Is there a difference between regular yogurt and Lebanese recipes that calls for Yogurt?!
Answers: Is there a specific yogurt you use or do you just use good ole' Dannon??
i am a chef you can use most yogurts but make sure its a natural yogurt as some yogurts are a bit sweet or with a lot of medderteranian recipes a greek style yogurt or goats or sheeps milk yogurt i am in australia so i dont know if you can get these products in the states but try a health food store for a natural product.
Just plain ole' unflavored yogurt. nothing special. Just make sure you get PLAIN ... :)
Dannon or any other brand.
No big difference, other than they use full-fat yogurt.
However, be sure the recipe isn't asking for labne, which is a salted, drained yogurt.
The consistency of middle-eastern yogurts is a bit thicker, so depending on what you're making, it might have a small effect on the final product. If you don't have a middle-eastern grocer near you, you may well be able to find Greek-style yogurt at a regular grocery store. That would be better than something like Dannon, but Dannon would do in a pinch.
There is a slight difference, Lebanese yogurt (aka labne or labneh) is thicker. It is similar to "yogurt cheese", the yogurt is strained through a muslin or cheesecloth. The result is a thicker creamier yogurt. If you find a brand called Pavel's, they make fantastic Indian/Arabic yogurt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labne
PS: you can add the liquid (whey) after straining the yogurt into any soup, stew, curry.... it's very healthy and nutricious.