Sheep’s Milk Yogurt Benefits & A Yogurt Dip & Sauce Recipe

[1] The recipe for this yogurt dip and sauce is below (photos #1 and 5 © Heraclea Olive Oil).

[2] Old Chatham is one of the two artisan brands of sheep’s milk yogurt in the U.S. (photos #2 and #4 © Old Chatham Creamery).

[3] The other delicious sheep’s milk yogurt is made by Bellwether Farms. Do you know what a bellwether is? See the footnote‡ (photo © Bellwether Farms)?

[4] Thanks for the milk!

[5] The dip recipe was created by Berk Bahceci for Heralea Olive Oil.

Most of the yogurt sold in the U.S. is cow’s milk yogurt, and 51% of that is Greek-style yogurt [source]. In addition to cow’s milk yogurt, you can find yogurts made from:

 
Today, we’ll focus on a true foodie delight, sheep’s milk yogurt, which few yogurt-eaters have ever tried. Why not?

First, because sheep’s milk yogurt is more expensive to produce, few companies make it. In the U.S., we’ve only found it in artisan brands like:

 
Second, sheep’s milk yogurt can be twice the price of cow’s milk yogurt. Sheep are difficult to raise and don’t yield much milk, hence the premium.

And third, as a premium-priced product, it is typically only available at high-end markets and specialty food stores.

But if you’re a yogurt fan—or a sheep’s milk cheese fan—treat yourself to some and get to know this delicious variety.
 
 
WHY SHEEP’S MILK YOGURT IS BETTER

Ounce for ounce, compared to cow’s and goat’s milk yogurt, sheep’s milk yogurt:

 
 
RECIPE: SHEEP’S MILK YOGURT DIP

Enjoy this dip with cocktails, or as a sauce for chicken, fish, lamb, pork, or vegetables.

Sheep’s milk yogurt is naturally thick and doesn’t require extra straining, although you can substitute Greek-style yogurt.

Thanks to Heraclea Olive Oil for the recipe.

Prep time is 10 minutes.
 
Ingredients For 4 Servings

 
Preparation
 
1. MIX the yogurt, oregano, dill, and mint in a large bowl.

2. USE a separate, smaller bowl to mix the garlic, salt, and vinegar; then add it to the yogurt mixture. Combine well.

3. DRIZZLE with olive oil and serve.
 
 
A BIT OF SHEEP HISTORY

The domestication of sheep—as well as that of goats and cattle—first took place roughly 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent of Mesopotamia and the nearby mountain zones of western Asia.

This happened when humans, who had been hunter-gatherers, settled into agricultural communities. Being stationary enabled animal husbandry and domestication the first plant crops like barley and wheat [source].

Today, the countries of the Mediterranean remain the world’s biggest sheep dairy producers.

†Short-term fatty acids improve gut health through a number of effects, from maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity, mucus production, and protection against inflammation to the reduction of the risk of colorectal cancer [source]. Medium-term fatty acids (triglycerides) promote “fullness,” reduce fat deposits, increase energy expenditure, and are more easily metabolized (i.e., turn into energy).

‡A bellwether is the leading sheep of a flock, with a bell around its neck. Why? Long ago, it was common practice for shepherds to hang a bell around the neck of one sheep in their flock, to hear the sheep when they wandered. The word was formed by a combination of the Middle English words belle (meaning “bell”) and wether (a noun that refers to a castrated male sheep). The term first appeared in English in the 15th century. It eventually came to refer to an indicator or predictor of something, or to someone who takes initiative or who actively establishes a trend that is taken up by others.