Sometimes we buy packaged food for convenience, and sometimes we believe that prepare them ourselves have to be difficult and expensive. This homemade soy yogurt is a clear example of how easy it can be to prepare food at home and in addition, we can save money.
To make homemade soy yogurt you're gonna need only two ingredients: soy milk and a starter (you can use store-bought or previously homemade soy yogurt or a yogurt starter powder). So simple and cheap.
I used to buy organic soy yogurt and it was quite expensive, but now I only need homemade soy milk and a homemade yogurt. That's all!
You only need to buy a store-bought yogurt or a yogurt starter powder for the first time, then you can use your own homemade soy yogurt as a starter.
You can also make homemade yogurt with others plant milks, we also make yogurt with coconut milk and a yogurt starter powder (we couldn't find coconut yogurt), it's really creamy, sweet and delicious.
We've used homemade soy milk, it's so cheap and easy to make, and it tastes so much better than store-bought, you should try! We'll share the recipe soon. Use not transgenic or genetically modified soy milk and with no additives, preservatives or sugar, you can add healthy sweeteners such as dates, stevia, coconut sugar, maple or agave syrup, etc.
We've used a teaspoon of agar agar powder for a thicker yogurt, but you can use other thickeners such as tapioca flour, carrageenan, corn starch or corn flour, xanthan gum, flax seed, etc. You can add more or less thickener, it depends on the consistency you want.
I have good news for you, you don't need any equipment, if you have an oven, you can make homemade yogurt! You only need to preheat the oven at 50 º C or 120 º F for a few minutes, turn off the oven and place the yogurt inside for about 8 hours.
You can add fruits, seeds and nuts to your yogurt, so it will be even healthier and more nutritious. This time we've added nuts, sesame seeds and goji berries, we love them!
We recommend you to make homemade soy yogurt, it's cheap and easy, and also it's healthy, creamy and it tastes amazing! If you don't like the soy flavor you can make homemade yogurt too, you only need your favorite plant milk and a yogurt starter powder and you'll make the best yogurt you can imagine. Seriously, it's awesome!
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Soy Yogurt
Ingredients
- 4 cups soy milk
- 1 teaspoon agar agar powder
- ½ cup soy yogurt, or yogurt starter powder (the amount may vary, follow the package instructions)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 50º C or 120º F.
- Pour the soy milk in a saucepan, add the agar agar, stir and heat the mixture to 90º C or 195º F, but be careful because it shouldn't boil. You can use a thermometer, but it's not necessary.
- Pour the mixture in a bowl and let it cool to 40 or 50ºC (105º F or 120º F). If you don't have a thermometer you can put your finger in the mixture and when it's hot but not burn it's ready.
- Add the starter (soy yogurt or yogurt starter powder), stir and pour the mixture into glass jars or containers.
- Turn off the oven, place the glass jars or containers (without lids) inside and let stand for at least 8 hours. You mustn't open the oven during this process.
- Now you can cover the jars or containers and keep the yogurt in the fridge.
sandy drew says
It worked!! I'm a mediocre cook, but this worked wonderfully well. I used flax and chis seed as thickener, and had a fresh bowl of yogurt this morning. Onto cheese!!
Iosune says
Yay!!! I'm glad it worked Sandy! 😀
April says
Sandy,
What a good idea! Did you use the flax and chia instead of the agar agar or in addition to it? And at what point in the process did you add it?
Thanks!
Iosune says
Hi April! Thanks a lot for your comment 😀
annette says
Hi
I am just starting to make my soymilk and to culture for soy yogurt. I have been using agar to thicken but have been told thAT YOU can't cuture from soy yogurt in which you have used a thickener. my second batch using my own yogurt was ok though not so tart after 12 hours. any information on how to culture soy yogurt when using a thickener?
Iosune says
Hi Annette! I'm sorry but I can't help you. I've always made my homemade yogurt using agar and it always worked., so it's okay for me!
Nina says
Hey there! Thank you for the recipe! I habe to questions though: the pakage of the agar agar i have at home says to boil the liquid for about 2mins. You mentioned in the rexipe NOt to boil the milk - does this just differ from the sort if agar agar you used or is it impirtant for the yoghurt not to bring the milk to boil al all?
Second, my yoghurt is in the oben now for 7 1/2 hours and a bit firmer (no I coulnd't wait any longer 😉 ) but quite "bubbly/foamy" from the mixin process - is that normal or did i overdo it when whisking the agar agar and yoghurt in? Also the taste did't really change yet.. Thanks! Nina
Iosune says
Hi Nina! I suppose I use other type of agar. You could try to boil the milk, but it has to be at 40 or 50ºC (105º F or 120º F) before you add the starter. I don't know if it will work. Another alternative is to use other type of agar or add the agar before boiling. The yoghurt don't have to be bubbly or foamy, but if the final yoghurt tastes good and have a good consistency, it doesn't matter 🙂 Have a nice day!
Kaleena Urquidi says
Can you explain why the milk needs to be heated to 195 F?
Iosune says
Hi Kaleena! If the milk is too hot, the bacteria die and the recipe doesn't work 🙂
Kaleena Urquidi says
Thank you for your quick response, but I was wondering why the milk needs to reach 195 F in the heating process before fermentation?
Iosune says
The milk is heated to about 195ºF to denature the milk proteins so that they set together rather than form curds 🙂
Maria says
To all who want to save money and not buy a starter you can use the tops of hot chillies to ferment yogurt. Just pop them in and toss in the oven the usual way over night and the next morning it has fermented. It many have a tad bit of heat the first time but the next batch you make with a few TBLS will have non at all. Check out Sandor Katz web site very cool. I have made an amazing cashew and coconut yoghurt this way. Make sure the chillies tops have no mold on them,
Iosune says
Hi Maria! Thanks a lot for your comment!!! It's a great idea 🙂 Have a nice day!
Fabio says
If I don't have the agar agar, can I use unflavored gelatin? Or other product? Thanks.
Iosune says
You can remove the agar agar, but the yogurt will be more liquid, or you can use any other product to get the perfect consistency, just read the package instructions before using it 🙂
Kt says
Gelatin is an animal product. Therefore doesn't work in a vegan recipe.
Iosune says
It's true! If you're a vegan, avoid gelatin!
Lorri says
Hi, can you get a non dairy starter powder? One of my clients is gluten intolerant AND lactose intolerant, so my co-workers and I are researching how he can still have yummy stuff like yoghurt.
Iosune says
Yeah! I bought the non-dairy starter in a store, but you can also find it online. You can also use a store-bought soy yogurt 😀
Selenie says
I'm a little late to the thread, but I was trying to find a soy yogurt recipe and ran across this. The problem with yogurt starters is most of them are grown on barley and are therefore NOT gluten free. I tried them, on the mistaken assumption that the minuscule amount wouldn't be an issue. NOPE. Was sick for days.
So, if I'm using a store bought yogurt, as that seems to be the only option for starting, how do I find one that is unsweetened? Or does that matter? The closest I've found so far was Nancy's Cultured Soy, but it has agave in it.
You think a couple of probiotic pills would work as a starter? 🙂
Iosune says
Hi Selenie! I use unsweetened soy yogurt, but I live in Spain, soy I don't know what brands you can find in your country, I'm sorry! You can try to use sweetened yogurt, I don't know if it works. I've never tried probiotic pills, sorry! Have a nice day 🙂
Carmen says
Hello, I used a powder probiotic to make coconut yogurt and had great results.
Iosune says
Hi Carmen! Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂 Have a nice day!
Luna says
great recipe! do you think i could make this with soy milk powder ?
Iosune says
Hi Luna! Sorry, I've never used soy milk powder, so I'm not sure it works, but you could try!
portia says
Hi I just finished making your yogurt r eceipt. This is my first time making yogurt. Can it be sweetened and fruit put.in after the cooldown before putting it in the jar? Or should I wait until it finish the thickening?
Iosune says
Hi Portia! You can add the sweetener in the saucepan or later when the yogurt is ready and cool.
Rosealberta says
Sounds good can i use a sweetened yogurt or must i use a plain yogurt?
Iosune says
Hi Rosealberta! I've never tried it, but I think it should work...
Jenn says
Hi! I'm so excited to try this!! Do you have a recommended starter powder? Thanks!
Iosune says
Hi Jenn! I live in Spain and I bought here the starter powder (I used a Spanish brand), so I can't help you, I'm sorry! Although you can use soy yogurt too 🙂
Nikki says
Hi there,
really nice recipe, I need o try this 🙂 I only wonder, how long can the yoghurt be kept in the fridge, without getting bad?
Best regards, Nikki
Iosune says
Hi Nikki! I recomend you to eat the yogurt in 3 or 4 days, but it could be kept 7 days at most 🙂
Azu says
Que buena idea! Lo malo es que en México no venden yogurt de soya :C
Iosune says
Puedes intentar comprar el fermento, hay gente que lo compra por internet 🙂 Te dejo el link de esta receta en nuestro blog en español, por si te interesa https://danzadefogones.com/yogur-de-soja/ Un saludo Azu!
Josephine Mussett says
I loved soya products until I researched soya and found unless it has been fermented it is toxic.
Iosune says
Hi Josephine! It is not, it's a super healthy food if it's not processed 🙂 https://nutritionfacts.org/es/audio/the-benefits-of-soy/ Have a nice day!
Heidi P. says
I was wondering if I could use acidophilis for my starter in my yogurt or would it taste funny?
Iosune says
Hi Heidi! I've never used it, so I don't know, sorry!