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!
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.
Miyuki says
Hello!
Why is the step of the oven important?
I have done soy yogurt before without the oven and it works just fine.
I want to try out your recipe, I'm just curious about that step. Thank you.
Sienna Noon says
I tried this and it didn’t thicken at all, why?
Iosune Robles says
Hi! I'm so sorry 🙁 Maybe the agar-agar did not get the temperature enough. Next time, try to add more agar with a bit of milk, heat it, and then add it to the whole recipe!
Sienna Noon says
Thank you! I use 2tsp of cornstarch, is there anyway I can use the mixture I have now?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Sienna! I think it is not possible, sorry!
Kerry Miller says
I made this using homemade soy milk from your other recipe and wonder if I simmered it too long as only ended up with 400ml but took a while to come to temperature, as a result the yoghurt tastes quite strong like tofu. Is it because it was more concentrated milk?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Kerry! I'm so sorry! Maybe it is because it was more concentrated milk 🙁
Joshua Bray says
Hey, why do we have to heat it with the agar agar?
Could you just go straigh to 50c or it is to dissolve the agar?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Joshua! That's it, it is important to dissolve the agar agar 🙂
Sienna Noon says
Hi there! I really want to try this recipe but I only have soy milk with additives, will it still work?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Sienna! I haven't tried it myself but I think it would work 🙂
Christine Roth says
I just made my first soymilk yogurt (not using your recipe... but will next time!) The dorexctions with the maker were what we followed. Took 4 oz of soymilk and mixed with 2.4 oz of store bought soy yogurt and whisked. We then added it to 32 oz soymilk and stirred it, then put all of it (cold) in our new yogurt maker cups (that we sealed with their tops) turned it on and it sat for 10 hours and sadly most of it didn't set at all. The ones that did set are fizzy. Do you have any thoughts of what went wrong?
Christine Roth says
Sorry for the typo --- directions, not dorexctions 😉
Iosune Robles says
Hi Christine! Don't know what went wrong, sorry! I suggest you try our recipe 🙂
Nancy says
Xanthan Gum clumps up. Do you mix with oil , as recommended on Xanthan Gum directions, to prevent clumping?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Nancy! I haven't tried it myself!
Amy says
Hi Iosune I made the yoghurt last night and was pleasantly surprised that it had set when I woke up but, it resembles more of a pannacotta texture rather than creamy yoghurt texture. Is that normal? Is there anyway of making it more creamy as I popped it in the blender and now it's more of a yoghurt drink 🙈
Thank you x
Iosune Robles says
Hi! You can see what the texture is by taking a look at photos 4 and 8! For a more creamy yogurt, you can try to add more soy milk 🙂
Lauren says
Should I warm up my store bought starter yogurt before adding it to my warmed Soy Milk, or add it to the warmed Soy Milk cold?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Lauren! It is not necessary to warm it up 🙂
Stephen says
iosune! Have you used any homemade soy milk? I've been using the Westsoy plain soy milk with great results, but it costs about $3.49 for a box. I make my own soy milk to use for making tofu and vegan cheeses. I tried using it for yogurt and it was a failure. About half the Instant Pot was filled with whey. Let me know if you've had good luck using your own homemade soy milk. Thanks so much.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Stephen! We used store-bought soy milk, I'm so sorry 🙂
kimberly says
Hey Stephen, I also bought that soy milk but it was the UHT type and it didn't set up--stayed watery, so I'm wondering if yours was also UHT and if that is affecting it.
Stacey says
Great recipe! How do you store your starter yogurt for the next batch and how long will it keep? Thanks in advance!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Stacey! It's better to store the starter yogurt in the refrigerator and I'm not sure how long it will keep, sorry!
Clive says
Hi Stacey,
I've been making yoghurt for a few years now. I place it in my van throughout the day in summer as I have no oven. Over the colder months when I can't make yoghurt I store the starter in the freezer (you only need a small jar of it). The longer you use the same starter, the thicker the yoghurt.
Rose says
Wow this thread has been going for years
Congrats
Iosune Robles says
Thanks for your kind comment 🙂 Have a nice day!
Jackie says
Hi, Can I use almond yogurt as a starter for soy yogurt?
Iosune Robles says
Hi Jackie! I haven't tried it myself but I think it would work 🙂