Food & Drink

My big fat-free Greek fro-yo

Le Greek — c’est chic! At least as far as fro-yo is concerned.

Ben & Jerry’s, Ciao Bella and Stonyfield have all recently introduced lines of Greek frozen yogurt. Rickland Orchards is coming out with a line this winter. And it’s starting to pop up at food trucks, gourmet shops and chains. On Monday, the Yogurt Culture Company opened on Park Avenue and 41st Street, offering honey-flavored Greek fro-yo.

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Why go Greek? Sure, plenty of frozen treats boast they’re low in calories and fat, but the biggest difference here is taste. Greek yogurt is strained — giving it a creamy, thick texture — and is rich in protein and probiotics. No weak substitute for ice cream here! And with Greek yogurt sales doubling every year over the past three years into a $2 billion-a-year industry, it’s no wonder the frozen version is such a hot trend.

STREET TREAT

It’s official: Greek frozen yogurt has penetrated New York’s food trucks. Last month, Uncle Gussy’s — a blue truck with a long Greek menu of souvlaki and kebabs — began selling a homemade vanilla Greek fro-yo ($4.50) it calls Pago. “My brother Franky took a gelato course, and we bought a gelato maker, which we decided to use with Greek yogurt,” says owner Nick Karagiorgos. The fro-yo (calorie count not available) looks like a thicker version of Carvel — with a sweet taste and, depending on the batch, varying tartness. “We’re learning as we go,” explains Karagiorgos. They’re also experimenting with toppings such as crumbled baklava (at right). Corner of 51st Street and Park Avenue; twitter.com/pago_nyc

HAUTE HELLENIC

“Wow,” says a little girl stepping into the Park Slope frozen yogurt shop Culture, on a sweltering July afternoon. “I was expecting a line.” As if on cue, one starts to grow behind her for soft serve in rotating flavors such as sweet, fruity mango and a triple-berry powerhouse combining strawberry, raspberry and blueberry. While Culture doesn’t advertise its frozen yogurt (plain, at left) as Greek, co-owner Jenny Ammirati uses live cultures and Hudson Valley Fresh milk, then strains it Greek-style — resulting in a smooth texture and tart taste. A cone will run you $2.75 (large bowls sell for as much as $6.29), and at only 130 calories and 2 grams of fat per serving, it’s a light, healthy option. That is until you start piling on scrumptious toppings, such as strawberry-rhubarb pie. 331 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn; 718-499-0207, cultureny.com

SERVED ON A STICK

One of the Talmudic quandaries for consumers of Greek frozen yogurt is: Do you want something that tastes like ice cream — or something that tastes like Greek yogurt? The Massachusetts-based Yasso delivers the latter. Its blueberry, strawberry or raspberry fro-yo bars are thick enough to make a Greek shepherd proud. (A box of four runs $5.99 at Whole Foods, but they’re also available at Costco, Fairway and D’Agostino.) Too bad they’re lacking in the flavor department — but a Yasso bar offers an incentive that other desserts only wish they could: only 70 calories per bar, with zero fat and 6 grams of protein. And then there’s that creamy texture, which would slow anyone down and make them enjoy this frozen treat. teamyasso.com

GELATO GOES GREEK

If you were lucky enough to pass Grand Central’s taxi stand last week, you might have caught the Ciao Bella gelato and sorbet makers handing out samples of their newest creation: a Greek fro-yo line called Adonia. “It has that creaminess that makes you feel indulgent,” says sales and marketing VP Deborah Holt — but it’s fat-free and only 75 calories per serving. Try a scoop of espresso or blueberry (below) at one of Ciao Bella’s three NYC locations ($4 to $6), or pick up a pint or box of novelty bars at the market ($5 to $7). 27 E. 92nd St., 212-831-5555; 54 Grand Central Terminal, 212-867-5311; 285 Mott St., 212-431-3591; ciaobellagelato.com

BEN-DROS & JERRY

Ben & Jerry’s fans know not to expect simplicity — and the brand’s new Greek fro-yos don’t disappoint in the more-is-more department. Raspberry yogurt is studded with chocolate chunks (at left). Strawberry is dense with shortcake. Blueberry-and-vanilla is mined with graham crackers. But our favorite has to be the daring Elvis-inspired combo: peanut butter banana (banana yogurt with swirls of peanut butter). You can get a pint of the hard, ice cream-like yogurt at a bodega, or stop at one of the company’s many outposts for a scoop ($3.50 to $5.50). But beware: Its Greek fro-yo has a similar calorie count (180 to 210 calories per serving) and taste (faint tang and tartness) to its original fro-yo line. And where are the clever names? benjerry.com