EASY HOMEMADE YOGURT
Published Jun 16, 2016
Updated Apr 26, 2017
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Once upon a time, I used to make homemade yogurt… a lot. It was often a day of joy when I will stir a bowl of freshly made yogurt and put in the fridge to chill while I waited (impatiently). The joy on the faces of all the girls and boys at home with me while they ate made me feel utterly rewarded. I thought making your own yogurt was a myth but thanks to my friends, Meggy and Akwi, this myth got busted.
Meggy was the first person who explained to me how she made yogurt for commercial purposes. She made the thick drinkable version also called, Kossam in Cameroon. Kossam, made often by Hausa men is the reason a lot of people keep going to their shops for the plastic chilled bottles containing some white goodness. Ahh the irresistibility of Kossam! Or Koss (for love’ssake).
Meggy taught me that I needed to get natural yogurt and some whole milk. I would then use the yogurt to convert the milk into yogurt through an incubating process. During this process, the (good) bacteria in the yogurt spreads to the milk and thickens it. You do not need any machine for this. You just need a warm place and the right incubating techniques which will be explained below.
Then my friend Akwi taught me how to mix the perfect thick yogurt for home consumption, giving me measurements and all. She learnt this from her industrious mama. After I made my first batch, it wasn’t smooth as expected. I consulted Akwi again and she taught me to properly mix the starter yogurt with milk then sieve to ensure maximum smoothness. When I made a subsequent batch, she was like,
“Precious don turn professional”
(Precious is now a professional yogurt maker.)
Thanks girls, Akwi and Meggy for introducing me into the world of blissful yogurt making! My life has never been the same since then. *wipes tears*
After coming to the United States, I kind of totally forgot about making my own yogurt. I was jolted back to my real love for yogurt-making when my brother sent me a Facebook message asking for the recipe. I thought to myself, I should make this sometime.
The readily available store-bought ones blinded me yet they hardly ever satisfied my yogurt cravings. They looked elastic and fake. Really. Like they didn’t come from real milk. Then one day, like a miracle, we were at the grocery store when girl number 1 pointed to a specific brand of yogurt, called, Old Home and asked that we get it. I was drawn to the packaging because it indicated that the yogurt contained live and active cultures. That was how I got the right yogurt to make the perfect homemade yogurt.
FOR YOUR HOMEMADE YOGURT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU MUST USE A STARTER YOGURT THAT CONTAINS LIVE AND ACTIVE CULTURES.
Back home in Cameroon, I often used Camlait Naturel or Dolait Naturel. (Men dem, do they still make these yogurts?). Basically, any sweetened or unsweetened natural yogurt would work. It should have no added colours, fruit or flavours. The yogurt you use needs to have one or more of the following bacteria:
- Streptococcus thermophilus or S. Thermophilus
- Lactobacillus bulgaricus or L. Bulgaricus
- Lactobacillus acidophilus or L. Acidophilus
- Lactobacillus casei or L. Casei
I got a migraine just by typing those names. Excuse me let me go drink some Paracetamol.
Okay, I’m back.
Guys, this yogurt is:
- Extra Creamy
- Milky
- Slightly Tangy
- Thick
- Healthy
- Magical
You only need two main ingredients: milk and yogurt.
Once your yogurt is set, you could add sugar, honey, fruit, flavour or whoreva.
Prep: 10 mins
Inactive time: 8 hours
Cook: 0 mins
Ingredients
I cup of whole powder milk
2 and a half cups of water
1 cup of commercial yogurt containing active cultures (you could use half)
Step 1
Heat your water to be warm. It should neither be too hot nor cold. It should be slightly hot to the touch.
Step 2
Mix the milk in half cup of the water until smooth. Transfer to the remaining water and mix well.
Step 3
Add your yogurt to the milk and stir well. Your yogurt should be at room temperature. Preferably you should mix first with part of the milk then transfer to the rest of the milk.
Step 6
Mix yogurt and milk together until well combined.
Step 7
Cover with a plastic wrap and blanket for extra coverage.
Step 8
Keep in a warm place to set for about 8 hours. I covered with a blanket then I later transferred to my microwave just after heating something in it. Note that if the place is not warm enough, the bacteria will not act and your yogurt will not set. You could use a heated oven or a large flask for this.
Step 9
Open and see if it it is set. If it is not set, you could leave it in a warmer place again for a few hours. The top may be smooth and caked-up.
I turned it a little with the spoon so you could see the texture.
Feel free to sweeten with sugar or honey as designed. Keep in a fridge to chill then you go ahead to chill with it, baby!
If you have any question, leave it as a comment below and I’ll respond to you as soon as I can.
Love
thank you aunty precious
pls I wish to ask if I can should use only dolait milk or I can also use kossam for 50frs
Hi Charlotte, I’m not sure if kossam will work.
Wow thanks so much for this I always make yaourt to sell using yaourt milk but my husband always prefer kossam to drink, but I didn’t know how to milk it. Pls can we use yaourt milk in the place of Nid o powder milk? Thanks in advance
Yes you can definitely use yaourt milk. I only used Nido because I can’t find that milk here.
Hi Precious , thanks for this simple recipe. Will give it a try. So will this be called a Greek yoghurt recipe or it’s just plain yoghurt recipe?
Hi Shishi, this recipe makes plain yogurt.
Hi I’m Clarisse…I have been your fan since d first time I discovered ur channel and I must say, I’m inspired by u…thank u for your precious time taken to produce this article…I’m definitely doing this…thanks again
Hi Clarisse, so glad to hear from you, dear. Thanks so much for taking out the time to let me know. Hope you enjoy the yogurt!
Precious you are just the best
Awwww thanks dear!
Thanks a lot. It is different from the one i use to make, but am giving this a try soon.
Which cup are you talking about?
Hi Faith, I use the standard American measuring cup. 1 cup equals 125 grams. Hope this helps.
i have my recipe book and pen….. will do this asap.
I’m sure you will nail this one, Shiri. Enjoy, dear.
Where on earth have I been !?I just got to know of you and I must say you are the amen to my cooking deficiency.
Hahaha you are so funny. Welcome on board!
Thanks for all I will practice this
You are very welcome, Sandrine.
I can’t really thank you enough Sister Precious, you make desire see fruition and our home healthier.
You are making your world to be industrious and creative, while exterminating laziness in cuisine.
I feel excited because ….. Will tell you later.
God bless you!!!
Therese! Why did you leave me in suspense na? I’m so eager to hear what you have to say.
Thanks for your kind words, dear. It’s all about God. God bless you.