Homemade Yogurt Recipe | How To Make Healthy Yogurt At Home

A bowl of creamy homemade yogurt in the refrigerator represents a world of health. Yogurt, also spelled as yoghurt is known as dahi in Hindi and thayir in Tamil, is a traditional fermented food made from milk. It is a superfood in its own right because of its gut friendly qualities. And now you can make it at home with ease by following our simple yogurt recipe for perfect results every time. Your bowl of delicious yogurt is just a step away once you've mastered the simple art of making yogurt at home.

Or Yummefy the yogurt by turning it into a dip or raita – like our delicious pomegranate raita  – or add it to vegetable preparations or curries for a tang. Another options is to add it as a cooling element to a spicy papdi chaat - the possibilities are endless!
 

▲ Spoon out set yogurt  into individual bowls and and savour it

Benefits of Homemade Yogurt

Besides carrying a lot of beneficial bacteria for the gut, yogurt is also rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin and Vitamin B12.

Our yogurt recipe at home turns out yogurt than store-bought dahi as you have complete control over the quality. More importantly, homemade yogurt has live cultures in it and is a living food, highly beneficial for the gut. Also, there are no stabilizers or thickeners added to homemade yogurt, and you can make any amount anytime in just a few hours with minimal effort or work.
 

▲ Pour milk into a saucepan over medium heat

Where does the word yogurt originate?

The word yogurt has its origins in the Turkish word 'yoğurmak', signifying to thicken, or curdle. In the early days, nomads would carry milk in bags or pouches crafted from animal skin and it would turn into yogurt due to the natural enzymes in the bags.
 

▲ Bring milk to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer
 

Dietary restrictions: Those who are lactose intolerant are sometimes prescribed yogurt as it has a lower concentration of lactose than other dairy products. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor before consuming yogurt if you are lactose intolerant.

What are the main ingredients of yogurt?

The ingredients you need to make yogurt at home are full-cream milk, or whole milk and a bit of yogurt from the previous day, also known as jaag or jaman. That’s all a layperson needs to know. However, technically the yogurt making process involves heating milk and combining it with a starter or bacteria such as Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. Then keeping it in a warm place for a few hours till the yogurt is set. The naturally occurring bacteria convert the milk sugars or lactose into lactic acids which causes the milk to become thick.
 

▲ Simmer the milk for 15 minutes then allow it to cool till lukewarm
 

Or see all our Vegetarian Recipes here!

How can I make yogurt at home?

This is the best yogurt recipe and is ridiculously easy. To make the yogurt at home you need to first heat the milk and bring it to a rolling boil and then reduce heat and simmer for about five minutes. Then take it off the heat and let cool till it is warm to touch. Do not allow it to cool down completely. The previous day’s yogurt (jaag or jaman) is stirred in and the milk is transferred to a bowl in which you want the yogurt to set. The bowl is covered and set aside to set in. warm place. That’s it – your yogurt will be ready in a few hours or overnight (depending on the ambient temperature where you live). Remember to refrigerate the yogurt once it is set as it will turn sour if you leave it out too long. Follow this simple yogurt recipe for the best yogurt every day.
 

▲ Add 2 teaspoons of leftover yogurt into lukewarm milk and stir well

Which kind of milk is more suited to make yogurt?

In India, yogurt or curd as it commonly known as, is usually made using milk from a cow or a buffalo. Goat milk yogurt is also made in some areas of the country but is less common. Chef’s tip: Full cream milk (whole milk) yields a thick and creamy curd and that’s what I use to always make it. However, if you prefer you can make it with toned (skimmed) or double-toned low fat milk too.
 

▲ Pour milk mixed with leftover dahi into the bowl in which you want the yogurt to set

What can I do with homemade yogurt?

Homemade yogurt is a bowl which keeps giving. Apart from using it to make more yogurt, you can leave it overnight on the counter so that it turns sour in order to make the best besan ki kadhi. Or toss it with some simple ingredients to make bhindi ka raita, eggplant raita, drumstick raita, or a raita which you love the most. Dahi is especially helpful in giving curries and vegetable preparations a lovely sour tang when you run out of tomatoes. Make a creamy hung curd dip for your chips and courgettes or spread it in the layers of your sandwiches. And of course no dahi vada, palak chaat, dahi batata puri, or papdi chaat is complete without yogurt.
 

▲ Cover and set aside for 5 hours to overnight in a warm place till set. Refrigerate immediate after it has set.
 

A good way to make homemade yogurt a part of the daily diet of your children is by adding seasonal fruit to it and making a smoothie or a lassi like a banana smoothie or our easy mango lassi.

How do you make yogurt without a yogurt starter?

There will come a day when you come home after travelling or for some other reason find that you have run out of the yogurt starter (leftover yogurt). Fret not, as you can still make yogurt without a starter using these multiple tips and tricks:
 

▲ Serve the dahi in the bowl it was set. It is chilled and ready to eat.
 

1. Stems of green chillies are placed in lukewarm milk and left covered and undisturbed for 10-12 hours. So to do this, use the stems and stem caps (the little part at the base of the stem attached to the chillies) from 2 green chillies. Place these in ¼ cup of lukewarm milk, cover and set aside for 10 to 12 hours. Once this has set, use this as the starter (2 teaspoons) and follow our yogurt recipe below to make your homemade yogurt. You might have a slight chilli flavour the first time you make this, but use the newly made yogurt to make your next batch of yogurt and the chilli taste disappears.
    
2. Place ½ teaspoon of freshly made paneer (Indian cottage cheese) in ¼ cup of lukewarm milk. Cover and set aside overnight. The next day, this prepared starter can be used for making yogurt.
    
3. Buy a small cup of plain yogurt from any super market and use 2 teaspoons full as your jaman or yogurt starter. Though this does not always work unless the store bought yogurt has live cultures in it.

How can I make yogurt that sets properly during the winter?

Winter or in cooler climes is where it gets just a little cumbersome to make yogurt. But with our easy tips and tricks you can make the best yogurt, no matter what the temperature is. You can turn on the oven lamp and leave the dahi to set in the oven overnight. The warmth from the lamp will help the dahi set. Alternatively, you could preheat the oven for five minutes and turn it off. Keep the vessel with the milk mixed with the starter to set overnight. Or if you don’t have an oven, cover the bowl and swaddle it with a few layers of cloth, and set it in the warmest area of your house. You will have perfect yogurt the next day.
 

▲ Enjoy your homemade yogurt plain or use it for smoothies, lassis, and many other Yummefy recipes

Serving suggestions for yogurt

Serve homemade dahi chilled on its own or make a raita out of it using cucumber or boondi. We even love a simple onion-tomato-cucumber-mint raita. Serve dahi at breakfast topped with our granola or other fruits, seeds, and nuts, or with meals as you please.

Learn how to make yogurt at home Indian style by looking at our step by step photos or following the detailed video recipe above. Find the easiest way to make yogurt, its simple ingredients, and top tricks to make it right here on this page.