It is quite evident that curd is a ubiquitous member of most Indian kitchens. From it being a chief ingredient to marinate meat and veggies to whipping up the lunch staple raita, this fermented milk product is used almost every day in our households. If you ask me to name one ingredient that can spruce up any dish, I would immediately say curd. That’s how much I love it. If you too prefer curd, you must also be wondering about the difference between curd and yogurt, at times. While many think that both are the same, there are some differences between the two. We have listed them here for you:
• Style Of Preparation
Curd is usually made at home using acidic ingredients like lemon juice with warm milk, whereas yogurt is prepared with artificial acids. Milk is fermented with these acids and stored at an optimal temperature to attain a smooth texture.
• Quantity Of Bacteria
While both curd and yogurt contain probiotic bacteria, the content is more in yogurt than curd due to the long fermentation process.
• Type Of Bacteria
As we have already mentioned, curd is made with natural curdling ingredients like lemon juice and yields lactobacillus. Yogurt, on the other hand, is fermented artificially and has streptococcus bacteria species along with lactobacillus.
• Which One To Opt For If You Are Lactose Intolerant?
If you are lactose intolerant, curd isn’t advisable for you. It has more lactose content than yogurt. Health experts highly recommend Greek yogurt for people who are lactose intolerant.
• Is Curd Better Than Yogurt?
Both curd and yogurt come with numerous health benefits. So, it is difficult to distinguish between the two on the basis of nutrition. While curd is enriched with proteins, calcium and the right amount of fats, yogurt is packed with proteins, vitamins and minerals.
