Someone, at some point in humanity’s ancient past, figured out that they could carry milk in pouches made from animal bladders and skins. In some areas with extremely hot climates, such as the deserts of the Middle East, the mixture of milk, heat, and bacteria causes a chemical process called fermentation to occur. The bacteria involved in this process turned milk into yogurt.
Today, blog articles frequently include yogurt in titles like “10 Superfoods to Boost a Healthy Diet,” thanks to yogurt’s high concentration of vitamins, calcium, and protein. Yogurt’s main health benefit is its probiotic content. The beneficial bacteria found in yogurt can support the gut microbiome in a variety of ways.
Research has shown that consuming yogurt can help lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. It is widely believed that yogurt is beneficial to gut health as it contains live bacteria which can help reduce inflammation and improve the body’s natural insulin response.
You should not rush out to buy Dannon Fruit on the Bottom because it is made from dairy products which come from animals that lactate. Most meat and dairy come from factory farms, which are bad for the environment, animals, and human health.
Most commercial yogurts are not good for your health. So they’re not really healthy because they’re too sweet. They contain large amounts of saturated fat, which is a type of fat that is associated with many chronic conditions, including heart disease and stroke.
You can get the benefits of yogurt without the downsides. More and more companies are now creating dairy-free yogurts that contain the same nutrients and active cultures that are found in dairy yogurts. Some are sugar-free or low in sugar. You can make your own yogurt at home very easily and it will taste fresher than store bought yogurt. This will also save you money.
We’ll explore the different types of dairy-free yogurt, how to make your own, and some delicious recipes to help get you started.
Types of Plant-Based Yogurts
You can make yogurt out of plants instead of traditional dairy sources like milk from cows. Some plant-based yogurt ingredients include nuts, seeds, legumes, and even whole grains like oats and other cereals. The most common ones you’ll find at the grocery store include the following:
Soy Yogurt
While soy yogurt has a protein level comparable to that of cow’s milk, it has the additional benefit of replacing saturated fats with healthier unsaturated fats. Although it is often claimed that soy is unhealthy, this is not generally the case, and soy is actually a healthy food for most people. Be aware of added thickeners and emulsifiers, and choose organic to avoid genetically modified organisms.
Almond Yogurt
Healthy fats and lower sugar content are some of the properties that make almond yogurt a good choice. Although it contains some calcium, it is not a good source of this nutrient unless it is fortified. The main issues with almonds are environmental. Almond trees are water hogs. Approximately 84 gallons of water are required to grow the almonds used to make one gallon of almond milk. Don’t forget that a gallon of cow’s milk requires a huge amount of water to produce before you go back to drinking it. So, even though almond milk and almond yogurt are not the most eco-friendly options, they still use 10 times less water than dairy milk and yogurt.
Oat Yogurt
This relative newcomer is taking the plant-based yogurt world by storm. Thanks to the low cost of oats and their pleasant taste, some popular brands like Oatly and Silk have been able to market themselves very successfully. There are many ways that oats can improve our health. They can be good for the earth, too. Many farmers plant crops and harvest them early enough to follow with a nitrogen-rich cover crop that can replenish soil fertility. Oat yogurts may contain additives such as sugar, potato starch, oil, and flavorings. If you choose to use one, be sure to read the label carefully and choose organic to avoid glyphosate residue.
Cashew Yogurt
Cashews are rich and creamy, and because they are naturally sweet and high in fat, they do not need many additives to make yogurt. While cashew yogurt doesn’t have a lot of protein, it also is lacking in calcium. Cashews have a high water requirement, similar to almonds, which can have negative impacts on the environment. There’s also concern about underpayment and mistreatment of workers. Cashews are dangerous to harvest because the oil released during the shelling process is toxic. When buying coffee, try to look for organic and fair-trade certified options to support growers.
Hemp Yogurt
Although hemp seeds and marijuana come from the same plant, hemp seeds will not get you high like marijuana. The benefits of lentils are many and varied. They are a great source of dietary fiber, which is beneficial for gut health, and can help to reduce the risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions. Hemp yogurt is a good source of protein, as well as a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Hemp yogurt will not set like traditional dairy yogurts, so a thickening agent, such as agar, is necessary.
Pea Protein Yogurt
High protein yogurt is exactly what it sounds like- yogurt with a high protein content. Pea protein yogurt is not a whole food because the peas are highly processed. The positive side of peas is that they are legumes, one of the foods most linked to health and a long life. The brand Daiya adds potato protein, coconut, calcium, and vitamins to their yogurt to make it similar to dairy yogurt in terms of nutrition.
Coconut Yogurt
These yogurts have a low sugar content and are rich in antioxidants. Most brands of coconut yogurt do not contain a lot of protein, and often include additives to improve texture and flavor. Although most yogurts contain milk, the CoYo brand is made with coconuts, live cultures, and natural thickeners like tapioca and pectin. Coconuts can be a healthy food, but many coconut yogurts are made with coconut “milk” products that are high in saturated fat.
Instant Pot Almond Milk Yogurt (Thick, Creamy Vegan Recipe)
Can you make yogurt with almond milk? Yes! This vegan Instant Pot almond milk yogurt recipe is easy to make and – without thickeners – comes out thick and creamy! Making your own almond milk yogurt is a great way to save money and still enjoy a delicious treat. This recipe only uses two ingredients, so it’s perfect for those who are looking for a quick and easy way to make almond milk yogurt. This article provides tips on making a thick almond yogurt in an Instant Pot that is keto, gluten free, and vegetarian.
If you own a multicooker and have not tried making Instant Pot yogurt with almond milk, you are missing out on a delicious breakfast treat! Multi-cookers, or Instant Pots, are great for making all kinds of yogurt recipes at home.
There are two major challenges with almond milk Instant Pot yogurt. There are two types of rice: one is nutritional and the other is related to texture. We’re going to solve both of these problems today:
- Almond milks are typically very low in protein. Because of this, they aren’t a suitable substitute for the dairy and calcium-fortified soymilk group. Homemade almond milk tends to be even worse, because it’s usually low in calcium too.
- Most Instant Pot dairy free yogurts made with almond milk are thin. Since almond milk tends to be little more than vitamin-enhanced nut water, almond milk yogurt is too thin. Many recipes thicken almond milk yogurt with gelatin, agar agar, arrowroot powder, cornstarch, or xanthan gum to make it thicker.
If you use thickeners when making almond milk yogurt at home, it can cause the yogurt to be lumpy or grainy. Gelatin is not a good choice for people on vegetarian or vegan diets.
There is an easy way to make almond milk yogurt in an Instant Pot that is thick without using any thickeners. This vegan yogurt is not only delicious, but it is also packed with plant-based protein! This registered dietician nutritionist explains how to make it in the following text.
Benefits of Almond Milk Yogurt
Why make Instant Pot almond milk yogurt? If you eat vegan almond milk yogurt, here’s why you need this recipe in your life:
- Cheap vegan yogurt: Vegan almond milk yogurt from the store is expensive! You will likely save money making your own yogurt compared to store-bought yogurt. Almond milk tends to be a lot cheaper by volume than almond milk yogurt.
- Vegan probiotic yogurt: This homemade almond milk yogurt has live, active yogurt cultures. These are beneficial bacteria known as probiotics that help you have a healthy GI system.
- Low sugar: You can make unsweetened almond milk yogurt, or add sweetener if you’d prefer. Though most almond milks (even plain ones) usually contain some added sugar, this will be a low sugar vegan yogurt. The almond milk I’m using only contains 2 grams of added sugar per cup.
- Protein: A huge benefit of this Instant Pot almond milk yogurt recipe is that it’s packed with protein! You get about 10 grams of protein per cup of this Instant Pot almond yogurt.
- Meal prepping: Homemade almond yogurt is great for breakfast meal prep! Make a batch and store it in jars in the fridge. You can use it for breakfasts (along with other foods) for the next few days.
- Special diet friendly: Like dairy yogurt, almond yogurt fits many special diets, including low carb, keto, gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian. It’s a great plant based alternative to dairy yogurt.
- DELICIOUS: I think you’ll find this almond yogurt to be mild and not super tangy. It tends to be a hit with kids because homemade yogurt just tastes better!
Instant Pot Almond Yogurt Ingredients
To make almond yogurt in the Instant Pot, you need almonds, water, a yogurt starter, and a little bit of time. Here’s your shopping list:
- 4 cups Silk Original Almond & Cashew Protein Milk
- 3 tablespoons Plain Almond Milk Yogurt
You need to be careful about the type of almond milk and yogurt you use in this recipe. You cannot make thick almond milk yogurt without thickeners using regular almond milk. A protein-enriched almond milk must be used to make this recipe work.
This recipe uses Silk almond milk yogurt to make a dish in an Instant Pot. Many stores in the United States sell Silk protein almond milk. This recipe is for a cashew yogurt that is made in an Instant Pot. The milk is a combination of almonds and cashews.
You can use plain soymilk in this recipe without any problems. Since soy milk is high in protein, it can be used to make yogurt. Do not use unsweetened almond milk that has only 30 calories.
We’re using just a little almond milk yogurt to help this recipe along. A brand of plain almond milk yogurt with live active cultures is necessary for this recipe.
I recommend using this unsweetened Kite Hill almond milk yogurt. You only need one container to make several batches of almond milk yogurt in an Instant Pot. You can use yogurt from your first batch as a starter in subsequent batches.
Equipment
Here’s the kitchen equipment you need to make almond milk yogurt in an Instant Pot:
- Instant Pot with the yogurt function
- Candy thermometer
- Whisk
- Container(s) to hold the finished yogurt
I use an Instant Pot to develop my Crock-pot recipes. You can also make almond milk yogurt in other Instant Pots, such as the Ninja Foodi. If your multi-cooker is small, you will need to make the yogurt in multiple batches.
Most Instant Pots have a “yogurt” setting that takes the guesswork out of finding the right temperatures. Although a candy thermometer is not essential, it is important to make sure the almond milk reaches the correct temperature for making yogurt. If your yogurt setting on your Instant Pot runs low, you’re not alone.
Multicookers really streamline the yogurt-making process.
In my opinion, the best yogurt containers are wide-mouth glass canning jars. Long story short, you can use any food-safe container with an airtight lid to store yogurt.
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