It combines yogurt with gram flour and spices to create a tangy, creamy curry that is commonly enjoyed with rice.

The yogurt provides the dish with its distinctive sourness, while spices such as turmeric, cumin and mustard seeds add warmth and depth. Different regions of India have their own versions, with some including fried gram flour dumplings known as pakoras.

For a simple home version, whisk plain yogurt with gram flour and water before gently cooking it with spices. Serve it hot with steamed rice for a comforting meal.

2. Turkish Cacık: A Cool Yogurt and Cucumber Dish

Cacık is a refreshing Turkish dish made with yogurt, cucumber, garlic and herbs. It is similar to some other cucumber and yogurt preparations found across the region, but its thinner consistency makes it especially refreshing.

Grate or finely chop cucumber and mix it with plain yogurt. Add crushed garlic, dried mint and a little water until you achieve the consistency you prefer.

Serve it chilled alongside grilled meat, bread or vegetables. On a hot day, it can also work as a light snack on its own.

3. Greek Tzatziki: The Classic Yogurt Dip

Greek tzatziki is another well-known example of yogurt being used in a completely different way. Thick Greek yogurt is combined with cucumber, garlic, lemon juice or vinegar, olive oil and herbs.

The result is creamy, fresh and slightly sharp. Tzatziki is traditionally served alongside grilled dishes and bread, but it can also be used as a sandwich spread or dip for vegetables.

The recipe is particularly easy to make at home. The most important step is squeezing excess water from the cucumber before mixing it with the yogurt. This keeps the dip thick rather than watery.

4. Persian Mast-o-Khiar: Yogurt With Fresh Flavours

Mast-o-khiar is a Persian yogurt dish that combines creamy yogurt with cucumber, herbs and aromatic ingredients. Depending on the recipe, ingredients such as dried mint, walnuts and raisins can be included.

It is often served as a side dish alongside Persian meals, providing a cool contrast to warm rice dishes and richly seasoned foods.

What makes this recipe interesting is the balance of textures. Creamy yogurt, crisp cucumber, fragrant herbs and crunchy walnuts come together in a dish that is simple but far from boring.

5. Indian Raita: Yogurt That Cools Spicy Food

Raita is one of the easiest international yogurt recipes to recreate at home. It is commonly served with Indian meals and can help balance dishes that contain plenty of chilli and spices.

Cucumber raita is perhaps the most familiar version, but yogurt can also be mixed with onion, tomato, mint, coriander or even cooked vegetables. A little roasted cumin powder adds a warm, smoky flavour.

Unlike a heavily seasoned curry, raita is designed to be fresh and cooling. Spoon it alongside biryani, pulao, parathas or spicy curries for a simple addition that can completely change the meal.

6. Armenian Spas: Yogurt Becomes a Soup

Yogurt does not always have to be served cold. In Armenian spas, also known as tanapur, it becomes the base of a warm and comforting soup.

The dish traditionally combines fermented dairy with grains, herbs and other simple ingredients. The yogurt gives the soup a pleasant tang, while herbs add freshness.

It is a great example of how different cooking traditions use familiar ingredients in unexpected ways. Instead of treating yogurt as a topping or side dish, this recipe places it at the heart of the meal.

7. Lebanese Shish Tawook: Yogurt as a Marinade

In Lebanese and wider Middle Eastern cooking, yogurt can be used as a marinade for meat. Shish tawook is commonly prepared with chicken that is marinated in a mixture containing yogurt, lemon and spices before being grilled.

The yogurt helps create a tender texture while also allowing the spices to cling to the chicken. Garlic, paprika and other seasonings can add plenty of flavour.

After marinating, the chicken can be cooked on skewers over a grill or in a hot pan. Serve it with flatbread, salad and a yogurt-based sauce for an easy meal inspired by Middle Eastern flavours.

8. Iranian Doogh: Yogurt as a Refreshing Drink

Doogh is a traditional Iranian drink made by mixing yogurt with water and often adding salt and dried mint. It is light, tangy and particularly refreshing with a meal.

To make a simple version at home, whisk plain yogurt with cold water until smooth. Add a small amount of salt and dried mint according to taste.

The drink may seem unusual if you are used to sweet yoghurt drinks, but its savoury flavour works beautifully with grilled meats, rice dishes and spicy foods.

9. Georgian Matsoni-Based Dishes: Tangy Fermented Dairy

Matsoni is a traditional Georgian fermented dairy product with a texture and flavour similar to yogurt. It can be enjoyed on its own or used in different dishes and sauces.

Its gentle tang makes it useful alongside savoury foods, while its creamy consistency works well in simple preparations. If you cannot find traditional matsoni, plain natural yogurt can be used for many home recipes.

Try mixing yogurt with fresh herbs, garlic and a little salt to create a quick Georgian-inspired accompaniment for bread or grilled vegetables.

10. Moroccan Yogurt With Spiced Dishes

Moroccan cuisine is known for its fragrant combination of spices, herbs and preserved ingredients. Plain yogurt can provide a refreshing contrast to these stronger flavours.

A simple Moroccan-inspired yogurt sauce can be made by combining natural yogurt with coriander, mint, lemon juice and a little cumin. It can be served alongside roasted vegetables, couscous or grilled meat.

This is an easy way to use yogurt without making it the main part of the dish. Its cool and creamy texture balances the warmth of spices beautifully.

Discover a New Side of Yogurt

These international yogurt recipes demonstrate that yogurt is far more versatile than it may first appear. It can become a curry, soup, dip, marinade, drink or cooling side dish depending on the culinary tradition.

Many of these dishes are also easy to adapt at home. Plain natural yogurt is a useful starting point, although thicker Greek-style yogurt may be preferable for dips and sauces. Fresh herbs, spices, garlic, cucumber and lemon can then completely change its character.

If you usually reach for yogurt only at breakfast, these recipes are a good reason to experiment. A tub of plain yogurt could be the starting point for a creamy curry one day, a refreshing dip the next and even a savoury drink after that.