If you’re new to Lifeway Kefir, or any probiotic beverage in general, you might be wondering what you can do with it. After all, if you’re not used to drinking it straight, it can take some getting used to since it’s a potent, tart beverage that you’ll soon grow to love. Until then, however, why not incorporate kefir into some of the day-to-day recipes you already love and use? Lifeway Kefir is much more than just cultured milk; it’s one of the best recipe ingredients you can use to add nutrition and deliciousness to your recipes you already love and use.
Our Favorite Ways to Use Lifeway Kefir (and Farmer Cheese) in the Kitchen
Lifeway Kefir and Farmer Cheese can be used in nearly anything you can imagine. Slightly thicker than milk but not as thick as yogurt, kefir is a pourable probiotic cultured milk much higher in probiotics and live cultures than regular yogurt (we use 5 times the amount found in most commercial probiotic yogurts!). You can use it in smoothies just like any liquid, along with smoothie bowls. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is the best alternative option to cottage cheese because there’s no blending required and our cheese has no salt which means it’s lower in sodium and considered a heart-healthier option (and fantastic in sweet recipes!).
1. In Place of Buttermilk in Any Recipe: Waffles, Muffins, Pancakes, Cornbread, and More
Do you bake with buttermilk? Use it in pancakes? Buttermilk’s unique culturing properties lend a soft, more tender crumb to anything. But why pancakes, cornbread, muffins, waffles, and other similar recipes are so much better with Lifeway Kefir. You can use it just like buttermilk, and best of all, it tastes much better! Kefir is also higher in probiotic cultures than even the best, highest-quality buttermilk, so it retains greater softening, tenderizing, and flavor-enhancing qualities. Try it in your next batch of muffins in place of any liquid milk (even if the recipe doesn’t call for buttermilk). Or waffles, or pancakes, or cornbread—the sky’s the limit!
Try these delicious Toasted Peach Cobbler Waffles as a greater starter recipe. We love these with some real, pure maple syrup on top. Yum!
2. Frozen Kefir
Love Fro-Yo? Us too, that’s why you gotta try frozen kefir as your next frozen treat. Freeze any flavor of Lifeway Kefir into ice cube trays, then blend down the mixture with any fruits, flavors, powders, or whatever you want, and add a smidge more kefir to get the blender going, but not enough to turn it into a smoothie. Serve instantly in a dish and enjoy! Or, you can also blend everything together first, then freeze it in an ice cream maker if you have one with no ice cube tray needed.
Here’s one of our favorite frozen kefir recipes to get you started: Raspberry Chocolate Chunk Frozen Kefir
3. Salad Dressing
One of the best ways to use our plain flavors of kefir are in salad dressings in place of any cream, milk, or buttermilk (once again). Kefir is a great ranch-flavored dressing base, but it also can be used as a base for other similar creamy types as well. Or, just make your own! An easy starter recipe is to mix some of our kefir (try 1/3 cup to start), with some of your favorite fresh herbs (tarragon, oregano, dill, basil, and parsley are nice) with a squeeze of fresh lemon, a teaspoon or so of your favorite mustard, and a bit of balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar. It’s a creamy, herb-infused dressing that’s much better for you than the bottled stuff.
Or, try this one that’s perfect for the cooler or warmer months of the year: Fig and Arugula Salad With Maple Kefir Dressing. Or, try this Green Goddess Salad using kefir: healthy, easy, and delicious all at the same time!
4. Better for You Mac and Cheese
Yep, you read that right. Your beloved mac and cheese can also be transformed with kefir. Use it as the creamy base in any mac and cheese recipe and fill your belly and bowl with the goodness of Lifeway Kefir’s probiotics. To prove it, here one of our favorite recipes using Lifeway Kefir in a mac and cheese recipe, plus our cultured Farmer Cheese as well this Creamy Spinach Mac and Cheese.
5. Dips
Any dip you want can be transformed with Lifeway Kefir, too. In fact, dips are more delicious with kefir because they lend the slight taste of tart, acid, and sweet all at one time. Since kefir is creamier than milk, but not as thick as say, sour cream, it works great to combine the other ingredients without being too stiff. Plus, you’ll get all those good gut bugs (probiotics) in your dip recipes that you won’t get with most yogurts, sour cream, and the like. Here’s one of our favorite most creative recipes we recently shared with kefir in a dip: Probiotic Pink Dip!
6. Smoothies
Don’t think we forgot smoothies—everyone’s favorite way to start using Lifeway Kefir! Lifeway is the perfect smoothie vehicle for adding more nutrition and creaminess, plus probiotics! Blend up some of our favorite smoothies here. Hint: This Strawberry Sunrise Smoothie is a fan-favorite you’ll love!
7. Desserts: Pies, Cakes, Cupcakes, And More!
You can sneak kefir into any dessert recipe you want and likely, it will work beautifully. We have created everything from Rainbow Cupcakes to a Chantilly Cake, Feeling the urge for a piece of pie? We got you: try these Mini Pumpkin Pies as an easy single-serving option.
8. Post-Workout Shakes
Kefir makes a great base for any post-workout shake because it’s high in complete bioavailable protein you need for recovery and muscle protein synthesis. Try our Post-Workout Smoothie to replenish your glucose stores, help get protein to your muscles to repair and revitalize your body, and the amino acids and potassium combined, along with the calcium, will help break down excess lactic acid in the muscles giving you just what you need to feel your best post-workout. Plus, the gut-loving probiotics in Lifeway Kefir will keep your tummy humming happily along as you enjoy all your recent gains in the gym. Pretty great, right?
9. Sandwiches and Soups
Nothing beats a bowl of warming soup and a hot sandwich on a chilly day, and kefir works great in nearly any soup or sandwich recipe. Here’s a great recipe that’s a good option for the cooler days: Fire-Roasted Tomato Soup, which, if we have to say, goes great with this Grilled Farmer Cheese sandwich as a side option.
You can also try this with cooler soups and sandwiches in the warmer months. For example, this Cucumber Avocado Soup is a terrific choice for the warmer months. Or, browse through all of our soup recipes here,.
10. Breakfast Bowls
Breakfast bowls are all the rage, and we’ve got limitless ways to use them. Into high-protein recipes at the moment? No worries, we’ve got you covered with all sorts of healthy high-protein breakfast bowls. Start with this High Protein Ultimate Breakfast Lineup or this High Protein Farmer Cheese Breakfast Bowl, one of our favorites using Lifeway Farmer Cheese!
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