Yogurt is supposed to be one of those foods you never have to think about . Theoretically , you could go to the foodstuff store , catch a few packs of your favorite brand and eat it whenever you require . But as it turns out , a mass of yoghourt areloaded with refined sugar .
So in an effort to rebrand yogurt as a protein - racy superfood — along with the like of bungalow cheese and chickpeas — we ’re sort of in the thick of a yogurt renaissance . While there used to only be a few form of yogurts on the foodstuff store ledge , markets are now mob with all kinds , admit Greek yogurt , Israeli yogurt and Labneh . We are truly in the midst of it .
One of those run this wave is skyr , an Icelandic take on yogurt . Thanks to companies like Icelandic Provisions and Siggi ’s putting a modern twist on this ancient food , skyr has entered the U.S. yogurt stadium .
What Exactly Is Skyr?
Skyr is a traditional Icelandic dairy product that has been part of Iceland ’s cuisine for centuries . This traditional dairy farm product is made from two Ingredients : glance over milk and polish . sound like yogurt , correct ? It is , except the cultures used are unlike and result in a different flavor . The bug that ferment skyr are known as " alive cultures , " and exchange the lactose from the milk into lactic acid .
" Skyr dates back to the Viking times , over 1,000 yr ago , " explains chief of innovation for Icelandic Provisions , John Heath , via e-mail . " Back then skyr was an essential proviso for them : protein - robust and thick . Because it was ferment , it was stable enough to play with them on their journey . "
So , how is it made ? promiscuous . Well , well-situated - ish . The Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversitygives easy - to - follow instructions :
How Is Skyr Different From Yogurt?
One big difference between skyr and your run - of - the - millyogurtis the pasteurisation process : Traditionally , skyr isnotpasteurized , however company likeIcelandic Provisionsensure their skyr is pasteurizedstipulated by the USDA .
But wait , there ’s more : Technically skyr belongs to a chemical group call " acid high mallow " — along with German quark , Russian Tvorog and Arabic labneh — because it ’s made , not from whole Milk River , but from skim Milk River and can contain anywhere from 16 to 21 percent milk solids .
It has a thick body — not unlike Greek yogurt — and is far more densely hard than other yogurts . It ’s almost like corrode cream Malva sylvestris or cheesecake , but obviously a bit more palatable . It takes nearlyfour cup of milkto make just one cup of skyr compared to just one loving cup of milk to make one cup of yogurt .
Giuseppe Scapellato , head dietician atZen Maitri Natural Health Apothecaryin London touts the wellness benefit of the Icelandic yogurt .
" Skyr is ordinarily look at as a yoghourt because it ’s creamy , smooth and in high spirits in protein , " Scapellato says via email . " But do n’t be fooled by the aisle you determine it in ; it ’s really more accurate to call it atype of cheese . Skyr is highly concentrated , with about four cup of milk fit into each cup of the end merchandise . "
Because of the fermenting outgrowth and the cultures involved , skyr is essentially fat - innocent and contains up toone - third less sugar than even yogurts . It has just0.6 grams of fat per 100 grams , and its high protein makes it an attractive after - shoal ( or prework ) snack .
" Grecian yogurts on the market today are typically made with mod bacterial cultures that , more or less , most yogurt manufacturers have access to , " Heath append . " Our Traditional Icelandic Skyr is made with heirloom refinement that were born and cultivated hundreds of years ago in Iceland . cerebrate of your grandmother ’s sourdough fledgling that she passed down to her children and grandchild … that ’s a similar heritage or lineage story to our skyr cultures . "
With product like skyr or Greek yogurt , protein is king , however the high protein in skyr is n’t its only health benefit .
" Skyr is also a great germ of probiotic flora , " adds Scapellato , " which are the beneficial bacteria that facilitate to keep our catgut healthy . And it ’s high in calcium , b12 and atomic number 53 , which are substantive for sound bones , the unquiet arrangement and thyroid wellness . "
The gamey amount of protein in skyr can even aid in immune system support by make antibody to crusade infections , as well as hormones and enzymes for a host of authoritative bodily process .
Much like yogurt , skyr ’s versatility makes it far more than a dessert treat . It can be used in savory dishes like soup , dips and marinated pork , or use up after a exercising as a high protein snack to serve in revive muscle .
As the yogurt Renaissance continues to ramp on , let us forget the radical - processed , GoGurts of the past and embrace … well , the past . Regardless of its condition as a millennium - old recipe , skyr is lead the undulation into the future .
