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DIY, homemade, How to, milk, yogurt  /  December 23, 2020

The one thing that made me better at making Homemade Yogurt

by Sakshi Kapoor

I think it was sometime in 2016 that I decided to make Yogurt or Dahi at home. It wasn’t that great at first and would often come out slimy or stringy. I know, many of you would ask, why bother making yogurt at home when you can buy it at the grocery? But you would not know the feeling of always having a big batch of creamy homemade yogurt in the fridge, until you have tried it. If Sourdough and Kombucha projects sound too tedious, start with a basic batch of Homemade Dahi. Seriously, I could not recommend it more now that we are all spending more time at home during the pandemic.

Simple homemade yogurt- No special equipment needed!
Making yogurt at home

If you have read this far into the post, I understand that homemade yogurt is something you are keen to try making at home. And let me assure you it is one of the easiest kitchen projects during home quarantine. 2020 sure has changed our relationship with food as we are more conscious about what we are eating and cooking. I think of all the trash we generate with plastic cups, bags, cutlery from takeouts and so much more. Making yogurt at home helps reduce that one or three plastic cups during the week, depending on how often you eat yogurt.

So what it the secret to making better Dahi?

Remember when I said that the first few attempts at making homemade yogurt were not all that great? Well, you will be glad to know that it got better. Why? Because I kept going. I did not let the first few batches of slimy yogurt stop me from making the next batch. I kept these early subsequent batches smaller, with around 200ml of milk so that there was no waste. They were used in my morning granola, on the side with my parathas or blended into smoothies. These also were great in my overnight oats. It was summer then.

  • Makki Methi ki roti recipe
    Makki methi Roti with dahi
  • Berry Smoothie Bowl
  • Dahi Vada Chaat
    Dahi Bhalle
So many possibilities

And then, guess what? I kept going and the batches of Dahi got better. Have we learnt nothing from all the research we have done on starting our very own sourdough starters during the lockdown? Don’t they say, that you will start seeing activity in your starter only after a few days of feeds? Well, it works similarly for yogurt. The only secret is that you have to keep going! Don’t stop with just one attempt at making yogurt. Save a spoonful to start the next batch, and so on and so forth. That’s it. That’s the key to making good creamy Dahi at home.

Don’t stop with just one attempt at making yogurt. Save a spoonful to start the next batch, and so on and so forth. That’s it. That’s the key to making good creamy dahi at home.

So don’t give up!

Why NOW is the perfect time!

As I finish writing this article, Christmas is just a few days away. A lot of you will be off from work for the holidays and would most likely be staying at home. I am hoping you all will be responsible and will stay at home since the pandemic is not over. Making yogurt now is the perfect project! My mother always says that make a batch of yogurt when you know you will be home to pick it up in time. And now that we know we will be home, or working from home, it is the perfect time to make yogurt. Just set a reminder on your phone to pick it up in time.

Since it is cooler now, you may not want to use Dahi in smoothies or lassis. Don’t worry, I have some great ideas for you to use up the first few batches of not-so-perfect Dahi.

Dahi with Paratha
Homemade Dahi with Paratha and Mango Achaar

Come winters and we find stuffed parathas more often on our plates – there is Gobhi paratha, Mooli paratha, the much loved Aloo paratha and of course Palak or Methi paratha! Yes, there are so many other kinds you could make. Homemade Dahi is the perfect thing next to those steaming hot parathas.

Okay, so you think your homemade Dahi isn’t it’s creamiest best yet to be sitting next to your parathas? No worries, use it to marinate chicken or mutton for Biryani or curries. Use it in sooji or Besan Cheela batter, in Oats Idli or better still to make dough for Bhatooras to go with your spicy Punjabi Chhole.

Or if you are done with rich and spicy foods and want something light, use dahi to make cooling Dahi Chawal.

Cooling Curd Rice Lunch
Something light for your tummy!

What I am saying is, your first few no-so-perfect batches of yogurt have myriad of uses, whatever the season. And once you start making your own, you will discover so many uses for it.

Make Dahi whichever way

I do not use an Instant Pot and make Dahi without any special equipment, the traditional way. You can of course use your instant pot to make yogurt at home since it provides a more stable environment. But whatever method you use, it is possible to make great creamy batches of yogurt at home.

  • Creamy homemade yogurt
    Creamy homemade instant pot yogurt
  • Simple homemade yogurt- No special equipment needed!
    Yogurt made without any equipment
Whatever method you use, you will get some delicious yogurt!

To summarise, your homemade Dahi or yogurt would be great as long as you:

  1. Keep going
  2. Understand and follow a few basics about making Yogurt/Dahi

What are you waiting for? Let’s make some great creamy Dahi at home!

Homemade Dahi recipe
The creamiest Homemade Dahi
  • The secrets to making the perfect Homemade Dahi!
  • Making perfect Dahi or Yogurt at home
  • Homemade Instant Pot Yogurt – only two ingredients, perfect every time!
  • bowl of yogurt on a colorful table spread
  • Cooling Curd Rice ~ Dahi Chawal
  • Curd Rice perfect Summer lunch
  • Mathaa – a beloved yogurt dip from my family’s table!
  • Mathaa served with missi roti, achar and daikon radish in a white porcelain plate
  • Dahi Bhalle
  • Dahi Bada Chaat
  • Kitchenpostcards Podcast: S1, Ep 6: Dairy in Punjabi/North Indian Food
  • Milk in Indian Kitchens

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Tags

  • Dahi
  • Easy Yogurt
  • Guide to making homemade dahi
  • homemade
  • Homemade Yogurt

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2 comments

  • Sally
    March 25, 2021

    Thank you for the info and inspiration! I’m determined to continue trying, but I’m having trouble with slimy, stringy, ropy yoghurt! I’ve made a few batches now, and boiling the milk beforehand only makes a thicker, but still slimy, yoghurt. What am I doing wrong?

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    • Sakshi Kapoor
      March 26, 2021

      Hi Sally,
      Thanks for stopping by!
      I can’t say for sure what may have caused your batch of yogurt to be slimy since there are many variables. The most common cause, in my opinion, is adding the culture when the milk is not boiled or is not warm enough. But before we go there, it is important to focus on the milk you are using. UHT Tetrapack milk often does not work as well as fresh milk does. Fat percentage is also a factor. Another reason could be the resting place for your yogurt may not be warm enough. If you can use a slightly warm oven or wrap a few towels around the vessel, it may help. Also, the vessel should sit undisturbed during this time. I have a detailed article on ‘The secrets to making the perfect Homemade Dahi!‘ which talks about the things that can go wrong, I recommend you check it out. One of the tips there is adding a pinch of sugar to the warm milk also helps the bacteria thrive. Whatever you try, please keep going, homemade yogurt does improve with every subsequent batch. Good luck! Let me know how it went if you try again, which I really hope you do! 🙂
      – Sakshi

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