Introduction
You will love this homemade yogurt which is richer than the processed ones. To achieve the desired texture, thickness and sweetness of yogurt, all you need is a whiff of creativity. You can make homemade yogurt by putting in minimal effort and equipment.
Ingredients
- 1 liter full cream milk
- 2 tablespoons of unflavored yogurt containing active probiotic cultures.
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Milk
Let the milk reach boil in medium-heat. Make sure to stir continuously to prevent it from scorching. The yogurt needs additional denaturing proteins to thicken the texture, for this, it will need 85 degrees celsius or 185 degrees farenheit.
Step 2: Let us cool the Milk
Take the milk off the stove to let it cool to 110 degrees farenheit.
To hasten the cooling, place the pot in a cold-water bath.
Step 3: Add the Yogurt
Get a small portion of the cooled milk then add 2 tablespoons of yogurt starter to it. Pour the mixture back into the rest of the milk.
Step 4: Let the yogurt set
Pour the mixture into clean glass jars.
Keep the jars at a temperature ranging from 40-45°C or 104-113°F and let them sit for as long as 12 hours. You can simply place them in an oven with the light switched on or a yogurt maker. Alternatively, you could wrap them in a blanket.
Step 5: Chill and Enjoy
After the incubation period, your yogurt should be thick and fully set. Store in the refrigerator for four hours before serving or consuming.
Relish with or without a topping of honey, fruits, and granola!
Hints for Success
Using high nutritional value milk yields higher taste and texture values along with better taste and texture.
A yogurt with active cultures makes for a good base yogurt for effective meiosis.
Tampering with fermentation time ensures a more tangy yogurt, ferments unto twelve hours for a more tangy taste.
If your yogurt ends up being too runny, cheesecloth may be used for straining the yogurt to make it thicker.
Health Benefits:
Fosters gut health for probiotics
Calcium and protein fortified.
Supportive of digestion and metabolism
Strengthens the bone and immune system
Nutritional Information (100g serving)
Calories: 60
Fat: 3g
Protein: 5g
Carbohydrates: 5g
Calcium: 15% of daily requirement
Substitutions and Variations:
Soy, almond, and coconut non-dairy starters make for excellent yogurt bases. Also works great with a dairy free starter.
The addition of honey, vanilla extract, or sugar can make yogurt sweet.
Greek yogurt requires the thicker yogurt to be strained through a cheese cloth.
Yogurt can also be sweetened with maple syrup before being served for better taste.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What if I use low-fat milk? Of course, feel free to, but bear in mind that full-fat milk will yield creamier yogurt which could be helpful.
- What’s the best way to make yogurt if I don’t have a thermometer?
Warm up the milk untill it is steaming, remembering not to let it boil. Now, allow it to cool, after which it should feel warm to the touch, but not too hot.
- How long can you keep homemade yogurt for?
It can be stored in the refrigerator for about one week.
- Is it possible to use any yogurt purchased from a store as a starter yogurt?
Yes, provided it contains living and active cultures.
Conclusion
Making yogurt is not only easy and quick, but it is also an enjoyable process that adds healthy food to your meals. Yogurt can be easily made at home with milk and yogurt, and the flavor along with the thickness can be adjusted to your preferred levels without the preservatives and artificial additives commonly used in commercial yogurt. Yogurt is rich in probiotics that help in digestion, boost immunity, and provide various nutrients to the body. Yogurt made at home can be enjoyed as is or with sugar and fruits, and stand-alone yogurt can be eaten with smoothies, cream, and even used in various types of cooking. Homemade yogurt helps in making a healthy meal without the need to spend long hours in the kitchen. Now that you know how to make it, you will probably never want to purchase yogurt from a grocery store.
Try experimenting with various and flavors to find the one you enjoy most. Enjoy your homemade yogurt! Happy cooking!
