Homemade Soy Yogurt
Soy yogurt is an easy dairy-free yogurt alternative. It’s the only dairy-free milk that will naturally thicken as it cultures! Make flavored yogurt by adding in flavor extracts, spices, and sweeteners. See the section above for 6 flavor suggestions.
- Author: Emillie
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 cups 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Fermented
- Diet: Vegan
- 2 Tbsp of vegan yogurt with live culture
- 4 cups of soy milk (see notes)
With a yogurt maker
- If you have a yogurt maker, then you can simply mix the soy milk and yogurt culture, then let the yogurt maker heat it to the right temperature.
- Maintain at around 105F (40 C) until it is set (at least 4 hours, or if you like a strong yogurt then you can leave it for up to 24 hours). The soy yogurt should have thickened.
Without a yogurt maker
- Pour the soy milk into a small saucepan and warm it up on medium-low. The soy milk needs to get to 105 F (40 C) without burning. So heat it slowly, and whisk occasionally to keep it from scalding on the bottom of the pot.
- When the soy milk is at 105 F (40C), stir in the yogurt culture making sure it is well mixed.
- Pour the warm soy milk into mason jars or serving containers.
- Keep the yogurt warm until it is set (at least 4 hours). Wrapping it in sweaters and sticking it next to your hot water tank works well! The soy yogurt is done when it has thickened slightly.
Notes
- Using soy milk that is labeled as Preservative-Free is the best way to make sure that added preservatives don’t slow down or stop the culturing. However, I have never had an issue with using fresh soy milk, found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Alternatively, you could try homemade soy milk. Just avoid using shelf-stable soy milk.
- Soy milk forms a fairly thick yogurt without any added thickeners. However, if you want really thick creamy yogurt, strain the extra liquid. Line a colander
with two layers of cheesecloth
and pour in the soy yogurt. Leave it to drain for 2-3 hours. The soy yogurt will be extra thick and creamy. And the liquid can be used as a probiotic culture for fermenting grains and vegetables. It’s also perfect for adding to a smoothie.
- To make a flavored yogurt, stir in spices, flavor extracts, cocoa powder, etc. prior to fermenting. Fruit, nuts, and granola are better added when serving the yogurt. See the section above for 6 delicious flavor options.
Keywords: gluten free, probiotic, nut free, cultured, dairy free, affordable