Like to make Thick & Creamy Yogurt at Home? Here’s the secret

If you like yogurt, you may already be aware of its many health benefits. While there are so many benefits to adding this pure goodness of cultured food, one that stands out is its powerful probiotics.  Probiotics are the foundation for a healthy digestive system which then aids the body in many healthful ways. 

Yogurt is a rich source of essential minerals like Zinc (for cell growth and repair), Calcium (for healthy bones), Phosphorus (works with Calcium to enhance bone strength and growth) and Potassium (for proper functioning of muscles). It is also a great source of multiple B vitamins like Riboflavin or Vitamin B2, B8, B1 and B5, and also a rich source of Thiamin and Foliate. 

The science behind it is simple, it’s made by fermentation of milk using bacteria (commonly known as ‘yogurt cultures’ or ‘live cultures’). They ferment a natural sugar found in milk, called lactose and produce lactic acid. It thickens milk proteins and gives a unique flavor and texture to yogurt, making it most people’s favorite. 

When you try making yogurt at home, most face issues like yogurt being watery or runny and the taste is not even close to that of store-bought yogurt, which is probably the reason many prefer to buy it from a store instead of making it at home. Store-bought yogurt is not that healthy as it contains unhealthy sugars, artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors and thickeners, like gelatin (glue made from animal bones), pectin (a bio-polymer acid, lab-made ingredient) and powdered milk and is also heat processed to increase shelf life, which may destroy live bacterial cultures. Thus, almost all the good stuff is processed out. 

I would highly recommend you make it at home for the sake of your health. In fact, it’s not that difficult if you know a little secret – the pot plays a great role in making yogurt. You need a breathable (semi-porous) pot which lets out excess water, leaving your yogurt thick, creamy and delicious without the need for straining. The problem with conventional metal/ceramic pots is there is no way to remove excess water except straining. 

Unglazed pure clay pots are naturally porous which makes them perfect yogurt makers. Here’s a simple 3-step recipe for making yogurt at home using pure-clay pot. Enjoy!