You like your yogurt to be plain, with no added sugars, and tangy if you’re anything like me. But each time when I go to the grocery store I spend a lot of time reading the labels and choosing the amounts of added sugars in my favorite fermented drink. I love yogurt. It always reminds me of my childhood. I love eating yogurt in all combinations. But the thing I will never accept is eating this sweet and sour thing called yogurt you find in stores.

My mother would make homemade yogurt when I was small. It was economical and yummy. And when I finally find a brand that doesn’t have so much sugar and it tastes nice, it’s hard to find it again. Or it costs an arm and a leg for a small size package. So I have decided to share with you this simple and super easy recipe to make your own yogurt at home. To be honest I’m not a chef and I try to avoid spending time in the kitchen whenever I can. But I have always been successful in preparing this recipe so I’m confident you will too. For more information on fermentation check What Is Fermentation

The easiest recipe ever

Don’t worry you don’t need a lot of equipment. For starters just find a nice and clean large pot and something to stir your milk with. Later you will need clean glass jars based on the amount of yogurt you want to make.

The basis for any type of yogurt is of course milk. You can use cow milk, goat milk, or any milk you want at this point. If you use raw milk you will need to cook it. Since raw milk has never been cooked this way you are killing all the potentially harmful bacteria that can make you sick. Please don’t skip these steps because consuming raw milk can be harmful, especially for children. You want to make sure you bring it to a boil.

If you’re using store-bought milk that has already been pasteurized (thank you LP, we will talk about you later), then it will be enough to heat it up to 180 degrees F just to make sure it has been sterilized. This is important because we want the milk to contain only the bacteria that will turn it into yogurt. If there are other bacteria in your milk it could create off-flavors. You can use full or skim milk of your favorite store-bought brand.

Yogurt making time

Heat 2 liters of milk up to 180 degrees F.

Let it cool down to 112-115 degrees F but dont put it into a fridge. Let it cool down outside.

Add your yogurt culture once you reach the temperature. Stir it into the milk to start fermentation.

Pour the milk into glass jars and try to keep the temperature of 112-115 degrees F. You can put them in the warm oven or leave it in a warm place overnight.

Fermentation should be done from 8-12 hours.

After the fermentation is complete and you made yogurt place it in the fridge to stop fermentation. Yogurt should be good for 7 days.

For your yogurt culture, especially for beginners, I suggest using a small cup of your favorite store-bought yogurt. Just make sure to read the label so that it doesn’t contain too many chemicals. Later you will have plenty of time to do your research on Lactobacillus and how to make your own yogurt starter.

The yogurt you will make this way will have a strong tangy flavor. But yogurt is supposed to taste that way. If it’s too tangy for you try adding fresh fruit, maple syrup, or honey. For me, there is no better feeling than that sharp first spoon of fresh yogurt in my mouth.

Why should you eat yogurt anyways?

There are many health benefits when it comes to yogurt. Of course, if you don’t have lactose intolerance or milk allergy. Yogurt has been consumed and prepared for thousands of years in almost all nations around the world in some form or another. It has been a part of our nutrition for a long time. Due to the simple way of preparation and only a few ingredients, yogurt has always been a food of choice in so many different nations around the world.

Yogurt is rich in nutrients. Especially calcium which is responsible for healthy bones and teeth. Other important nutrients would include vitamin B, and riboflavin and they both help to protect against heart disease.

Yogurt is high in protein. Greek yogurt has the highest amount of proteins of all other types of yogurt. Protein helps reduce appetite and weight control. Yogurt is great for people who want to reduce their weight healthily.

Some yogurts contain probiotics. Probiotics are active bacteria that can help in boosting digestive health. They help in fighting against constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome. If you’re looking for yogurt with probiotics it should be clearly stated on the product label as an active ingredient.

Yogurt helps against osteoporosis. Because it contains such great amounts of calcium, consuming yogurt promotes bone health. Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become fragile and lack nutrients. It has been proven that long-term and regular consumption of yogurt can help prevent such conditions.

Yogurt promotes weight management. We have already mentioned that yogurt is a good source of protein. On any diet, you will be required and encouraged to increase your protein intake. And with yogurt, you can do it easily and efficiently. Consuming more yogurt will help you in your weight loss journey providing more nutrients and health benefits at the same time.