Yoghurt: My Top Picks and How I Love To Use Them

From breakfast through to dessert – yoghurt is an ingredient I love to use and always have on hand. It is such a versatile ingredient and can be delicious plain or in an array of cooking from cakes through to curries.

When it comes to yoghurt, there are a few different brands and types that I prefer over others. Here are my three favourite brands, why I love them and how I use them in my day to day life and cooking.

De Winkel
Main uses: Baking, cooking, dips and/or dressings and, for breakfast or a snack, mixed through fruit.
Price Range: $4.00 - $5.50 for 1L
When it comes to plain yoghurt, De Winkel is always my first choice. I first started using De Winkel after speaking with my nutritionist. It was her yoghurt of choice and quickly became one of mine. While it doesn’t have a very strong flavour, it is the perfect yoghurt for mixing through savoury dishes or using in baking. If you’re on a budget as well, De Winkel is affordable and can often be found on special at New World. One thing to note with De Winkel is it comes in a waxed cardboard container, so it doesn’t exactly ‘close’ once you’ve opened it and may need to be wiped after each pour/use. I usually cut the top off the container and pour the yoghurt into a spare glass jar, scraping the sides of the container with a spatula to get the most goodness into the jar when I get home – this is a personal preference though, and it will keep absolutely fine in the cardboard container.

Puhoi Valley Yoghurt
Main uses: Cream substitute, desserts and breakfast (if I’m wanting to indulge)
Price Range: $4.49 - $5.50 for 450ml
Creamy, rich and delicious – Puhoi yoghurt is full fat and full flavour. Their range comes in everything from Classic Greek right through to flavours like rhubarb, lemon, or my favourite – wild berries. I often substitute cream for yoghurt so Puhoi yoghurt’s decadent range offers something for almost every occasion. Whether it’s a generous dollop on top of the lemon cake or spreading over pancakes, they’re got you covered with flavours galore. My personal favourite is making a variation on classic Eton Mess with one of their many berry flavours – half cream and half Puhoi yoghurt makes for a delicious combination.

Raglan Coconut Yoghurt
Main uses: Breakfast, smoothies, cream substitute, dairy free baking and dessert.
Price Point: $12.00 - 14.99 for 700ml
If looking for a dairy free yoghurt, look no further than Raglan Yoghurt. Much like Puhoi yoghurt, this coconut yoghurt is rich, creamy and luxurious. While it is by far the most expensive of the three, ranging between $12.99 - $14.49 for 700ml, it is so rich the serving size is a lot smaller. Ragland Yogurt also comes in a range of flavours from plain through to flavours like mango and turmeric or blackcurrant. My personal favourite though is my probiotic vanilla which I use in everything from smoothies through to cakes. I also love the glass jars raglan yogurt comes in – their 700mls are perfect for homemade jams and the smaller 400ml are perfect for homemade caramel or chocolate hazelnut spread.