Vegan yogurt – Vegan Heaven

Published: February 13, 2021 · Modified: February 13, 2021 for Theirs · This post may contain affiliate links · 22 comments

If you love vegan yogurt but don’t want to spend your money on expensive store-bought plant-based yogurt, I have the perfect solution for you. This vegan yogurt with coconut milk is incredibly easy to make. And it’s super delicious and very cheap!

Why this recipe works

I have been making this coconut yogurt so many times and it is always a hit! Note that you need an Instant Pot with a yogurt function to make this recipe.

The recipe is very easy, inexpensive and only requires a minimum of practical preparation time.

Just remember that while you don’t have to do much, yogurt takes quite a while to be ready to eat. In total, you need 2 full days. First 24 hours in the Instant Pot and then at least another 24 hours in the fridge.

I had trouble finding a vegan yogurt starter in Canada. All contained skimmed milk powder. I know vegan yogurt starters exist, but they’re not easy to find. So I looked for an easier version that everyone can do.

I ended up using probiotic capsules for my vegan coconut yogurt, which worked great. Using probiotics can also be much cheaper than using a vegan yogurt starter.

The canned coconut milk makes the yogurt super creamy, while the agar-agar ensures it sets well.

What is included in this recipe?

The best part is that you only need three ingredients for this recipe:

• Coconut milk – Use full fat coconut milk. Do not substitute light coconut milk, as the yogurt will be too thin when using a light version.
• Vegan probiotic capsules – they should have a total of 50 billion active cells. You can check out vegan probiotic capsules at your local drugstore or pharmacy or order them online.
• gelatin – is a vegetarian substitute for gelatin. You need agar-agar powder for this recipe. Also available as flakes.

How to make this recipe

1. Step: Pour two cans of full-fat canned coconut milk into your Instant Pot. Be sure to use an Instant Pot with a yogurt function. I used the Instant Pot Duo 6 Quart for my coconut yogurt.

2. Step: Carefully open a vegan probiotic capsule and pour the contents into the Instant Pot. You should have a total of 50 billion active cells. If you have probiotic capsules with fewer active cells, just use several capsules to reach 50 billion. Add only the contents of the capsule to the coconut milk, not the entire capsule. Also add the agar-agar at this point.

3. Step: Stir with a mixer or a spoon until well integrated.

4. Step: Press the “Yogurt” button on the Instant Pot and set it to 24 hours with the “+” and “-” buttons. Then let the Instant Pot do its thing.

5. Step: After 24 hours, open the Instant Pot. Note that the yogurt will still be quite thin and runny. Don’t worry, this is normal. It will thicken considerably when chilled for at least another 24 hours in the fridge.

6. Step: After opening the lid, transfer the coconut yogurt into glass jars or small plastic containers.

7. Step: Store them in the fridge for at least 24 hours. The longer you store the yogurt, the thicker it will be.

8. Step: Serve the coconut yogurt with fresh berries or granola.

Recipe notes:

• Make sure you follow the recipe. I hate that you wait all this time and then you don’t get a satisfactory result.
• You need an Instant Pot with a yogurt function for this recipe. I used the Instant Pot Duo 6 Quart. It won’t work without the yogurt program.
• You need a total of 50 billion active cells for this homemade vegan yogurt. You can also use the contents of several capsules. Just make sure you have a total of 50 billion.
• Agar-agar powder serves as a thickener for this vegan yogurt. I usually use 1 teaspoon of agar agar powder. You can replace it with 1 tablespoon of agar-agar flakes.
• Yogurt sometimes separates a little when it’s kept in the fridge, so stir it with a spoon before eating.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where can I find vegan probiotics?

Many pharmacies carry vegan probiotics. However, not all probiotic capsules you find at the pharmacy are vegan. The cultures used for these prebiotics are usually grown in dairy products.

When looking for a vegan probiotic, be sure to choose a brand that is labeled “vegan” and not just “non-dairy.” “Non-dairy” just means that this product does not contain any dairy. It doesn’t tell you much about the process of making these probiotic capsules. It could still involve dairy.

Here’s a handy list of vegan probiotic capsules. You can also order them online.

Where can I find agar agar?

I usually buy it online from Amazon or our local Asian market where it is very cheap. I’ve also seen it in health food stores, but it’s much more expensive there.

You may also want to check the baking aisle at your local grocery store.

How long does yogurt last?

Stored in airtight containers or individual glass jars in the refrigerator, vegan yogurt lasts up to 10 days.

My yogurt smells and tastes like previous meals. What can I do?

Be sure to clean the inner pot of your Instant Pot with hot water before making the yogurt. I usually only cook savory foods in it and the leftover flavors carry over easily.

When I made my first Instant Pot yogurt it smelled and tasted like curry so bad I had to throw it away. So frustrating!

Now I have a separate sealing ring that I use for sweet recipes and yogurt. If you make a lot of savory recipes in your Instant Pot, I suggest you do the same.

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I love hearing from you!

I hope you love this vegan yogurt as much as we do here.

If you try it, I’d love to hear what you think. Not more leave me a comment and a star rating down Your comments really make my day!

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