10 Best Kefir Recipes (2024)

Spice up your culinary repertoire with these delicious kefir recipes!

Kefir is a fermented dairy drink brimming with gut-friendly probiotic cultures.

Kefir has been shown to aid in digestion and reduce inflammation. It’s also full of calcium and vitamin K.

10 Best Kefir Recipes (1)

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Like a good Greek yogurt, kefir is a little sour and very tangy.

However, the consistency is much milkier. It also has a lovely fizz, thanks to carbon dioxide.

If you’re looking for innovative uses for this highly cultured beverage, you’re in luck!

These 10 amazing kefir recipes will spark culinary creativity and tickle your tastebuds.

I’m glad you’re here… it was fer-MENT to be!

10 Surprising Ways to Use Kefir

1. Chocolate Kefir Cake

This easy, one-bowl chocolate cake will become your go-to dessert. It’s chocolatey, light, moist, and not cloyingly sweet.

Honestly, it’s luxurious, despite its simplicity.

The kefir does several things in the cake. It works as a leavening agent, adds richness to the flavor, and keeps the cake moist.

This cake is eggless, which isn’t very common in the cake world. So, it’s great for those with egg allergies.

Don’t worry, the texture is still phenomenal, thanks to the kefir!

Sadly, the probiotics in kefir do die off due to the heat of baking. But what can I say? It’s cake, so it’s not the healthiest option.

But it is good for your soul, waistline-be-darned.

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2. Strawberry Kefir Smoothie

Getting your probiotics has never been easier or more delicious. If you want a healthy breakfast, lunch, or snack smoothies are the way to go.

This kefir smoothie is so easy to make and uses only four ingredients.

Simply add plain kefir, frozen strawberries, lemon juice, and honey to a blender. Then, blend and serve!

You get a dose of probiotics, calcium, fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins with every sip. Feel free to add more fruits and veggies!

3. Kefir Pancakes ‘Oladi

One thing I love about pancakes is how every culture seems to have its own version.

These Russian oladi might be my new favorite. These little pancakes are just so fluffy.

This is due to a few things, including the way they’re fried. But the most important element for fluffy pancakes is due to science!

Specifically, a school science fair volcano-like reaction between the kefir and baking soda.

It’s not quite so explosive, but the principle is the same. And that means super fluffy pancakes.

4. Kefir Avocado Green Goddess Dressing

This vivid dressing is as good for you as it is green. It’s packed with superfoods and is compliant with several diets. You really can’t go wrong here!

It’s creamy, bright, herbaceous, and utterly delicious. It’s rich in probiotics, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Slather it on salad, chicken, or bread.

5. Blueberry Muffins with Kefir

In just 30 minutes, you can have fresh, warm, and delicious blueberry muffins. There’s not much better than that!

Like with the chocolate cake on this list, the kefir does three things. It adds flavor, moisture, and is responsible for the leavening.

These muffins are soft and moist and bursting with bright blueberries. They’re slightly tangy, buttery, and sweet.

They’re topped with a brown sugar streusel, which is utterly fantastic!

6. Cold Summer Soup “Okroshka”

Cold, fizzy, and soup are three words you normally wouldn’t see describing the same dish. I’ll give you cold and soup if you’re a fan of gazpacho, but fizzy?

Okroshka is a delicious soup that defies all expectations unless you’re from Eastern Europe.

It’s fresh, tangy, and just a little fizzy (at least on the first day). It also has great textures.

Okroshka is quite healthy! It’s loaded with protein from eggs, kefir, and smoked turkey. This soup is rich in antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

This soup may sound unusual, but I promise it’s so flavorful. You’ll love it!

7. Easy Probiotic Kefir Cultured Ghee

Ghee is a fabulous butter substitute, made from clarified butter.

That means its water and milk solids have been removed. It’s great for those with lactose intolerance.

Plus, It’s absolutely chock-full of healthy fats. It’s also been shown to reduce gut inflammation and support a healthy heart.

This ghee recipe is also high in probiotics.

This recipe is really cool because you get three cultured dairy products in one process. You get to make your own probiotic butter, buttermilk, and ghee.

Now, this process is time-consuming. It takes approximately 48 hours for the kefir, cream, and yogurt base to ferment.

Then, you have to make the butter and clarify it.

This ghee is worth the work! It’s nutty, creamy, and divine.

8. Coriander Chicken Kebabs with Cilantro Kefir Sauce

Give a nod to Mediterranean flavor with these superb kebabs.

The chicken is succulent, citrusy, and perfectly seasoned. The cilantro kefir sauce is tangy, fresh, and garlicky.

Plus, you get a double dose of kefir in this dish.

The first dose comes from the chicken marinade. The acid in the kefir breaks down the meat, so it’s mouthwatering and tender.

The second dose obviously comes from the sauce. Not only is it delicious, but you get all of the benefits of raw kefir.

I personally would add more veggies to the kebabs, like red peppers and zucchini. That way, there’s both a nutrient and a flavor boost!

9. Kefir Ice Cream

If any ice cream could be considered good for you, it’s this one.

Probiotics? Check. Protein? Check. No refined sugar? Check.

This recipe uses a custard base made with kefir. The kefir is added after the cream and egg custard has cooked.

So, you still keep all those good gut bacteria.

Then it’s scented with vanilla and sweetened with honey. The result is creamy, floral, tangy, and lightly vanilla-flavored ice cream.

This recipe uses an ice cream maker. However, you can easily make custard-based ice cream without one.

It’s just a bit more time-consuming.

10. Kefir Popsicles

Say cheers to summer with these fruity probiotic popsicles!

They’re fresh, sweet, tangy, and totally customizable. All you need is kefir, a fruit of your choice, and honey to taste. You could even sneak in some veggies.

These fruit pops are healthy, but that doesn’t mean they’re bland. Kids and adults alike will love them.

I’ve listed some fruit combos below to inspire you.

  • Pineapple and passion fruit
  • Mango and strawberry
  • Super Berry! (Raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries)
  • Peach and cherry
10 Best Kefir Recipes (2)

10 Best Ways to Use Kefir

Try these kefir recipes for a good dose of nutrition! From cake to smoothies to muffins, kefir milk makes many delicious dishes.

Instructions

  • Select your favorite recipe.
  • Organize all the required ingredients.
  • Prep a kefir recipe in 30 minutes or less!
10 Best Kefir Recipes (3)

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10 Best Kefir Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you make the best tasting kefir? ›

What's the best way to make kefir? For a stronger flavour, use an open system: cover a 500ml jar with a cloth cap or kitchen towel and rubber band, ensuring there are several inches of air above the milk. The closed system uses a 500ml clip-top jar with a rubber gasket to keep oxygen out.

What should you not mix with kefir? ›

We do not recommend mixing maple syrup, agave, or honey with your kefir. Maple syrup and agave have a high GI rating, which disrupts your microbiome. Honey is a natural antibiotic, which interferes with the good probiotics in the kefir.

What is the best ratio for kefir? ›

-Place 1 Tbsp kefir grains in a glass jar and fill with 1 cup fresh milk. The ratio of grains to milk should always be 1 tbsp to 1 cup, and can be increased if you'd like to make a bigger batch. Leave about an inch of room at the top to make room for carbonization and grain growth.

How much homemade kefir should you drink per day? ›

How much should you drink? Kefir can be a healthy and delicious addition to a well-rounded diet. For best results, stick to around 1–3 cups (237–710 mL) per day and pair it with a variety of other fermented foods and beverages to increase your intake of probiotics.

What is the best milk for kefir? ›

Kefir works best with whole milk from cows, goats or sheep. You can try kefir in low-fat milks, but grains may need to be refreshed in whole fat milk for long-term vitality. Use raw or pasteurized milk, but be sure to avoid ultra-high temperature pasteurized milks (always labeled UHT).

How do you make kefir creamy and thick? ›

In general the fat content determines the thickness of your kefir so full fat (blue top) milk will give you the thickest kefir. If this kefir is still not thick enough for you then you need to add some thick heavy pouring cream to your milk. The more cream you use the thicker your kefir will be.

Why can't you mix honey with kefir? ›

Honey is best avoided as it is a natural antibacterial substance and therefore will kill the good bacteria in the kefir. Sugar, stevia, jam etc can all be added.

Is kefir hard on the liver? ›

Is kefir good for your liver? Yes. Kefir can significantly improve your liver health by combating fatty liver syndrome. This medical condition usually arises when there is increased fat accumulation inside and around your liver.

What happens to your body when you drink kefir everyday? ›

Kefir helps lower your blood pressure, manage your cholesterol levels, and improve your triglycerides (fats in the blood). It may even help prevent future cardiac events. Kefir is a good source of calcium, which you need for good bone health.

Is 2 cups of kefir a day too much? ›

You can end up drinking too much kefir. Therefore, you shouldn't go too overboard with your intake. Instead, stick to around a cup or less per day. Drinking too much can end up causing potential side effects to ramp up.

Why is my homemade kefir so thick? ›

People who have done kefir for years will generally say that they notice that their kefir is naturally thicker in the colder months and thinner in the summer. This is due to activity of the bacteria and yeast. Slow cool ferments tend to favor a more bacteria rich ferment which will result in a thicker ferment.

How many times can you use the same kefir grains? ›

If cared for properly, milk kefir grains have an unlimited life span and can be used repeatedly to make kefir. Kefir made with a direct-set style starter culture can often be re-cultured from 2 to 7 times.

How long does it take for kefir to heal your gut? ›

Nutritionists and healthcare professionals suggest that regularly drinking kefir may improve health in 2-4 weeks. The several health benefits of kefir include improving heart, gut, kidney, liver, and skin health. Kefir also has anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial effects.

Is it better to drink kefir in the morning or at night? ›

You don't necessarily have to drink kefir in the morning, but you should avoid drinking it before you go to bed at night. Since kefir has an impact on your digestive system, it can keep you from getting a peaceful night of sleep. Instead, you should try to have kefir during a time when you're going to be active.

Is supermarket kefir any good? ›

While both are still healthy choices, you are not getting the full spectrum at the full potency (some brands advertise 10 strains, genuine kefir has upwards of 40-60 strains) that home-made kefir with kefir grains will give. You may notice that most store-bought kefir is not carbonated.

How do you make kefir not taste bad? ›

You can then drink it, make a smoothie, or store it in the fridge. If it is overly sour, add some fresh or frozen fruit and let it sit on your counter for a couple of hours. The bacteria will eat some of the sugar in your fruit, making the kefir taste milder and increasing the nutrients.

What should homemade kefir taste like? ›

What does Milk Kefir taste like? It has a tart effervescent yogurty flavor. Some refer to it as the champagne of milk. It can also be compared to a thick Italian soda (carbonated water with cream mixed in).

Why does my kefir taste bad? ›

This can happen for several reasons. During your first ferment you let your kefir ferment too long on your counter, or your house might be warmer than usual. Kefir will also ferment more quickly if your grains have grown and multiplied, and you didn't increase the milk or remove some of the grains.

Is homemade kefir better than store bought? ›

Homemade kefir contains a higher number of cultures and probiotics than store-bought, which is typically made with a starter culture powder instead of the grains. For example, the Lifeway brand of kefir is advertised as including 12 live and active cultures and 7 billion to 10 billion probiotic strains.

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