Using Kefir-Your ideas?
Help! My doctor has advised me to have two 8oz servings of (unflavored) Kefir a day. Besides adding it to my morning smoothie, I am at a loss for ways to incorporate kefir into my diet.
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8 Comments:
When I first moved to Norway in December, I really got in to having kefir for breakfast, with a cereal called 4-korn on top. 4-korn is basically composed of rolled oats, rye, wheat and barley. That's it, no added anything. I often add chopped nuts to this. It's pretty good because it adds a nice nutty wholesomeness that works well with the kefir. I once tried cooking the 4-korn, as for oatmeal, but it didn't come out so well because the heat of the oatmeal curdled the kefir. Oops.
That pretty much exhausts my kefir ideas. I hope other Serious Eaters have some ideas, because I love kefir and think it should be more widely used.
caley at 9:15AM on 04/29/08
Yay for kefir! It's so good for you! If you like Russian food, you're in for a treat.
Do you like beets? If so, then do you like borscht? I adore a bowl of cold, refreshing borscht, especially during the summer months. Make a huge batch and just eat a bowl every day as part of lunch or dinner. You'll use the kefir just like you'd use yogurt after the beets have been cooked down -- the kefir with the beets is what gives the borscht that lovely pink color.
Another good, refreshing cold soup which uses kefir is okroshka. It's made with radishes, cucumbers, onions and boiled potatoes. You can add ham and eggs (which would be more traditional), but I don't like mine that way. If you add the ham and eggs, though, it's even more of a solid, filling meal than with just the veggies and kefir.
I also found a website which has a few "mainstream" kefir recipes:
http://www.kefir.biz/recipe.htm
And then there's the Lifeway website, which has a TON of good recipes (makes sense, as they want you to buy THEIR kefir...):
http://www.lifeway.net/bottom/recipes.php
Have fun!
sheeats at 10:20AM on 04/29/08
I love Kefir. I use it to make smoothies.
Decca at 11:01AM on 04/29/08
I drink a lot of the stuff. I love it plain. You can also use it just like yogurt. Make Tandorri Chicken with some raita. You can use it to supsitute mayo or sour cream as well in dishes. It makes great spreads.
malenky at 3:15PM on 04/29/08
I use kefir the exact same way I use yogurt or sour cream.
">Strawberry Banana Sherbet
Frutabomba or Papaya Shake
">Carrot Cupcakes
">Mashed Potatoes
To reheat some leftover macaroni and cheese - it makes it creamy and with a tangy taste
To make any fruit smoothie
Madelyn
KarmaFreeCooking
MadelynRodriguez at 5:36PM on 04/29/08
Yay, kefir! I love the stuff. I eat it plain with a little sugar or honey, or pour it over thick yogurt. Try it with cereal or granola. Cucumber/tomato/radish salad with kefir dressing would be good, too.
Russian lore says that kefir is very good for digestion (which I think is backed up by medical research, hence your doctor's advice.)
yulinka
Yulinka Cooks
yulinka at 5:48PM on 04/29/08
You could sweeten kefir with a little jam, honey, or agave and run it through an ice cream maker for a frozen treat.
Are you advised to eat your kefir raw? If you are, you could blend it with herbs and vegetables for cold soups, flavor it for salad dressing, or blend it with chickpeas for a hummus-like dip.
If not, you could bake it into breads, use it in a meat or vegetable braise, or stirred into a hot soup.
butterface at 10:13PM on 04/29/08
Okay, all you responders, fill me in on this yummy treat. What's it like? I've never had it. I do like tart things like sour cream, buttermilk and good yogurt so is it something like those?
And if it's not too nosy, why does the doc want you to drink it? I've read that it's supposed to be good for you, but was there something specific he's thinking it will help? If that's too personal or annoying, no need to answer, but I'm just wondering if this might be something I might want to keep on hand, or whether it might just be a "sometimes" treat.
dbcurrie at 10:55PM on 04/30/08