Thick, creamy, packed with probiotics and amazing with granola, there are a lot of reasons why many add Greek yogurt to their shopping cart.
But these days, more brands are launching vegan versions of Greek yogurt. The dairy-free yogurt market is booming. Sales of vegan yogurt increased by 66 million pounds. Even popular Greek yogurt producer Chobani took notice of the trend and launched vegan yogurt. But, you can also make your own vegan Greek-style yogurt at home — here’s why you might want to consider making the switch.
Is Dairy-Free Yogurt Healthier?
Choosing dairy-free yogurt has a lot of benefits. Most of us grew up believing that milk helps build strong bones and helps kids grow up strong. Athletes and celebrities alike sold us the idea of milk as a health food via the “Got Milk?” campaign.
“‘Milk does the body good’ is not science, it’s marketing,” explains Dr. Milton Mills, a vegan internal care physician based in Washington, DC. “There’s absolutely no study, no science, to support that. That’s a slogan.”
Dr. Mills adopted a plant-based diet as a teenager and noticed that his acne cleared up, he had higher energy, and his thoughts were clearer.
“Cow’s milk has been shown to have high levels of estrogen and growth hormones that promote disease of the long haul,” Dr. Mills continued. “Cow’s milk is a liquid secretion made by the mammary glands of a cow that is designed to help a baby calf grow. It is not meant for humans to be ingesting it.”
Diets high in saturated fat have also been linked to chronic inflammation, which may play a role in the development of health issues such as diabetes, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and certain forms of cancer, according to Dr. Michael Greger, author of the 2015 book “How Not to Die.”
Dairy is the leading source of saturated fat in the American diet—for children, it’s milk and for adults, cheese. Some Greek yogurt brands are high in saturated fat, but even the nonfat versions are made from dairy and could come with negative side effects.
Additionally, lactose intolerance is high in people of East Asian descent and common in those with West African, Italian, Arab, Jewish, and Greek descent, according to the National Health Institute’s Genetics Home Reference. Signs of lactose intolerance include bloating, brain fog, nausea, and diarrhea.
Research also links acne to dairy consumption.
Tools for DIY Vegan Yogurt
While more brands are launching vegan versions of Greek yogurt, it’s simple to make your own at home with the right tools.
The base for most homemade vegan yogurts tends to be canned full-fat coconut milk (not lite), but raw cashews, raw almonds, and even high-protein soy milk can also act as a base. Many recipes will call for vegan probiotics, so be sure to choose capsules that you can open rather than tablets or liquid probiotics. The brand Cultures for Health has a vegan yogurt-making starter for easy kitchen experiments. Some recipes will use thickening agents like agar agar flakes (derived from seaweed) or tapioca starch.
As for special tools, you shouldn’t need anything beyond a standard mixing bowl and a whisk. Some recipes might call for an Instant Pot with the “Yogurt” setting or a digital kitchen thermometer. You can also try using a doubled-up cheesecloth or nut milk bag to give other vegan yogurt recipes a Greek-like consistency. Things like mason jars are good to have on hand for storing your homemade vegan yogurt—plus, you can use them to store other things like granola and dressing.
7 Vegan Greek Yogurt Recipes for Creamy, Dairy-Free Deliciousness
Enjoy these seven dairy-free Greek yogurt recipes—whether you want to make it from scratch or use a vegan yogurt to make a treat like yogurt bark, these recipes are sure to please.
1. Homemade Vegan Greek Yogurt
Great news! You can eat this for breakfast every day and not get sick of it. Yes, it’s really that revolutionary. This dairy-free Greek yogurt is made from raw cashews and coconut milk with a dose of vegan probiotics. Have it with granola and seasonal fruit.
Get the recipe here.
2. Vegan 2-Ingredient Coconut Yogurt
You don’t need a lot of time or ingredients to make vegan Greek yogurt. This simple recipe calls for only two ingredients—full-fat coconut milk and vegan probiotic capsules—to make. It’s recommended that you add a touch of maple syrup or fresh scraped vanilla bean for sweetness and flavor.
Refrigerate prior to serving for a Greek-like consistency or try straining with a cheesecloth or nut milk bag over a mixing bowl. Try serving it in mason jars with fruit compote and vegan granola on the bottom.
Get the recipe here.
3. Instant Pot Coconut Milk Yogurt
This vegan coconut yogurt is just another reason to bust out your Instant Pot. Made from full-fat coconut milk and agar agar flakes with just a touch of maple syrup, this recipe is as easy as pie. Just cook together on the “Sauté” setting, then let everything cool and use the “Yogurt” setting to let it ferment. The result is a dairy-free yogurt that’s thick and tangy.
Get the recipe here.
4. Soy and Coconut Greek Yogurt
Sometimes, simplicity is best. This easy vegan Greek yogurt recipe relies on a high-protein dairy-free milk like soy, coconut milk, and Cultures for Health dairy-free yogurt starter.
Get the recipe here.
5. Vegan Almond Yogurt
This dairy-free yogurt recipe combines homemade almond milk with locust bean gum, xanthan gum, and agar agar to create a thick and creamy consistency. All you need is a couple of tablespoons of premade plain vegan yogurt to get started. Use a nut milk kit to make homemade almond milk. If you want a thicker consistency, strain the yogurt with a cheesecloth.
Get the recipe here.
6. Coconut Cashew Vegan Greek Yogurt
The coconut and cashew make this Greek yogurt thick and creamy. This one calls for Pomona’s Universal Pectin, a vegan ingredient made from 100 percent citrus fruit pectin, to help achieve a creamy consistency. You’ll also need a digital kitchen thermometer to monitor the temperature. Be prepared to make all the vegan desserts calling for Greek yogurt! We’ll start with parfait.
Get the recipe here.
7. Greek Style Paleo Vegan Yogurt
This probiotic, paleo vegan Greek-style yogurt is made from raw cashews, vegan probiotics, and a pinch of salt. While the original recipe calls for gelatin, psyllium husk is the perfect animal-free alternative. The great thing about this recipe is that it’s fermented, but you don’t need any special tools apart from your oven and a quart-sized mason jar.
Get the recipe here.
