Kefir Recipes
In Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Turkey, families cook with kefir every day: it makes pancakes fluffy, keeps chicken tender and turns into cool summer soups.
Recipe of the weekBalkan kefir frittersSpooning a thick kefir batter into hot oil in small pieces gives golden fritters that turn themselves over, crisp outside and airy within.Breakfast 21
Thin kefir crêpesWhisking boiling water and tangy kefir into the batter gives Russian blini that are thin, tender, lacy with tiny holes and strong enough to flip.- Soy kefir oatmeal steamed cakeSoaking quick oats in soy kefir and stirring them hard before steaming gives a tall, moist Japanese steamed cake made without flour.
- Raspberry kefir cheese spreadDrained milk kefir becomes a tangy, spreadable cheese, then honey, cinnamon and gently folded fresh raspberries turn it into a breakfast spread.
- Polish apple yeast pancakes with kefirA yeast-risen kefir batter studded with apple, shallow-fried over steady medium heat for soft, gently tangy pancakes with golden edges.
- Fluffy kefir pancakesRoom-temperature kefir reacts with baking soda to puff a thick batter into small, soft pancakes, and frying in oil gives them crisp golden edges.
- Norwegian kefir wafflesSwapping part of the milk for kefir and resting the batter gives thin Norwegian heart waffles that bake up soft and golden.
- Norwegian kefir griddle cakes (Sveler)Milk kefir's acidity sets off the baking soda in these thick Norwegian griddle cakes, and gentle mixing keeps them soft enough to fold.
- Mango kefir smoothie bowlFrozen mango blended with tangy milk kefir makes a cold, smooth base for a breakfast bowl piled with banana, fresh mango, chia and coconut.
- Lemon kefir muffinsA hot start in the oven and a quick, light fold give tall, tender lemon kefir muffins with ribbons of tangy cream cheese.
- Russian zucchini and cheese kefir frittersSqueezing grated zucchini dry before folding it into a cheesy kefir batter gives golden fritters that hold together and cook through.
- Kefir-whey buckwheat crêpesMixing buckwheat with wheat flour and loosening the batter with tangy kefir whey gives thin, nutty, egg-free crêpes that fold without tearing.
- Balkan kefir frittersSpooning a thick kefir batter into hot oil in small pieces gives golden fritters that turn themselves over, crisp outside and airy within.
- Russian curd pancakes with kefirLoosening well-drained curd with sour milk kefir and frying it gently gives golden cheese pancakes with soft, tender centres.
- Kefir overnight oatsRolled oats soak overnight in milk kefir under frozen mango, softening into a cold, creamy, tangy breakfast without any cooking.
- Kefir French toastSoaking thick, slightly dry bread in a kefir-and-egg custard and browning it over gentle heat gives tangy vanilla French toast that holds together.
- Kefir chia puddingChia seeds soaked overnight in tangy milk kefir set into a soft, spoonable pudding, sweetened with maple syrup and warmed with cinnamon.
- Black sesame kefir cheese spreadStirring black sesame powder into thick strained kefir, then loosening it with syrup, makes a nutty, sweet-sour spread for toast.
- Bulgarian cheese pie with kefirCoiling cheese-filled filo and soaking it in an egg-and-kefir pour gives a golden Bulgarian pie with a set cheese filling.
- Blueberry lime kefir smoothieBlending tart milk kefir with lime and Medjool dates gives a creamy blueberry smoothie that is bright, sweet-sour and ready in five minutes.
- Baked apple, buckwheat and kefir porridgeBaking raw buckwheat and millet in kefir and milk with apple and hazelnuts makes a sliceable porridge in which the millet stays pleasantly al dente.
- Any-Fruit Kefir Smoothie (Fresh or Frozen)Half a bottle of milk kefir, a handful of fresh fruit and a handful of frozen fruit: blend for under a minute for a thick, cold smoothie with no ice to water it down.
Bread 17
- Turkish herb kefir bunsKefir, vinegar and baking powder raise these dill-and-cheese Turkish buns without yeast, so they bake up tender and crumbly in under an hour.
- Georgian kefir cheese bread (Khachapuri)Kefir and sour cream react with baking soda to lift a soft, yeast-free dough wrapped around mozzarella and feta, cooked slowly in a covered skillet.
- Kazakh kefir fried flatbreadsKefir, sour cream and baking soda make a soft dough that puffs in deep, hot oil into tender Kazakh flatbreads for the tea table.
- Polish griddle soda breadsKefir and baking soda puff these Polish rounds in a dry pan, with brief kneading and frequent turning for golden crusts and soft centres.
- Potato and mushroom kefir-dough bunsKefir and baking soda raise a soft, tangy dough around potato and mushroom, pan-fried golden, then rested covered so the crust turns tender.
- Potato and cheese stuffed flatbreadsA kefir and baking soda dough wraps mashed potato and cheese, then cooks in a dry skillet until spotted brown and brushed with butter.
- Ossetian cheese and herb kefir-dough pieA soft kefir dough pinched around a thick dill, spring onion and cheese filling, then flattened by hand, bakes into a thin, tender pie.
- Kefir-whey peasant breadSwapping water for kefir whey in a wet, no-knead dough gives a spongy, buttery-crusted loaf you can mix in the afternoon and slice by dinner.
- Wholemeal kefir soda breadTangy milk kefir reacts with baking soda to lift a crusty wholemeal round in about 30 minutes, with no yeast and no waiting.
- Balkan kefir round bread (Pogača)A very soft kefir and yeast dough pressed into a round pan bakes into a tender, golden loaf that is torn by hand.
- Kefir pizza doughMixing spelt flour straight into thick milk kefir gives a thin, herb-flecked pizza base that is ready to roll with no yeast and no wait.
- Brazilian kefir cheese breadsA cold-mixed tapioca dough with Parmesan and milk kefir bakes into crisp, puffed cheese breads with a chewy, gently tangy centre.
- Kefir crescent rollsMoistening a yeast dough with milk kefir and baking it only until golden gives soft Balkan crescent rolls, plain or filled.
- Cheese and herb kefir sconesRubbing cold butter into flour and binding it gently with kefir gives tall, tender cheddar-herb scones with a lightly tangy crumb.
- Kefir banana breadTangy milk kefir reacts with baking soda to lift a moist banana loaf, so the batter goes straight into the oven.
- Hungarian kefir fried flatbreadFrying a soft kefir-and-yeast dough one round at a time in hot oil gives lángos a crisp crust and soft centre.
- Kefir baursakiWarm kefir foams the baking soda in a soft yeasted dough, so these Kazakh fried breads puff up golden and stay light inside.
Main Course 15
- Steamed kefir-dough cheese dumplingsKefir and baking soda make a soft, puffy dough that steams quickly around sweet fresh cheese, finished with a coat of melted butter.
- Lithuanian cold beetroot kefir soupGrated beetroot turns chilled kefir bright pink in a cold, tangy soup with cucumber and dill, served with sliced egg and hot potatoes.
- Poltava kefir dumplingsKefir and baking soda puff a soft, barely sticky dough into fluffy Ukrainian dumplings, and tossing them in butter straight from the pot keeps them separate.
- Okroshka (Kefir Summer Soup)Cold sparkling water loosens creamy milk kefir into a light, gently sour broth for finely chopped potato, egg, ham, cucumber and radish.
- Potatoes baked in kefirThin raw potato slices bake in full-fat kefir with onion, garlic and dill until tender, with tangy juices and soft little curds.
- Kefir-marinated pork skewersPork shoulder soaked in kefir with squeezed onion, then roasted on spaced skewers over a rack, browns well and stays juicy.
- Chicken and potato pie with kefir doughKefir's acid sets off the baking soda in a rich butter dough, giving a lightly risen golden crust around chicken, potato and onion.
- Chicken pelmeni with kefir doughA soft kefir dough wrapped around chicken and golden onion makes tender, ear-shaped dumplings to boil and serve with sour cream.
- Turkish-style kefir fried chicken drumsticksAn overnight kefir soak, a whole-wheat flour coat, a quick fry and an oven finish give drumsticks a crisp golden crust and tender meat.
- Kefir butter chickenA kefir marinade keeps the chicken juicy, and kefir stirred in off the heat makes a smooth, gently tangy tomato-butter sauce.
- Meat turnovers with kefir doughSoft milk kefir dough rolled thin and fried in hot oil gives these Crimean Tatar meat turnovers a blistered, crisp crust.
- Japanese cabbage rolls with sesame-miso kefir creamSimmering pork cabbage rolls gently in dashi and adding a cold sesame-miso kefir cream at the table keeps the sauce smooth and tangy.
- Russian-style kefir fish and potato bakeMarinating tilapia in spiced kefir and parboiling the potatoes first gives a one-dish dinner where fish and potatoes finish together.
- Kefir-marinated pulled porkAn overnight kefir marinade and three gentle hours in a covered pot turn pork shoulder into tender strands, finished with soy-sake gravy and cool cucumber sauce.
- Ukrainian kefir cabbage batter pieFolding raw cabbage and boiled egg into a kefir-and-soda batter gives a golden, savoury poured pie with no kneading or rolling.
Soup 4
- Sweet pea and asparagus kefir soupBriefly cooked peas and asparagus blended with cauliflower, then finished off the heat with kefir, give a bright green soup that stays silky.
- Pumpkin soy-kefir soupBlending microwaved kabocha with soy milk, then warming it gently with soy kefir and shio-koji, gives a smooth, tangy potage without curdling.
- Turkish mint and kefir rice soupBlending soft-cooked rice smooth and whisking in kefir off the heat gives a silky Turkish soup, finished with a spoonful of sizzling mint butter.
- Azerbaijani kefir herb and rice soup (Dovğa)Gently heating kefir with egg and part-cooked rice, stirring all the while, gives Azerbaijan's tangy herb soup a smooth, unbroken broth.
Salad 3
- German-style potato salad with mustard kefir dressingCooled waxy potato slices are folded gently into a kefir and seeded-mustard dressing, giving a light, tangy salad that keeps its shape.
- Cucumber salad with kefir and dillThin cucumber slices tossed with dill and a honey-sweetened kefir dressing just before serving stay crisp, cool and gently tangy.
- Kefir coleslawShredded cabbage and carrot tossed in a light kefir, red wine vinegar and honey dressing make a crisp, tangy slaw without mayonnaise.
Appetizer 12
- Strained kefir tzatzikiStraining kefir to Greek-yogurt thickness and wringing out the grated cucumber give a cool, garlicky dip that stays thick instead of turning watery.
- Soy-kefir cream cheese spreadStraining soy kefir and whisking in melted coconut oil gives a tangy spread that firms in the refrigerator much like cream cheese.
- Cucumber and walnut kefir taratorFinely diced cucumber, walnuts and dill stirred into tart milk kefir make a bracing Balkan cold soup in minutes, with no stove at all.
- Strained kefir labnehStraining salted milk kefir for a day turns it into thick, tangy labneh, ready to spread on a plate under olive oil and thyme.
- Chilled sweetcorn kefir soupRaw sweet corn blended with tangy kefir and basil, then strained and chilled, makes a velvety cold soup with no cooking at all.
- Herbed kefir cheese balls in olive oilDrying the shaped kefir cheese uncovered before it goes under herb oil helps the balls hold their shape while the centres stay spreadable.
- Chilled avocado cucumber kefir soupBlending cucumber with kefir and a little ripe avocado makes a cold, no-cook soup that is creamy and tangy without any cream.
- Hungarian cheese scones with milk kefirRubbing soft butter into flour and binding it with kefir gives crumbly Hungarian cheese rounds, each crowned with a crisp, golden tuft of Gouda.
- Garlic and chive kefir cheese spreadDraining milk kefir overnight in the fridge turns it into a mild, spreadable cheese, sharpened with garlic, fresh chives and a little mustard.
- Beetroot kefir gazpachoBlending cooked beetroot with cucumber, lime and kefir, then re-seasoning it cold, gives a velvety, tangy chilled soup.
- Chilled wheat and chickpea kefir soupFolding cooled wheat and chickpeas into a slowly thinned kefir-and-yogurt base gives a smooth, tangy cold soup for hot days.
- Smoked Salmon Kefir Cheese SpreadOne bottle of milk kefir, strained in the fridge for about a day, becomes a thick, tangy kefir cheese. Fold in smoked salmon, capers, dill and lemon for a spread for bagels, toast and crackers.
Sauce 3
- Lemon tahini kefir dressingWhisking sour milk kefir into tahini a little at a time turns the stiff paste into a smooth, pourable dressing with lemon and garlic.
- Kefir ranch dressingMilk kefir stands in for buttermilk and a short rest softens the dried herbs, giving a tangy, garlicky ranch thick enough for dipping.
- Kefir green goddess dressingBlending avocado with plain kefir, lemon and fresh herbs makes a creamy, tangy green goddess that works as a thick dip or pourable dressing.
Dessert 22
- Crisp kefir dough ribbonsRolling soft kefir dough just 3–4 mm thick and frying it at a steady 170°C (340°F) gives Ukrainian twists with crisp edges and tender centres.
- Soy-kefir almond jelly with jasmine syrupFully dissolved agar and gently heated soy kefir set a springy almond jelly, served in cool jasmine tea syrup with honey and lemon.
- Moldovan pumpkin kefir flatbreads (Plăcinte)Salted, squeezed pumpkin and cinnamon sugar are folded into a soft kefir dough, then pan-fried gently under a lid until golden and tender.
- Polish plum kefir crumb cakeA briefly stirred kefir-and-oil batter bakes up soft and lightly tangy under quartered plums and a cold-butter crumble that turns crisp and golden.
- Kefir semolina cakeSoaking semolina in kefir for an hour lets the grains swell before baking, giving a tender, golden cake with a pleasantly grainy crumb.
- Mandarin kefir cream torteEasing cold quark and kefir into warm gelatin keeps the filling silky, and a potato-starch glaze sets clear over whole mandarin segments.
- Chilled roasted sweet-potato kefir cheesecakeBlending roasted sweet potato with strained kefir cheese and setting it with gelatin gives a creamy, tangy cheesecake without turning on the oven.
- Strawberry kefir ice popsBlending kefir with whole-milk yogurt, cream, banana and honey keeps these strawberry ice pops creamy instead of icy, with a mild tang.
- Kefir rice pudding with fruitUnrinsed short-grain rice simmers into a creamy, cardamom-scented pudding, and kefir stirred in after cooling adds a gentle tang under fresh orange.
- Passion-fruit kefir mousseBlending fresh passion-fruit juice with tangy kefir and cream, then setting it with gelatin, gives a cool, egg-free mousse in four small glasses.
- Raspberry kefir panna cottaGelatin gently sets milk kefir and whole milk without cream, giving a soft, lightly tart panna cotta under sweet crushed raspberries.
- No-bake kefir cheesecakeGelatin sets a kefir and cream cheese filling over a buttery graham base, giving soft, clean slices of blueberry cheesecake without an oven.
- Russian-style kefir fruit jellyWhisking warm gelatin into kefir and sour cream sets a tangy vanilla milk jelly, finished with a smooth, sieved strawberry sauce.
- Egg-free frozen kefirFolding honey-sweetened kefir into whipped cream and stirring it as it freezes gives a tangy, scoopable frozen dessert without eggs or a machine.
- Fig and honey kefir-cheese tartDraining kefir into thick cheese and sweetening it with honey gives a tangy, creamy filling for fresh figs on a no-bake date-and-nut crust.
- Egg-free chocolate kefir mousseWhipped cream folded into dark chocolate and room-temperature kefir sets into an airy, gently tangy mousse without eggs or gelatin.
- Egg-free kefir-cheese tiramisuSwapping mascarpone for thick strained kefir cheese and dipping the biscuits only briefly gives a tangy, egg-free tiramisu layered in glasses.
- German cocoa-glazed kefir sheet cakeKefir's acid sets baking soda working the moment the batter is mixed, so a quick bake gives a light cocoa tray cake under a glossy butter glaze.
- Turkish-style coconut kefir cakeCreaming cool butter and folding coconut through a kefir batter gives a tender Turkish tea loaf with coconut in the crumb and on top.
- Chocolate kefir cakeMixing kefir and orange juice into a cocoa batter raised with baking powder, then pouring on a chocolate glaze, makes a simple tea-time cake.
- Brazilian coconut kefir puddingBaking kefir, condensed milk and coconut gently in a water bath gives a creamy, evenly set Brazilian pudim.
- Armenian kefir gata pastriesRubbing butter into flour and moistening it with kefir gives tender Armenian rolls wrapped around a sweet butter-and-sugar filling.
Drinks 14
- Watermelon kefir coolerBlending chilled watermelon with milk kefir and orange juice makes a creamy, gently tangy cooler with no cooking.
- Strawberry water kefirA day-long cold infusion of sliced strawberries turns tangy water kefir into a softly sweet, rosy drink with gentle bubbles.
- Black sesame and black soybean soy-kefir drinkBlending roasted soybean powder, black sesame and black soybeans into soy kefir makes a smooth, nutty drink sweetened with black sugar and honey.
- Pineapple water kefirMixing strained water kefir with pineapple juice and chilling it sealed for a day gives a sweet-tart, lightly fizzy drink for hot weather.
- Pineapple coconut kefir coladaBlending frozen pineapple and banana straight into tangy milk kefir with shredded coconut gives a thick, cold colada smoothie without any ice.
- Passion-fruit and basil water kefirA cold, day-long infusion of passion fruit, lime and sweet basil flavours water kefir gently while keeping its fresh sourness and little extra fizz.
- Papaya kefir smoothieBlending well-chilled ripe papaya with tangy milk kefir and serving it at once gives a smooth Taiwanese papaya drink before any bitterness sets in.
- Matcha kefir smoothieDissolving sifted matcha in hot but not boiling water before blending gives a smooth, bright green kefir smoothie without lumps or bitterness.
- Mango water kefirStirring pure mango juice into strained water kefir and chilling it a day gives a cold, tropical drink with a light, tangy finish.
- Mango kefir lassiBlending very ripe mango into plain milk kefir gives a thick, pourable lassi whose fruit sweetness rounds off the kefir's sour edge.
- Lemon ginger water kefirSealing water kefir with a splash of lemon and sticks of fresh ginger, then chilling it well, gives a crisp, tart soda with a warm ginger finish.
- Kefir-whey lemonade sodaFresh whey from strained kefir ferments sweetened lemon water for a few days into a tart, lightly sweet lemonade that grows fizzier with warmth.
- Iced coffee kefir frappéBlending chilled coffee and kefir with an equal volume of ice gives a frothy, slushy frappé with a gentle tang.
- Hibiscus water kefirA sealed second ferment with dried hibiscus, lime and honey turns plain water kefir into a ruby, cranberry-tart soda.
What the recipes use
Cow’s milk Kefir – OriginalPlain milk kefir in a 500 g bottle, to drink or to cook with.- Soybean KefirPlain soy kefir, fermented from soy milk.
- Water KefirPlain water kefir to drink as it is or mix with fruit.
- Kefir Whey｜500gKefir whey for baking and drinks.
- Greek Yogurt MakerStrains kefir into thick kefir cheese for spreads and dips.
