Easy Arabic Yogurt

Submitted by Leahs Kitchen

"It is unknown where exactly yogurt originated though it is thought that the Arabs, Turks, or Persians are responsible. You can make your own yogurt at home with only milk and a bit of yogurt. Very easy, no yogurt maker required. I have been making it for a few years and know that anyone can make this. It makes great yogurt especially if you use whole milk; very creamy and thick. You can use nonfat milk but it is a little thin and the consistency isn't that great compared to with more fat. It is best to go with 2% or whole. I also use organic milk, I find the flavor to be more full and sweet.I found it in an Arabic cookbook. Here is a step by step tutorial I have made including photos: http://xeniahome.blogspot.com/2010/03/homemade-yogurt-middle-eastern-way.html"

 

• Ready In: 11hrs 15mins
• Ingredients: 2
• Yields: 64 ounces
• Serves: 6-8

ingredients

• 1⁄2 gallon milk
• 6 ounces yogurt (with "live cultures")

directions

1. Heat 1/2 gal. of milk in a large pot over medium high heat stirring all the while so that it doesn't burn.
2. Bring to a boil and immediately remove from heat.
3. Set aside to cool for about an hour or until warm to the touch but NOT hot. (about 110F ).
4. Then add 6 oz yogurt to the milk and stir well.
5. Pour warm milk mixture into a large ceramic or stoneware bowl (something that will hold in the heat). Cover bowl opening with plastic wrap.
6. Wrap a big blanket around the bowl and place it aside to set overnight or for 10-12 hours.
7. In the morning you will have yogurt. *note it will seem slightly more runny than the store bought yogurt at first but it thickens up after it has been refrigerated. Enjoy!

Reviews

[littlemafia]

I've been making the same recipe since I visited Iran. I'm using regular yogurt, and organic milk that makes a very creamy and thick one. I have a trick, I know that I can add the yogurt when I can hold my finger till a count to 10 in the hot milk.Works every time. For one liter of milk I add 1-2 T yogurt. If using more yogurt, it will turn sour. I wrap the container in blankets and keep it in a warm place until morning.

 

[januarybride]

AWESOME!!! I have tried to make yogurt about 4 times before and it always comes out running and not good. This is the exception. . .it is fabulous!!! I reduced the recipe by half and used 4 cups of whole milk and 1/8 cup of organic greek nonfat yogurt. My girlfriend said that her relatives in Pakistan all add sweetened condensed milk at the time you add the yogurt for creaminess and sweetness; so I added about 1/4 cup (remember I halved the recipe) of fat free sweetened condensed milk. This was SO good. So creamy, just a touch of sweetness and perfect. It didn't have that sharp yogurt flavor associated with plain yogurt either!!! Thanks for a keeper!!!

 

[UmmBinat]

I'm not going to star this because something went wrong. I think it was because leaving it off the stove 1 hour got it too cool. As I touched it 1 hour later and it was pretty cool I will try Little Mafia's technique next time holding my finger in for the count of 10. It may also have been because I didn't use enough starter. Will try again. Made for Ramadan Tag 2010.

 

[sjkotylak]

This was so neat! I wanted to make it and couldn't figure out a bowl to make it in until Mami J suggested the crockpot insert! And I used littlemafia's finger trick for the temperature... I just used plain yogurt as it's what I had on hand and ate it with granola and blackberries! Made for ZWT #6!

 

[Mami J]

This recipe was very easy to follow, and it yielded a very nice yogurt. I made it in the ceramic insert of my crockpot. I have about two cups set aside for draining. Thank you for sharing! Made for Swizzle Chicks and ZWT 6.