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| Yogurt Bites with a Kick (Spanish) |
Introduction
My love for Spicy Yogurt Bites (Spanish) began on a sun-drenched evening in a small café located off a winding alley in Barcelona. A bartender brought a small plate to me with smooth dollops of punctured tangy yogurt with a dust of smoked pimentón, some olive oil, and crunchy bits on top. The simple concept of these bites were, however, the cool yogurt and spicy pimentón were a summer. I, along with other food lovers, was soon able to find these bites in numerous cafés in Madrid and even in Marseille.
Almost every American and European kitchen would have the necessary ingredients to showcase the recipe for Spicy Yogurt Bites (Spanish). Uncomplicated yet great in taste with multitude of changes. These Spicy Yogurt Bites (Spanish) are a simple dish to serve for guests at a gathering, a light lunch with toast, or a snack for the outdoors. These Bites are vibrant with smokiness and have the right amount of spicy to keep everyone wanting more.
Ingredients
It is important to note the best brands of yogurt and olive oil as the measurements are meant for cooking on friendly terms.
-400 grams (14 ounces) of Greek full-fat yogurt (you can also use plain yogurt that is strained)
-One small clove of garlic that should be finely grated
-2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of extra virgin olive oil and a small bit more for drizzling on top of the finished product
-One teaspoon (5 grams) of smoked paprika (you can choose to use sweet paprika instead if smoked paprika is too strong)
-One fourth of a teaspoon (1 gram) of chili flakes, more can be added to taste
-One tablespoon (15 milliliters) of lemon juice, which is the juice of half a lemon
-One half a teaspoon (3 grams) of sea salt which can be heated to add more
-Also to be served above: One small baguette that is sliced thin and toasted (12 pieces in total)
-One cucumber sliced into thin rounds
Preparation Steps
-Scoop your yogurt into a bowl if it is too loose as it should not be. Make sure to use a fine sieve lined with cheese cloth and leave it to drain for 30-60 minutes to thicken first.
-Now add some water: Add the grated garlic and also the juice of one lemon with a small pinch of salt and pepper. These lightly flavored seasonings are good for the yogurt.
-Season with spice: Combine the smoked paprika and chili flakes into the olive oil and whisk that oil into the yogurt to properly distribute the smoke and heat. Taste and adjust the salt and/or chili content.
-Toast your bases: If using baguette, brush slices with a little olive oil and toast in a 200°C / 400°F oven for 6 – 8 minutes or until golden. If using cucumber, pat dry the rounds so they hold the yogurt better.
-Assemble the bites: Spoon or pipe small dollops of the spiced yogurt onto each toast or cucumber round and try to keep space around the edges for a neat finish.
Tips and Variations
-The quickest way to lighten the work and the balance for the flavors is if the yogurt is small in quantity, toss in a dollop of yogurt away or between the pieces.
-For a more authentic spicy yogurt bites vibe, use pimentón de la Vera. It's depth of smoke and spice is key to this dish.
-If you want to make it hotter, you can replace the chili flakes with a sprinkle of cayenne.
-Use the option for make it fit for vegans by replacing the yogurt with thick coconut or almond yogurt, and if you do add honey use maple syrup.
-For added texture, you can mix in toasted pine nuts, crushed roasted almonds, or few raisins to add a sweet-salty contrast.
-You can replace the herbs for mint which add a cool refreshing taste, and replaces oregano or thyme with pieces of chopped cute Mediterranean herbs.
-Use servings suggestions and place with roasted peppers, a portion of olives, and a warmed piece of flatbread on a mezze type board. These small touches enable the Easy Spicy Yogurt Bites to shine like a party.
Closing
Spicy Yogurt Bites (Spanish) are a good use of simple ingredients for very impactful moments. It is a Slurp and Share style dish which based on the spirit of tapas culture. Very versatile as you can use it as a snack on its own, or use it to accompany some other finger food. Did you know, it is very common for people in Spain to add a sprinkle of versatile pimentón to cold yogurt? It includes a touch of smoke, and a little bit of spice, which complements the yogurt beautifully.
There will be many more global dishes to learn after trying this one and don’t forget to share it with family too.