Homemade vegan coconut yogurt is easy and fun to make at home. You will be surprised at how simple it is to make with just four ingredients.
Store bought coconut yogurts can be very expensive. Impress your friends and family by whipping up your own delicious pro-biotic coconut yogurt.
How is coconut yogurt made
Coconut yogurt is made in a similiar way to cow's milk yogurt, just a couple of different ingredients added.
Cow's milk yogurt relies on bacteria to thicken the yogurt, give it a tangy flavour and add beneficial pro-biotics. As coconut milk has a completely different structure, we have to use other methods to turn it into thick creamy tangy yogurt.
Pro-biotic powder; we add this for the fermentation process, health benefits and tangy flavour.
Agar agar or tapioca starch; we add for the thickener
What pro-biotics to use
I use a good quality vegan pro-biotic, check out this link as an example. Just make sure it is a vegan friendly pro-biotic you purchase.
All you need is one capsule per recipes
Why add sweetener to coconut yogurt
I add a very small dash of coconut nectar or maple, just as some food for the fermentation process.
The best way to thicken coconut yogurt
I find best results are from agar-agar. You may also like to try tapioca starch which most store bought coconut yogurts use.
Both thickeners are easy to work with and produce good results. A nice thick and creamy coconut yogurt.
Agar-agar and tapioca starch are both inexpensive, readily available ingredients to source.
Vegan coconut yogurt ingredients
- Coconut milk
- Agar agar
- Vegan pro-biotic powder
- Psyllium (optional)
- Sweetener - I use coconut nectar
What equipment you will need
- Glass jar with lid for culturing and storing the yogurt.
- Weighing scales or measuring cups
- Small saucepan
- Whisk
- Spatula
Health benefits
Coconut yogurt is full of beneficial pro-biotics. Adding this recipe to your menus and consuming in moderation on a regular basis will help support your gut health and digestion.
Its a win-win situation. You get a great tasting delicious creamy coconut yogurt that is also great for your health and you save money!
Pro-biotics
Pro means 'For', Biotic means 'Life' Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for you, especially your digestive system. We usually think of these as germs that cause diseases. But your body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called "good" or "helpful" bacteria because they help keep your gut stay healthy.
Gut health
'All dis-ease begins in the gut' Hippocrates, the father of medicine stated this 2000 years ago. This statement is as true now as it was back then. ⅔ of our immune system lies within our gut. Anything we can do to populate our gut with pro-biotics (good bacteria) will contribute to good health and well being.
Psyllium husk
Psyllium is a form of fiber made from the husks of the Plantago ovata plant’s seeds.
It’s most commonly known as a laxative. However, research shows that taking psyllium is beneficial to many parts of the human body, including the heart and the pancreas.
Ok, lets get to it. Here is my recipe for coconut yogurt. I hope you enjoy it. Please share it with your friends and family. Lets me know how your yogurt works out.
📋 Recipe
Vegan Coconut Yogurt
Equipment
- Weighing scales
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Saucepan - medium size
- Glass jars
Ingredients
- 500 ml Coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon Agar-agar
- 10 ml Coconut syrup
- 5 g Pro-biotic powder
- 5 g Psyllium husk Optional
- 50 ml Coconut yogurt Optional
Instructions
- Assemble and weigh out all ingredients.
- Measure the coconut milk into saucepan.
- Add the agar-agar and whisk well.
- Whisk to the boil on a gentle simmer and cook our for 3-4 minutes.
- Allow to cool for 30 minutes, whisk every 10 minutes to make sure for even cooling and the agar-agar does not set up.
- When cooled to room temperature, add the coconut yogurt, pro-biotic powder, psyllium husk and coconut yogurt if using.
- Whisk well to incorporate the pro-biotics.
- Pour into clean glass jar, cover and leave at room temperature for 24 hours to ferment.
- Transfer to the fridge before using.
Nutrition
Coconut Yogurt Trouble Shooting
If your yogurt develops pink or grey discoloration on it's surface, that means it has been contaminated with bad bacteria. Do not eat!
When making any fermented recipe it is important to use very clean equipment and do not contaminate with dirty spoons or foreign objects! Always trust your nose, we have a powerful sense of smell. If something seems overly pungent it is best to throw away.
Remember fermentation is finding that sweet spot between raw ingredients and rotten ingredients!
How to make extra-thick coconut yogurt
- Add 2 tablespoon of coconut yogurt into a bowl and whisk in 1 tablespoon of psyllium husk. Pour back into the jar and stir together well.
- Stir 2 tablespoons of chia seeds into the jar of fermented coconut yogurt. Chill for at least 2 hours until thickened.
- Transfer the yogurt to a strainer lined with cheesecloth and set over a bowl in the fridge. Allow to strain overnight.
Share this recipe
Please feel free to share this recipe with someone you know will like and appreciate it.
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BREDA
Super. Thank you.I will try this.
Florencia
I wanted to add vanilla flavor, should I add it after it’s past the cultivation period?
Jamie Raftery
Hi Florencia. I would add the vanilla after the cultivation stage. You can stir in the vanilla after the coconut yogurt had some time to chill and set in the fridge. Let me know how it turns out 🙂