Until about a year ago I didn't eat yoghurt. I had a thing about sloppy food and yoghurt falls into that category. I'm still not a huge yoghurt eater but give me a tub of Greek yoghurt and I could happily down a liter in a sitting. Unfortunately, the good stuff is a little bit pricey at about $7 a liter so when I came across a recipe for Greek yoghurt over at Fig Jam and Lime Cordial my brain started doing the math. This recipe works out at about $1.30 a liter. What a bargain! I didn't have a yoghurt maker but found one in the supermarket for $22. I worked out that if I started making my own the maker would have payed for itself after only 4 batches. The simple saver in me was delighted!
There are just three ingredients in homemade Greek yoghurt. If you like it sweet, add a 4th ingredients to sweeten it after it's set. I use honey to sweeten mine.
To make your own Greek yoghurt, fill the Easi-yo container with milk to about ⅓ of the way. The milk needs to be at room temperature. I use long-life milk and open a new carton for each batch (Celia's recommendation).
Add the milk powder and yoghurt to the milk and give it a very good mix with a fork.
Top the container up with the rest of the milk.
Place the container in the yoghurt maker, fill with boiling water according to the instructions and put the lid on. Leave it for at least 8 hours but I would recommend not much longer than that or it gets a little too tangy.
When the yoghurt is set, transfer it to a container to keep in the fridge. This is the stage I add honey. I melt a heaped tablespoon of honey and stir it through the yoghurt then refrigerate it until it's cold.
Enjoy!
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 L 4 cups long-life full-fat milk, at room temperature
- 4 heaped tablespoons of full-cream milk powder
- 1 tablespoon of Greek yoghurt or leftover from your previous batch
Instructions
- Pour the milk into the yoghurt container to about ⅓ of the way. Spoon in the milk powder and yoghurt and give it a very good stir (I use a fork for this bit to make sure there are no lumps).
- Fill it up with the rest of the milk and place in the yoghurt maker then top the container with boiling water to the fill point. Leave it to set for about 9 hours.
- To sweeten the yoghurt, add 1tbsp melted honey to the finished yoghurt then refrigerate it until set.
- Reserve a tablespoon of your yoghurt to make the next batch.
Kim says
I'm thinking of buying one of these 'machines' as I spend $5-10 a week on yogurt!
What is the reason behind using milk and milk powder? Can I just put milk and yogurt into the machine? Will that still work?
Claire says
They're definitely worth it. I think the milk powder adds to the flavour. It might seem a little like 'watered down' yoghurt without it. You could give it a go and see?
molly kelly says
Hi Bub,
Looks good....maybe i will order a litre of your yoghurt to try?!
Mum x
Raquel.Erecipe says
I used to mix different fruit in my yogurt and I love it mixed with mango.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
That is quite a saving isn't it! I adore Greek yogurts. I don't seem to go for thin yogurts at all, it's thick and creamy all the way :) Celia has great recipes doesn't she!
Nic@diningwithastud says
Iv seen these yoghurt makers in Kmart and always wondered how they work. I cant believe its that easy??? Stud goes through yoghurt like water so I could totally get one of these and make it for him. Let me know when you experiment with flavouring :)
Celia says
Claire, thanks for trying this! Pete makes two litres a week, and we've been using the same culture for several years now. You can use the unsweetened yoghurt in a multitude of cake and muffin recipes too, and for brunch we often mix it with thick cream, and top it with a berry puree (made from frozen berries). Have fun! :)