Homemade Greek Yogurt

Making Greek yogurt from scratch is quite simple. The process may take 20 hours, but it's mostly fermentation and straining time, and it's worth the wait. Homemade Greek yogurt is thick, creamy, and full of flavor, and you can use it in all sorts of different ways. This recipe was adapted from T and T kitchen and atelier. Although most recipes, including the one I followed, suggest leaving your oven light on while the yogurt is resting in it, I found it doesn't make any difference. I leave mine in the darkness of a closed oven for 16 hours and get a perfect batch of yogurt every time. Once you make your own yogurt, you can use the bacteria cultures present in it to serve as the starter for your next batch. However, the third or fourth-generation starter might not be as tasty as a first-generation starter, so be sure to invest in some new bacteria.

Category: Breakfast

Recipe in PDF format (print friendly)

• Yields 600g of yogurt
• Prep time: 10min + fermentation and straining time
• Cook time: 5min
• Total time: 20h 15min
• Difficulty: Basic

Ingredients

• 1l whole milk
• 4 tbsp store-bought Greek yogurt

Directions

Pour 1 liter of milk into a saucepan, reserving 4 tablespoons. Let the milk heat until the skin has formed on the surface and the milk is just nearly scalding. Remove from heat and allow to cool to approximately 40°C. Meanwhile, combine store-bought Greek yogurt and the reserved milk. Once the milk has cooled, make a slit in the milk skin using a knife and pour the yogurt mixture into the milk through the hole. Cover the saucepan with a clean kitchen cloth, put it in your oven, and close the oven door. Let the yogurt ferment for 16 hours. The next morning, take the saucepan from the oven and remove milk skin from the surface. You now have plain yogurt. To make Greek yogurt, you have to strain it. This process gets rid of all the excess water and makes your yogurt thicker and much creamier. Place the cheesecloth or muslin cloth into a sieve, with a bowl placed underneath. Transfer the yogurt into the cloth and allow it to strain for 3 to 4 hours in the refrigerator. Be careful not to over-strain the yogurt. If you leave it straining too long, it will lose most of its water content, becoming a cheese instead of yogurt. Once the yogurt has achieved your desired consistency, transfer it to a glass or ceramic bowl, cover it with cling film, and store it in your refrigerator. It should last at least a week, if not longer.

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