June is National Dairy Month! So, I have partnered with National Dairy Council to share with you today’s topic: How dairy is use in recipes around the world. I am also excited to share with you two mouthwatering and easy-to-make recipes: My California Fusion Pizza and a traditional Peruvian recipe, Huancaina sauce!
One of the reasons I got into nutrition is because I love food and cooking. I also love to travel and learn about different food cultures. So, in today’s video, I will take you with me in a journey around the world so we can have a virtual taste of some delicious recipes that use dairy.
Let’s start with home here in the USA. Did you know that mozzarella cheese is the most eaten in the USA? Also, even though Pizza is originally from Italy, guess what? It is one of the most popular foods eaten in the USA.
I live in California, San Francisco and San Francisco has one of the most popular food scenes in the world. And here in California we love avocados. So, since we are talking about mozzarella and pizza, I am making Thin Crust California Fusion Pizza and there are many ways to make healthy pizzas.
What I Love about farmers in the United States is that they are the original caregivers of the environment. Over hundreds of years, dairy farmers have made many commitments to going green, including water reclamation and nutrient recycling. Also, farmers are innovative up-cyclers. They feed their cows parts of plants that people can’t eat, but cows can eat them because of their unique stomachs that can digest higher amounts of fiber than people… and the cows love it – things like almond hulls and citrus pulp, helping to keep food waste out of landfills.
Now let’s go around the world!
In Asia, especially in India, they drink Mango Lassi. Mango lassi is a delicious drink that’s very popular in India and is prepared with yogurt, milk, cardamom and mango which gives this drink a natural sweetness. Lassi is consumed as a simple drink, but also as a drink to be served during the main meals because it is very refreshing both during the hot season and when eating spicy dishes. It also helps with digestion.
Did you know that India grows and consumes more mangos than any other country on earth? In many Mediterranean countries they also marinate chicken in yogurt. Yogurt tenderizes meat much more gently and effectively than regular marinades. You really only need 15 minutes to see a difference in your chicken. Then you can grill, bake or sear you chicken, and you will have a juicy delicious chicken. I love marinating my chicken breast, so they don’t come out dry after cooking them
Milk soup is one of the oldest and most basic foods among farmers around Eastern European countries. Milk soup was a means of using up cow’s milk that couldn’t be turned into cheese, butter, or buttermilk because of time or lack of manpower or would otherwise spoil. It is always eaten hot either for breakfast or during the main meals. Today, it is a universal comfort food often served with noodles, bread, rice, barley, farina, millet, or potatoes.
Now let’s go to South America but more specifically my homeland, Peru. That’s where my Huancaina sauce comes from. A sauce made with milk, queso fresco, soda crackers and aji chili paste.
A growing body of research links milk, cheese and yogurt–regardless of fat content–to health benefits such as bone health, especially in children and adolescents, and there’s also an association with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as helping to lower blood pressure in adults.
This month of June lets celebrate with dairy and make your favorite dairy recipes and let’s thank all the dairy farmers for their hard work!
For additional information and more about how to use dairy in your recipes go to USDairy.com
