Quick and Easy Greek Yogurt
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Several of my friends have recently become big fans of Greek yogurt, and at their urging, I tried it. I was very pleased with the thicker consistency over regular yogurt, but found it to be too bitter and tart for my liking, and more expensive than regular yogurt. When I mentioned my disappointment to a Greek friend of mine, he told me I was wasting my time with store-bought Greek yogurt, and could make my own. He assured me that homemade would be easy, cheaper, and taste much better. Oh, he was so right!
Making Greek yogurt yourself at home is about as simple as any recipe gets.
Start with a giant tub (32oz or so) of full-fat, plain yogurt. (You can use low-fat, but the results won't be as creamy or tasty). Then get a large piece of fine cheesecloth (or better yet, use super-fine, rewashable, butter muslin like I do) a tall glass jar or bowl, and a large rubber band.
If you're using regular cheesecloth, fold it in half to make two layers (for butter muslin, one layer is just fine). Place it loosely over the jar or bowl, and secure in place with a rubber band.
Then dump the yogurt in. (By the way, you're almost done already. Isn't this such an easy way to make your own Greek yogurt at home?)
You'll see that the liquid starts to drain almost immediately through the cheesecloth. The liquid should be semi-transparent and have a yellow-green tint to it. If it's milky white, then your cheesecloth isn't fine enough and your yogurt solids are leaking through, so start over and double up the cheesecloth again.
Put the whole thing (loosely covered) into the refrigerator. Let it sit anywhere from 6-12 hours to drain, depending on the weave of your cheesecloth and the consistency you want to achieve.
You will notice after the first few hours that there is a significant amount liquid in the bottom of the bowl. If the bottom of the cheesecloth is touching the liquid, you'll need to pour the liquid out so that the yogurt can continue to drain properly.
When the waiting is over, the yogurt is done. Discard any remaining liquid in the bottom and scoop the drained yogurt out of the cheesecloth and into a clean container. You'll end up with about half as much as you started with. Just look how wonderfully thick and rich it is, and not bitter at all!
My favorite way to eat Greek yogurt is sprinkled with Bear Naked brand granola and drizzled with honey. Yum!
12 comments so far:
Yum!! I've heard of this being called yogurt cheese but didn't realize it was also called Greek Yogurt. It sound delicious. Will have to give it a try!
Another name it commonly goes by is labneh. Fun stuff.
That looks delicious, and so simple! And I LOVE tzatziki, but it's so expensive! Going to your tzatziki recipe next :oD THANKS!
GioDrakes, let us know how you like it!
HEY! Thanks for the idea. My fiancee loves Greek Yogurt and spends a fortune on it. I will put this to the test and see if she will tell the difference.
Thanks for the recipe!
Robert, I keep trying all the new Greek yogurts on the market these days, and nothing compares to the super thick texture and non-bitterness of straining it myself. Hope you and your fiancee enjoy it, too!
how can you know how much protein is in it after you make it?
Amy, I did an online search and found this discussion, where it says that every 4 ounces of whey you drain away contains 7g carbs, 30 calories, 1g protein, and 130mg calcium. Hope that helps!
Is there anything you can do with the whey rather than just throwing it away? Any kind of recipe you can use it in? I'm just thinking of how to avoid losing all those great probiotics :)
Christy, I think I read somewhere that whey is good to use for watering veggies in the garden, but I'm not sure if that's true or not.
I put a tablespoon or so of watered-down table scraps in my dog's food every night. It really makes him hungry for his regular nutritious, but boring, kibble. I often add a tablespoon of yogurt, which he loves, so I think adding the whey would be a good thing.
Save even more by making your own yogurt. http://carlsonmun.blogspot.com/
After making Greek yogurt I use the whey as a sport drink, it's filled with protein and useful to rebuild muscle tissue after a hard workout. Yes you can add a sweetener.
Also the lactose in the milk has been converted by the yogurt bacteria, so lactose intolerant people can drink whey with out problems.