What are the different types of dahi available?
Dahi is the Indian name for curd or yogurt: milk fermented with a starter. Common types are plain set dahi, hung curd (strained), sweet mishti doi from Bengal, and drinks made from curd such as lassi and chaas. It is usually made from cow's milk, sometimes buffalo or goat milk.
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In this article
What is dahi?
Dahi, also called curd, is a traditional yogurt from the Indian subcontinent. It is usually made from cow’s milk, though buffalo or goat milk is also used. Bacteria ferment the milk, turning lactose into lactic acid. Milk is boiled and cooled, a starter is added, and it sits undisturbed for about 5 to 10 hours until slightly sour. The starter is a spoonful of an earlier batch, or in some households dried red chillies.
Types of dahi
| Type | What it is |
|---|---|
| Plain set dahi | Everyday curd, tangy and softly set |
| Hung curd | Dahi strained in cloth to remove whey; thick, and the base for shrikhand |
| Buffalo milk dahi | Thicker because buffalo milk has more fat; traditionally set in clay pots |
| Mishti doi | Bengali sweet dahi; sweetener, usually jaggery, is added to the milk before fermenting |
| Flavored dahi | Plain dahi with fruit or sugar added; common in stores |
Dishes and drinks made from dahi
- Lassi: a curd drink, sweet or salty.
- Chaas: thinned curd, also called buttermilk.
- Raita, dahi puri, curd rice and kadhi.
- Shrikhand: sweetened hung curd; see ways to serve shrikhand.
Dahi vs Greek yogurt
Hung curd is close to Greek yogurt in thickness, since both are strained. Taste and texture vary by brand and by the starter used.
How to choose
- For everyday meals and raita: plain set dahi.
- For desserts and dips: hung curd or strained plain yogurt.
- For drinks: plain dahi blended with water.
- Check the label for added sugar if you want plain.
Skip anything that smells rotten or has mold. This is general information, not medical advice.
People also ask
What is the difference between dahi and yogurt?
In practice they are the same kind of food. Dahi is the Indian name, often homemade and set with a spoonful of the previous batch as starter.
What is hung curd?
Dahi strained through cloth to remove whey, leaving a thick spread or dessert base.
Is mishti doi a type of dahi?
Yes. It is the sweet Bengali version, where sweetener is added to the milk before fermenting.
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