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If you like vegan yogurt but don’t want to spend your money on expensive store-bought plant-based yogurts, I have the perfect solution for you. This vegan coconut milk yogurt is incredibly easy to make. And it’s super delicious and very cheap!
Why this recipe works
I’ve made this coconut yogurt so many times and it’s always a hit! Please note that a Instant Pot with yoghurt function to make this recipe.
The recipe is very simple, inexpensive and requires only minimal active hands-on preparation time.
Just remember that while you don’t have to make much, yogurt does take a while to get ready to eat. In total, you need 2 full days. First 24 hours in the Instant Pot and then at least another 24 hours in the refrigerator.
I’ve had trouble finding a vegan yogurt starter in Canada. They all contained skimmed milk powder. I know vegan yogurt appetizers exist, but they’re not easy to find. So I looked for a simpler version that everyone could make.
I ended up using probiotic capsules for my vegan coconut yogurt, which worked really well. Using probiotics can also be much cheaper than using a vegan yogurt starter.
The canned coconut milk makes the yogurt super creamy while the agar agar makes sure it sets well.
What goes into this recipe
Best of all, you only need three ingredients for this recipe:
- Coconut milk – use whole coconut milk. Do not substitute light coconut milk as the yogurt will become too thin when using a light version.
- Vegan probiotic capsules – should have a total of 50 billion active cells. You can check your local drug store or pharmacy for vegan probiotic capsules or order your own on line.
- Jelly – is a vegetarian substitute for gelatin. For this recipe you need agar agar powder. It is also available as flakes.
How to make this recipe
1. Pass: Pour two cans of full-fat canned coconut milk into your Instant Pot. Make sure you’re using an Instant Pot with a yogurt function. I used the Instant Pot Duo 6 Quart for my coconut yogurt.
2. Pass: Carefully open a vegan probiotic capsule and pour its contents into the Instant Pot. You should have a total of 50 billion active cells. If you have probiotic capsules with less active cells, just use several capsules to reach 50 billion. Add only the contents of the capsule to the coconut milk, not the entire capsule. Add the agar agar at this point.
3. Pass: Mix with a whisk or spoon until well combined.
4. Pass: Press the “Yogurt” button on your Instant Pot and set it to 24 hours using the “+” and “-” buttons. So let the Instant Pot do its thing.
5. Pass: After 24 hours open the Instant Pot. Please note that the yogurt will still be quite thin and runny. Don’t worry, it’s normal. It will become noticeably thicker when chilled for at least another 24 hours in the refrigerator.
6. Pass: After opening the lid, transfer the coconut yoghurt into small glass jars or plastic containers.
7. Pass: Keep them in the fridge for at least 24 hours. The longer you keep the yogurt, the thicker it will become.
8. Pass: Serve coconut yogurt with fresh berries or granola.
Notes on the recipe:
- Make sure you follow the recipe. I hate that you wait all this time and then you don’t get a satisfactory result.
- An Instant Pot with a yogurt function is required for this recipe. I used Instant Pot Duo 6 Quart. It won’t work without the yogurt program.
- You need a total of 50 billion active cells for this homemade vegan yogurt. You can also use the contents of several capsules. Just make sure you have a total of 50 billion.
- Agar-agar powder it serves as a thickener for this vegan yogurt. I usually use 1 teaspoon of agar agar powder. You could replace it with 1 tablespoon of agar agar flakes.
- Sometimes yogurt separates a bit when stored in the refrigerator, so mix it up with a spoon before eating.
Frequent questions:
Where can I find vegan probiotics?
Many pharmacies sell vegan probiotics. However, not all probiotic capsules you find at the drugstore are vegan. The cultures used for these priobiotics are usually grown on dairy products.
When looking for a vegan probiotic, be sure to choose a brand labeled “vegan” and not just “non-dairy.” “Non-dairy” just means that this product does not contain dairy. It doesn’t tell you much about the manufacturing process of these probiotic capsules. It could still involve dairy products.
Here is a useful list of vegan probiotic capsules. You could also order them on line.
Where can I find agar agar?
I usually buy it online at Amazon or our local Asian market where it’s really cheap. I’ve also seen it in a health food store, but it’s much more expensive there.
You may also want to check out the baking aisle at your local grocery store.
How long does yogurt last?
Stored in airtight containers or individual glass jars in the refrigerator, vegan yogurt will keep for up to 10 days.
My yogurt has the smell and aftertaste of past meals. What can I do?
Be sure to clean the inner pot of your Instant Pot with hot water before making the yogurt. I usually only cook savory meals and the leftover flavors transfer easily.
When I made my first Instant Pot yogurt, it smelled and tasted like curry so much I had to throw it away. So frustrating!
I now have a separate grommet that I use for sweet and yogurt recipes. If you make a lot of savory recipes in your Instant Pot, I suggest you do the same.
Related Recipes:
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I hope you enjoy this vegan yogurt as much as we do around here.
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Theirs
Vegan yogurt
If you like vegan yogurt but don’t want to spend your money on store-bought yogurt, I have the perfect solution for you. This vegan coconut milk yogurt is incredibly easy to make. And it’s super delicious and very cheap!
Press Pin Evaluate
Portions: 4 portions
Calories: 376kcal
Instructions
-
Pour two cans of full-fat canned coconut milk into your Instant Pot. Make sure you’re using an Instant Pot with a yogurt function. I used the Instant Pot Duo 6 Quart for my coconut yogurt.
-
Carefully open a vegan probiotic capsule and pour its contents into the Instant Pot. You should have a total of 50 billion active cells. If you have probiotic capsules with less active cells, just use several capsules to reach 50 billion. Add only the contents of the capsule to the coconut milk, not the entire capsule. Add the agar agar at this point.
-
Mix with a whisk or spoon until well combined.
-
Press the “Yogurt” button on your Instant Pot and set it to 24 hours using the “+” and “-” buttons. So let the Instant Pot do its thing.
-
After 24 hours open the Instant Pot. Please note that the yogurt will still be quite thin and runny. Don’t worry, it’s normal. It will become noticeably thicker when chilled for at least another 24 hours in the refrigerator.
-
After opening the lid, transfer the coconut yogurt into small glass jars or plastic containers.
-
Keep them in the fridge for at least 24 hours. The longer you keep the yogurt, the thicker it will become.
-
Serve coconut yogurt with fresh berries or granola.
Notes
- Make sure you follow the recipe. I hate that you wait all this time and then you don’t get a satisfactory result.
- An Instant Pot with a yogurt function is required for this recipe. I used Instant Pot Duo 6 Quart. It won’t work without the yogurt program.
- You need a total of 50 billion active cells for this homemade vegan yogurt. You can also use the contents of several capsules. Just make sure you have a total of 50 billion.
- Agar-agar powder it serves as a thickener for this vegan yogurt. I usually use 1 teaspoon of agar agar powder. You could replace it with 1 tablespoon of agar agar flakes.
- Sometimes yogurt separates a bit when stored in the refrigerator, so mix it up with a spoon before eating.
Nutrition
Calories: 376kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 40g | Saturated fats: 36g | Sodium: 24mg | Potassium: 420mg | C vitamin: 1.9mg | Soccer: 34mg | Iron: 6.3mg
