Greek yoghurt vs. Bulgarian yoghurt: these are the differences
You may be familiar with Greek yoghurt, but do you ever eat Bulgarian yoghurt? And do you know what the differences are between the two? A deep dive into Greek and Bulgarian yoghurt, so you know what’s in your bowl at breakfast.
Yoghurt is more versatile than you think. You can do much more with it than just having breakfast. Cooking with yoghurt, for example, works brilliantly. These grilled courgettes with warm yoghurt and saffron butter: divine. And do you remember the frozen yoghurt bites? An unexpected summer hit that, as far as we’re concerned, can keep making a comeback.
An exploded yoghurt aisle
The yoghurt aisle at the supermarket is practically exploding. You have low-fat yoghurt, semi-skimmed yoghurt, full-fat yoghurt, quark, Skyr, cream yoghurt, goat’s yoghurt, lactose-free yoghurt and, of course, Greek and Bulgarian yoghurt too. They taste similar, yet they are all slightly different. So the question is: what is the difference between Greek and Bulgarian yoghurt?
What is Greek yoghurt?
Greek yoghurt is a creamy, thick yoghurt with a mildly sour taste. It is made by allowing regular yoghurt to drain thoroughly. This removes a large part of the liquid, the whey. That has two consequences: it gives the yoghurt its familiar thick texture and a high concentration of protein. It is for the latter reason that many athletes love Greek yoghurt.
Incidentally, supermarkets sell not only real Greek yoghurt, but also Greek-style yoghurt. These are not the same products. Thickeners are added to Greek-style yoghurt; the draining process is skipped. So it is not real Greek yoghurt. Real Greek yoghurt contains more protein and calories than Greek-style yoghurt.
What is Bulgarian yoghurt?
Bulgarian yoghurt is somewhat less well known than Greek yoghurt. A shame, because it is incredibly delicious. Bulgarian yoghurt is made by heating and thickening milk. Various bacteria are added to the milk, such as Lactobacillus bulgaricus, which cause the milk to ferment. This gives the yoghurt a very distinctive flavour and texture.
Differences between Greek and Bulgarian yoghurt
Greek and Bulgarian yoghurt differ from each other in a few ways:
- Bulgarian yoghurt is thinner than Greek yoghurt. This is because a lot of liquid has been removed from Greek yoghurt.
- Bulgarian yoghurt is a richer source of probiotics because of the bacteria added to the yoghurt. Very good for your gut!
- Bulgarian yoghurt tastes slightly more sour than Greek yoghurt. The added bacteria are responsible for that too.
- Greek yoghurt contains more protein than Bulgarian yoghurt.
Tips for eating Greek and Bulgarian yoghurt
What do Greek and Bulgarian yoghurt have in common? Obviously, they are both incredibly delicious, but you can also use these products in all kinds of ways. Sweet, savoury, as a dip, as a dressing; the possibilities are endless. For example, try replacing crème fraîche or sour cream with Greek yoghurt. Or make tarator: a Bulgarian yoghurt soup with cucumber, dill and garlic. To make it, finely chop two cloves of garlic, a cucumber and a small bunch of dill, then mix them, along with a few tablespoons and some salt, into a litre of Bulgarian yoghurt. Easy, delicious and wonderfully refreshing on a hot summer’s day.
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