Dairy products lend themselves to many different recipes. From yoghurt to cheese and everything in between, dairy has a special place in your diet. However, finding the right recipes can sometimes be challenging, so we’ve put together some of our favourites for you to try out. Whether you plan to use these for personal use or for a hotel or café menu, there are plenty of wonderful ways to include dairy in your menu.
The Importance of Dairy in Your Diet
Dairy products offer some very important nutrients. As long as you don’t suffer from allergies to these products, you’ll find that it’s quite valuable to include cheese, cream, milk, and butter in your diet.
You should aim to include 2-3 servings of dairy in your diet each day. A serving consists of 250ml of milk or yoghurt, 1.5oz of hard cheese such as cheddar, Swiss, or mozzarella, 2 oz. soft cheese, or 500ml cottage cheese.
Prevent Disease
Regular consumption of milk, cheese, and yoghurt has been shown to reduce your risk for several diseases. These include colorectal cancer, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension, among others.
Boost Nutrition
One of the reasons dairy products are recommended for children is the sheer amount of nutrients included in them. You’ll get:
- Calcium
- Phosphorous
- Riboflavin
- Protein
- Zinc
- Potassium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin B12
- Choline
- Magnesium
- Selenium
All of these nutrients are important for normal body function and can help you stay strong and healthy. They’re also essential for growing children and that makes milk, cheese, and yoghurt part of a healthy diet.
Create Strong Teeth
Not only is milk excellent for building strong, healthy teeth, dairy also has anti-decay properties, thanks to the phosphorus, casein, and calcium in it. While milk can help reduce cavity risk, it’s cheese that will really help your teeth thrive. It’s recommended that you eat a little cheese after sugary foods or drinks, as this can help protect your teeth from decay.
Strengthen Bones
Many children grow up being told that they need to drink their milk to ensure they have strong bones and teeth. Since bones are in a constant state of growing, it’s important to provide them with nutrients that will keep them strong and sturdy. It’s important to get plenty of vitamin D from the sun, do your exercise, and eat right. Dairy products that are rich in calcium include cheese, milk, and yoghurt, so it’s a good idea to include these in your daily menu.
Improve Digestive Health
Your digestive health is essential for staying healthy. Not only is much of the immune system based in the gut, but even moods have been shown to change based on how well your digestive system works.
Yoghurt is particularly useful for gut health, as it contains active bacterial cultures. It’s an easy source of probiotics, which help the body stay healthy. You’ll definitely want to stock up on wholesale yoghurt to keep your gut functioning at complete capacity.
Build Muscle Mass
Protein is an essential part of any post-workout boost. However, whey and casein, both of which are found in milk, are particularly useful for building muscle mass. It’s a good idea to add milk or yoghurt to your after-workout smoothie or snack. It can help reduce muscle breakdown and stimulates the building of brand-new tissue in the muscles.
Maintain Healthy Weight
It’s been shown through multiple studies that having a few servings of milk or cheese added to a weight loss diet can actually help people lose more weight. The added benefit is that these dairy products, along with yoghurt, can help you feel full longer, as well.
Recipe Ideas to Make with Dairy Products
Wondering how to make the best use of the dairy products from your milk supplier? Here are some ideas:
Simple Feta Bake
Serves 4
A delightful traybake that mixes pita bread, tomatoes, olives and feta cheese for a truly delicious and light meal.
2 pita breads, cut into triangles
3 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 red onion, sliced thinly
1 can (400g) butter beans, drained and rinsed
2 courgettes, cut in half lengthwise and sliced
100g cherry tomatoes (preferably on the vine)
20g Kalamata olives, pitted and cut in half
100g feta cheese, cut into cubes
1 lemon, cut into wedges
Salt to taste
Preheat the oven to 200°C.
Place the pita bread pieces on a large baking tray and toss with one tsp. of olive oil and the oregano. Spread out in a single layer and bake until crisp, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
On the same tray, spread out the onion, beans, and courgettes, tossing with the remaining oil and oregano. Add salt to taste and roast for 10 minutes, then add the tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese.
Roast until the vegetables are soft and the feta cheese is golden, about 10 minutes. Add the pita bread chips and sprinkle the lemon juice over the entire tray. Serve hot.
Fruit and Nut Yogurt Pot
Serves 1
This tasty breakfast pot is a great option for bed and breakfasts and provides long lasting energy.
3 tbsp chopped nuts
1 tbsp sunflower seeds
1 tbsp pumpkin seeds
1 banana, sliced
1 handful berries
200g plain or vanilla yoghurt
Mix the seeds and nuts together, then mix the berries with the sliced banana. Alternate layers in a jar or bowl, with yoghurt, fruit, and then nuts. Serve immediately.
Creamy Roasted Swede Soup
Serves 4
A hearty soup that is packed with nutrients, this meal is one that everyone will enjoy.
1 swede, peeled, cubed
3 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, minced
2 carrots, sliced thinly
2 stalks celery, sliced thinly
3 cloves garlic, crushed
5 stalks fresh thyme, leaves only
2 pints vegetable stock
142ml single cream
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 200°C.
Spread the swede cubes on a baking tray and drizzle with two tbsp of oil. Season to taste and roast for 30 minutes or until golden and soft. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
While the swede is roasting, heat the remaining oil in a heavy saucepan and saute the carrots, garlic, onion, thyme, and celery for 5 minutes or until soft, but not brown.
Add the swede and the vegetable stock to the saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer for 30 minutes, covered. Stir frequently.
Once the carrots are soft, puree the soup with a hand blender until smooth. Stir in most of the cream, reserving a little for a garnish.
Season to taste and serve in bowls with a swirl of cream and a sprinkle of fresh thyme.
Creamy Herbed Chicken
Serves 4
This tasty dish comes with a ready-made sauce and goes very well with rice.
2 chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise
1 tsp garlic powder
Flour (for dredging)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp Dijon mustard
125ml chicken broth
1 tbsp poultry herbs (sage, rosemary, and thyme)
250ml heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste
Season the chicken with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, then dredge in flour.
Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan over medium high heat and when the pan is hot, add the chicken.
Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Set aside.
In the same pan, add the broth and mustard, mixing well. Simmer for two minutes, then stir in the cream.
Add the herbs and return the chick to the pan. Simmer for 5 minutes on low heat until the chicken is completely cooked and the sauce thickens.
Season to taste before serving.
Light Feta Tomato Salad
Serves 4
This tasty salad uses feta to add some zing to a delicious light lunch.
½ ciabatta bread, cubed
2 tbsp olive oil
4 tomatoes, chopped
½ cucumber, chopped
2 handfuls black olives, pitted
100g feta cheese
1 handful fresh basil
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Heat the oven to 200°C.
Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet and drizzle with 1 tbsp of oil. Bake for several minutes, stirring frequently, until golden brown. Set aside to cool.
Toss the toasted bread cubes with tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and feta. In a small bowl, mix the oil, balsamic vinegar, and basil before drizzling over the salad. Mix gently before serving.
Where to Find a Milk Supplier
Incorporating more dairy into recipes means you’ll need access to wholesale yoghurt, bulk cheese, and more. A butter supplier is a good contact to have when you are using large amounts of dairy products in your meals.
If you’re currently searching for a good milk supplier, you don’t have to look far. At Freshways, we offer all sorts of dairy products, fresh and ready to be used. Contact us today to learn more about our catalogue of dairy products.