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Who among you does not like the yogurts ?Most people around me enjoy eating yogurt as a snack or dessert in the evening. Yogurt has been an integral part of our daily diet for generations due to its creaminess, delicate taste, and richness in probiotics. However, some people have difficulty eating traditional yogurt because of lactose intolerance associated with animal milk, such as sheep's milk or cow's milk, which can cause digestive discomforts like bloating, abdominal cramps, and gas. Fortunately, there is an alternative to traditional yogurt: plant-based yogurt, which is ideal for people with lactose intolerance or those who want to reduce their consumption of animal products.
Plant-based yogurts are available on supermarket shelves and in organic stores. But have you ever thought about making them at home? Personally, I thought it was difficult until I discovered the... Yogurt maker !And it was a very special experience for me. If you want to learn and know how to make homemade yogurt, you are in the right place. In this article, we will guide you step by step on how to make delicious homemade plant-based yogurt, all thanks to the invaluable help of an essential device: the yogurt maker.
What are the necessary ingredients to make yogurt ?
The advantage of making yogurt at home is that you can customize the flavors according to your preferences while ensuring that each spoonful is a healthy and nutrient-rich delight. The basic ingredients for making homemade plant-based yogurt include:
- Plant-based milk You can choose the plant-based milk you prefer the most, such as almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or cashew milk. Soy milk is not recommended. This choice will alter the taste of the plant-based yogurt.
- Lactic ferments Use our bio-ferments of the brewed type to make your plant-based yogurts. Their role is to ferment the plant milk and create the creamy texture characteristic of yogurt.
- A sweetener: Sugar is essential for feeding the ferment (it will be consumed during fermentation). You can use maple syrup, coconut sugar, fruit sugar or agave syrup to sweeten your plant-based yogurt according to your preference.
- A thickening agent (optional)You can add a thickening agent such as cornstarch, agar-agar, or pectin to achieve a thicker texture if needed.
- Aromas and flavors (optional)Customize your plant-based yogurt by adding vanilla extracts, fresh fruits, cinnamon, cocoa powder, or other flavors according to your taste.
What equipment is needed to make yogurt ?
Choosing the appropriate equipment to make yogurt is necessary for proper preparation. However, there are different types of yogurt makers on the market, each with its specific characteristics:
Electric yogurt maker: It generally consists of an electric base with a heating and temperature control system, as well as pots in which you prepare and ferment the yogurt. Electric yogurt makers typically do not consume much electricity because they are designed to operate at relatively low temperatures over an extended period. However, if you live in an area prone to frequent power outages, think twice before purchasing this type of yogurt maker, as you might not be able to maintain proper fermentation.
Water bath yogurt maker: This type of yogurt maker works by placing the yogurt jars in a water bath to heat and ferment them. Water bath yogurt makers can be more complicated to use than other yogurt makers because you need to prepare a water bath with hot water, ensure a constant temperature, and closely monitor the fermentation process as temperature variations are more significant.
Multifunction yogurt maker: Multifunction yogurt makers have the ability to prepare other fermented dairy products such as fromage blanc, kefir, or drinkable yogurt. However, they are generally more expensive than simple yogurt makers due to their extended functionalities.
At Biovie, we offer a durable yogurt maker set which is very eco-friendly as it limits energy consumption and very practical because you have the option to take it wherever you want. The set contains:
- 2 glass jars with lids: one large 0.5 L jar for fermentation and one small 0.25 L jar for serving
- 1 needle thermometer
- 1 large insulated pocket.
The yogurt maker is the key element in yogurt preparation. With this tool, you can maintain a constant temperature during fermentation using the insulated pouch while monitoring it with the needle thermometer, which is essential for achieving a creamy texture and the growth of bacterial cultures. With this basic equipment and the appropriate ingredients, you will be ready to prepare delicious and healthy plant-based yogurts at home using your yogurt maker.
You can opt for our pack of plant-based yogurt which contains the cultures + the yogurt maker for a lower price.
Is it economical to make your own yogurt ?
Economically speaking, making yogurt at home is more cost-effective and advantageous than buying ready-made yogurt from the supermarket. Admittedly, a yogurt maker can be somewhat expensive and represents an initial investment, but this equipment lasts a long time and you can use it multiple times. Therefore, you will only need to buy the basic ingredients each time you want to make yogurt at home.
The cost of basic ingredients is generally not expensive, especially if you decide to buy them in bulk; you will save even more and do a good deed for the environment. You only need one packet to prepare several jars of yogurt, and you will have other packets left for future use. As for the other ingredients, they are optional; you can choose whether or not to buy them to save even more money.
Not only can making homemade yogurt be an economical and healthy option, but it is also a good gesture for the planet because you can reduce the amount of waste related to individual yogurt packaging bought in stores, which can also have a positive economic impact in the long term.
The recipe for Yogurts (using a yogurt maker)
Here is our very easy homemade yogurt maker recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 liter of unsweetened plant-based milk of your choice (preferably intense almond milk)
- 1 packet of bio ferments for plant-based stirred yogurt
- 2 to 3 tablespoons of maple syrup
- 1 to 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, heat the plant-based milk over low heat until it reaches a temperature of about 43-45°C (109-113°F). Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature accurately.
- In the jar of your yogurt maker, Pour the plant-based milk and the packet of starter cultures, and mix well to dissolve the cultures in the milk.
- At this stage, you can add the maple syrup to sweeten your yogurt and the vanilla extract for an extra touch of flavor.
- Close your jar and put it in the insulated bag.
- Place the jar away from daylight at room temperature for 8 to 12 hours. The longer the fermentation, the firmer and more tangy the yogurt will be.
- Once the fermentation is complete, remove the jar from the pouch and let it cool to room temperature for a few hours.
- Put your plant-based yogurt into small jars and place them in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight before enjoying them. This allows the yogurt to set and develop its flavors.
You can top your delicious homemade plant-based yogurt with fresh fruits, honey, nuts, or other toppings of your choice for a gourmet and healthy experience. Enjoy !
Our tips for successfully making your yogurt
- Choose a high-quality milk with few additives.
- Maintain a constant temperature during fermentation: it is better to place your yogurt maker in a warm location, away from drafts.
- Don't forget the sugar.
- Respect the fermentation times of the yogurt maker.
- Avoid moving or shaking the yogurt maker during fermentation as it can disrupt the process.
- Make sure that all the equipment used is clean and well disinfected, as unwanted bacteria can affect the quality of your yogurt.
- Test, adapt, start over !
By following our advice, you will be able to prepare delicious and healthy homemade yogurts that meet your taste and nutritional preferences.
How long does it take to prepare yogurt ?
Overall, making homemade yogurt typically takes a full day due to the fermentation time, which can last from 8 to 12 hours and sometimes even 14 hours. This allows the yogurt to become more tangy and firm. Adding to this, the cooling time after fermentation can take 1 to 2 hours, and the refrigeration time can last 4 hours or more to allow the yogurt to develop its flavors. But don't worry, you won't be doing much during this time as most of it doesn't require active effort on your part, making it a relatively easy activity to incorporate into your daily routine.
