Coconut Yogurt Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is coconut yogurt actually healthy? ›

Coconut yogurts that are fortified will provide many of the same micronutrients as dairy yogurt. A cup of fortified coconut yogurt has 416mg of calcium, the same amount you would find in dairy yogurt. 3 There's also some potassium, zinc, selenium, and B-vitamins.

During fermentation, the starter cultures use sugars in coconut milk, produce acids and decrease the pH of milk below 4.6. The coconut milk will be thickened to form a yogurt-like texture. The cultures will also produce yogurt characteristic flavors and polysaccharides, which stabilize the texture of coconut yogurt.

Making extra-thick coconut yogurt:

→ Stir 3 tablespoons of chia seeds into the jar of fermented yogurt. Chill for 4 hours until thickened.

Coconut yogurt provides one's immune system with a much-needed boost to protect against viruses since it contains lauric acid, which is valued for its antimicrobial/antiviral properties. 2. It lowers inflammation. Coconut is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which can reduce pain and swelling in the body.

Greek yoghurt is far better across the board (although taste is subjective though). Greek yoghurt can contribute to optimized protein levels and better bone health outcomes. Coconut yogurt can contribute to a lighter wallet and no discernable nutrition gains.

You can keep coconut yoghurt (and kefir) in the fridge at or below 4 degrees, for up to 4 weeks unopened. How long does it last after opening? Once opened it's best eaten within 7 days. You'll notice it gets slightly thicker and more tart over time.

With minimal protein or calcium, and significantly more fat than dairy-based yoghurt, coconut yoghurt is very different nutritionally to regular yoghurt. It should be considered more of a "dessert" and eaten in moderation rather than considered an everyday food.

Coconut yogurt is packed with many of the same probiotics found in regular yogurt—including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus—but it comes from the coconut fruit.

Too runny — make sure that after the 48 hour mark of letting your yogurt ferment at room temperature, you stir it and place it in the fridge to chill and thicken. Another option for creating thicker yogurt is to just use the coconut “cream” portion in your can and discard the liquid.

Plain yogurt

Whether homemade or from the store, yogurt itself makes a great yogurt starter. If you're using store-bought yogurt, check the label to make sure it contains live, active cultures—and doesn't have any additives like sweeteners, flavours or thickeners.

Why is my homemade coconut yogurt grainy? ›

It depends on the brand of coconut milk you are using due to the fat content, as well as the potency of the probiotics. Sometimes the yogurt can come out grainy/gritty – this can happen if you use a commercial yogurt with additives for your starter instead of probiotics.

During the fermentation process of yogurt, the sourness develops primarily due to the activity of lactic acid bacteria, particularly strains such as Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.

Pasteurized milk is an excellent choice for making yogurt at home. HTST (High-Temperature Short Time) or Flash Pasteurized milk is heated to 161ºF and held there for 15 seconds. If your bottle of milk is labeled “pasteurized,” it has most likely been treated in this way.

Coconut yogurt simply will not thicken up like dairy yogurt, so you need to add a thickener. Some recipes call for tapioca starch or even pectin – especially if they are developed by vegans who eat no animal products, but I like using gelatin for the additional health benefits.

In other words, per bite, almond milk yogurt packs a nutritional punch compared to the other choices, even though it doesn't have as much calcium and protein as dairy options. Coconut milk-based yogurt was found to be the least nutrient-dense among the yogurts evaluated.

According to the NOVA food processing classification, adding supplements turns a wholly unprocessed food, including a dairy-based yogurt, into a “processed” food. Adding those gums and starches to make those plant-based yogurts palatable makes plant-based yogurts much closer to the “ultra-processed foods.”

While any type of yogurt can fit in a healthy diet, Greek yogurt and skyr (Icelandic yogurt) are the healthiest choices because they tend to be lower in sugar and higher in protein, says registered dietitian Jamie Nadeau.

Coconut yogurt is usually made from fermented coconut milk. This food is essentially a plant-based yogurt that's usually made without animal milk. This makes it ideal for people following vegan or paleo diets or people who are intolerant of other plant-based products, like soy.