If you are living in India, especially in the southern region of our country, then your day probably doesn’t quite seem complete until you have eaten yogurt!
It is not just an important component of your meal but is equally good for your health. Milk yogurt has several health benefits that will help you live a healthier life if you make it a part of your daily diet! The good thing about this is that you don’t have to spend a whole lot of money buying it. Yes, yogurt is easily available in stores at affordable prices. However, you could still save on that money and prepare milk yogurt at home. Believe me, it is easy to prepare and doesn’t even require too much of effort!
The ingredients required to prepare milk yogurt are enlisted below:
Here are the steps you need to follow to make fresh and edible milk yogurt at home.
1. You will begin your preparation by heating the milk. Get hold of two large pots and fit one inside the other. This will help you make a double boiler, which actually prevents the milk from getting burnt. Remember to stir a couple of times. Feel free to use any kind of milk you prefer.
2. Once the milk has been heated, you will have to cool it down to 43 degree Celsius. This will help in lowering the temperature. In case you are using the fridge to cool it down, please remember to stir it a few times again.
3. Next, you will need to warm the starter. When we use the term starter we are basically speaking about the bacteria which are required to prepare the milk.
4. Next, you will have to add half a cup of non fat dry milk that will help in increasing the natural content of the yogurt. This will make the yogurt thick.
5. Now, add the starter to the milk. You could add the yogurt that is already there or the bacteria that has been dried.
6. It’s time to pour all the milk into a container. You will have to cover it well in a plastic wrap.
7. Now, you will have to keep the bacteria warm so that it incubates. The temperature has to be close to a 100 degrees F. The more you will encourage the growth of bacteria, the better the flavour and taste of the bacteria will be.
8. Take the thermometer to make sure that the temperature is the same throughout. Next you have to place it under the sun. A fine place would be your window sill where the rays of the sun will be able to reach the yogurt.
9. Now, you will have to use the yogurt maker. Place the containers of milk that has been cooled along with the starter inside the yogurt maker. Make sure that there is enough space between each of them.
10. Now, supply a good plastic over in the heat. This will help in maintaining the temperature inside the containers and encourage growth in the bacteria.
11. Check and see whether the yogurt has become firm. Once you notice a consistency throughout the yogurt, you can easily remove all the containers.
12. Now, jiggle the containers gently. If the yogurt has been prepared, it will not show any movement. After this you have to place the containers inside the fridge. Wait for 12 hours before you can use it.
And your home made yogurt is ready! Savour it as it is or mix it with rice for some mouth-watering ‘curd-rice’ – the choice is yours!
Do you make yogurt at home? Do you follow the same steps? Tell about it in the comment section.