A quick simple method to make yoghurt
I enjoy plain yoghurt on my muesli for breakfast - and this is how I make it. I know of no easier or quicker recipe than this!
You will need:
- about three minutes to prepare the yoghurt mix. (It takes another 6-8 hours for the yoghurt to set and you can't hurry that!)
- Approx 1.25 litre glass container with lid for the yoghurt;
- a small glass jar (150ml) with lid for the starter for next time (an empty baby food jar is ideal)
- potato masher or fork
- somewhere to keep the mix warm while it sets. I use a haybox (see below for how I made mine), others use blankets or a warm spot such as in the residual heat of an oven.
Ingredients to make about 1kg yoghurt
- 2 cups powdered milk (I like fullcream but skim is nearly as good)
- 100ml yoghurt starter culture (I save a bit from the last batch - or buy a small tub of plain yoghurt such as Attiki Greek Style if I want to start again).
- 1 cup room temperature filtered water
- 2 cups very hot (just off boiling) filtered water
Method:
- Pour 1 cup of the cold water into the 1.25 litre glass container.
- Tip 100 ml yoghurt starter culture into the cold water and mix with the potato masher or fork till fairly smooth.
- Add 2 cups powdered milk to the yoghurt and cold water mix. Stir with fork or potato masher till smooth.
- Pour 2 cups of hot water into the mix while stirring quickly so that the yoghurt isn't killed by the heat.
- Tip about 100ml of your mix into the small glass jar.
- Put the lids on both containers.
- Place both containers into the haybox; settle the insulation around them and leave for 6-8 hours or overnight.
My haybox, also known as a fireless cooker, is made from a polystyrene broccoli box and lid, though I would like to use a wooden box when I get a chance to make or find one with a lid. The first incarnation of my haybox used scrunched up newspaper for the insulation. I didn't like the way that the ink transferred to my hands and pots. Now in the box I have two cushion covers loosely filled with recycled bean bag beans.
I make a nest for the container or pot in the middle of the bottom bean bag bean cushion, snuggle the containers into the nest, then cover them with the other bean bag bean cushion. I put the lid on top and then leave the lot in a spot where it will not be disturbed for the duration of the cooking or setting process (on the top of the washing machine! Please note that the power cable goes to the washing machine that the box is sitting on and has nothing to do with the haybox!).
