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 to make the best kefir? ›

It's extremely simple. Add about a teaspoon of these kefir grains to a cup of milk, cover the glass, and let it sit out at room temperature for about 24 hours. During this time, the healthy bacterias and yeast in the kefir grains will ferment the milk, preventing it from spoiling while transforming it into kefir.

What is the best milk to make kefir with? ›

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).

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? ›

Kefir is most often used by adults in doses of 400-500 mL by mouth daily for up to 4 weeks. Lower doses of 100-180 mL daily have been used for up to 12 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

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? ›

Powders (matcha, wheatgrass etc) or whey proteins etc can also be used. 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 is the best sweetener for kefir? ›

We believe that organic white sugar combined with rapadura or other minimally processed sugar is the best option for water kefir. Supplementing with Rapadura or unsulphured molasses keeps our water kefir grains happier, healthier, and more productive because they contain the nutrients and minerals that the grains love.

Is 2 cups of kefir a day too much? ›

If you experience any adverse side effects after drinking kefir, consider reducing your intake or discontinuing consumption. Drinking 1–3 cups (237–710 mL) of kefir daily can be a great way to boost your intake of probiotics.

What is the best container to make kefir in? ›

The most commonly used containers (or kefir fermenter) for making water kefir at home are 1 to 1.5 litre wide mouth glass jars. Glass is acid-resistant and easy to clean. The wide mouth allows the kefir to breathe. Kefir only takes 24 to 48 hours to ferment, so there's no need to make large quantities all at once!

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. The exact number of successive batches will depend on the freshness of the kefir and hygienic practices employed.

What makes kefir taste better? ›

A shorter fermentation will produce a sweeter kefir, while a longer fermentation creates a more sour drink. People can keep the kefir grains they catch in the strainer to use in their next batch of kefir.

What can I mix with kefir to taste better? ›

Stir, shake, or blend any of the below ingredients with your already fermented milk kefir:
  1. honey or agave.
  2. fruit purees.
  3. fresh pressed juices.
  4. fresh or frozen berries.
  5. chopped fruit (mangoes, stone fruits, pears)
  6. fresh ground spices (vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric)
  7. Or try our Golden Milk Kefir Recipe!

Is it better to ferment kefir longer? ›

Once you remove the kefir grains, the kefir milk will keep fermenting if left at room temperature. The longer it ferments, the more probiotics. Reduces Lactose (milk sugars): Kefir milk is low in lactose already. But those with a sensitivity to lactose may benefit from the second fermentation.

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