Can we eat yogurt on a plant-based diet?

If you are following a strictly plant-based or vegan diet, traditional dairy-based yogurt is not something you can consume, as it’s derived from animal milk.

However, there are plant-based alternatives to traditional yogurt that you can eat. These are made from non-dairy milk, like almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, oat milk, and others. They are often fermented with probiotic bacterial cultures, similar to dairy-based yogurt, which can give them a similar taste and texture.

When choosing a plant-based yogurt, look at the ingredients and nutritional content. Some plant-based yogurts have added sugars or other additives, which you might prefer to avoid. You should also be aware that plant-based yogurts can vary in their nutritional profiles – they might not have as much protein as dairy-based yogurt, for instance, but they can still be a part of a healthy, balanced plant-based diet.

Always check labels for ingredients to ensure they fit within your specific dietary needs and preferences.

Related: What to eat on a Plant-based diet

Homemade plant-based yogurt using coconut milk

This recipe yields a thick, creamy yogurt with a mild coconut flavor.

Ir a la Receta

Ingredients

• 2 cans (400 ml each) of full-fat coconut milk
• 2 probiotic capsules (make sure they are vegan and contain at least 50 billion CFU)
• Optional: Sweeteners like maple syrup, agave syrup, or stevia to taste
• Optional: Vanilla extract or other flavorings to taste

Instructions

Sanitize your tools: Before you begin, make sure all your utensils, jars, and your blender are thoroughly clean. You want to avoid introducing any unwanted bacteria into your yogurt.

Blend the coconut milk: Shake the cans of coconut milk, then open them and pour the contents into your blender. Blend for a minute or two until it’s smooth and creamy.

Add the probiotics: Open up your probiotic capsules and empty the powder into the blender. Discard the empty capsules. Blend again on a low setting for a few seconds until the probiotic is fully mixed in.

Ferment the yogurt: Pour the mixture into a clean glass jar, then cover with a cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel. Secure with a rubber band or some string. You want to keep dust and bugs out, but allow the mixture to breathe.

Wait: Leave the jar in a warm spot for 24-48 hours to ferment. The longer you leave it, the tangier it will become. Check after 24 hours: the yogurt should smell pleasantly sour and look a little bubbly.

Refrigerate: Once your yogurt has reached your desired level of tanginess, remove the cloth, seal with a lid, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours. This will allow the yogurt to thicken up.

Enjoy: You can now enjoy your homemade coconut yogurt! If you wish, sweeten to taste with your choice of sweetener, or add vanilla or other flavorings.

Remember, this is a very basic recipe. Feel free to experiment by adding different sweeteners or flavorings, or by using different types of plant milk. Each one will yield a unique flavor and texture. Enjoy your plant-based yogurt-making journey!

Related: Plant-Based Diet Breakfast Ideas

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5 brands that offer plant-based yogurts:

Kite Hill

They carry almond milk yogurts in a variety of flavors:

• Plain
• Vanilla
• Blueberry
• Strawberry
• Key Lime

They also carry Greek Yogurt that has plant-based protein derived from Almond Milk & Soy.

Silk

They carry Almond-based Plant-Based Yogurt with a mildly nutty flavor and a creamy-as-can-be texture.

• Unsweetened Plain
• Vanilla Almond Yogurt Style
• Berries & Acai Almond Yogurt Style

They also carry coconut-based Plant-Based Yogurt

• Unsweetened Plain Coconut Yogurt Style
• Unsweetened Vanilla Coconut Yogurt Style
• Vanilla Coconut Yogurt Style

And also Oat based Plant-Based Yogurt is gluten-free. You can buy Silk yogurt at Amazon. Silk Organic Soy Milk, Unsweetened, Dairy-Free, Vegan, Non-GMO

Forager Project

Forager Project’s organic, cashew-based yogurts are a favorite among many. They carry dairy-free cashewmilk yogurt. No added sugar, no flavors, organic ingredients. A vegan alternative to yogurt. 

Nancy’s Probiotic Foods

Nancy’s offers a line of oat milk yogurts. Oatmilk non-dairy yogurt , a plant-based yogurt alternative, is now certified GLYPHOSATE FREE, made from gluten-free oats, and offers 6 grams of plant-based protein in every 6 oz. serving. 

So Delicious

They offer coconut-milk based yogurt alternatives. They are rich, creamy, made with organic coconut, gluten and dairy-free, Non-GMO,Certified Vegan and delicious.

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