Yogurt:Mosaru:Thyir; set your own yogurt

Yogurt: set your own yogurt

Ingredients:

• 1 to 2 cups milk (either whole, low-fat or fat free)
• 1/8 cup starter yogurt culture (read instructions below)

Method:

Bring milk to a boil either in the microwave or on stove top. Turn off the heat just before the milk creams up and starts to overflow. To make the culture for the first time, take 1 tbs yogurt (store bought) in a small cup and thoroughly mix it with 1/8 cup of warm water. Let the milk cool down a little (should be warmer than luke warm) add the starter culture to the milk. Cover and let it sit for 4 to 6 hrs for the yogurt to set. After the first time, you can use  the yogurt that you have already set to make the starter culture for future.

Cooking tip:

In hot weather the yogurt sets faster and you can add the starter culture when the milk is luke warm. In  cold weather, the milk needs to be at higher temps than luke warm for the culture to work. Wrapping the milk dish with towel or placing it in a warm place will also help to set the yogurt. Once the yogurt is set (when the milk has thickened) place it in the refrigerator. The longer it stays out, the yogurt will get more sour. Homemade yogurt is not as dense as the store bought ones. Fat free milk produces less creamy and dense yogurt than whole milk.
P.S. If boiling fat free milk on stove top, use a thick bottomed dish on low heat as the milk tends to burn/brown quickly.

Serving tip:

Serve plain, after any spicey meal. Can make buttermilk, lassi, fruit yogurt etc.