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Vegan Greek Yogurt: a special guest’s take

I’m away from my computer today, but I have a lovely little guest post for ya!

Vegan Greek Yogurt with Probiotics

You might recall my post on Vegan Greek Yogurt.

I told you that it was a pseudo Greek yogurt because it contained no probiotics. Well, the following lovely lady modified my recipe for some real vegan Greek yogurt:

Hello, chocolate-covered readers! I’m Meg, and I write a blog called the Gluten-Free Ginger (K edit: blog url is no longer active). I am so honored to have a guest spot on Katie’s blog! Since being diagnosed with celiac disease and other food allergies, I’ve played with my diet a lot to find what works for me. I now eat a mostly vegan diet with very little excess sugar.

This is why I love Katie’s recipes

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They’re simple, delicious, and most have little or no sugar, like whipped cream in a bowl , a favorite topper for my breakfast porridge.

Lately I’ve been branching out a bit- all the summer fruit has me inspired!

Speaking of vegan whipped cream…

Katie recently posted about Greek yogurt, and the high demand for a vegan substitute. When I began cutting out dairy, greek yogurt was the last holdout for me-even after cheese! I tried goat yogurt too, but no-go. I feel 100% better without dairy, but I definitely still miss the taste , not to mention the convenience of a quick and healthy breakfast, that come from yogurt.

I’ve tried several brands of soy yogurt, and coconut yogurt as well- all were too sweet and not very pleasant, texture-wise, in my opinion. I did find one unsweetened brand that I enjoyed for a while, but, much like the others, it has a very long list of ingredients…which generally translates to not-so tummy friendly.

Well, I’ve been making a lot of Vegan Whipped Cream lately, eating it more or less the way I would yogurt. One day, I got the idea to stir in my daily probiotic capsule. Why not? But then I had an even better idea. If I added some fruit, or something with sugar, would it ferment like yogurt? It was worth a shot. With homemade “Smashberry” Jam

I had some berries that I had boiled, left over from the day before, when I had a serious craving for an english muffin with smashberry jam.I stirred the jam and the contents of one probiotic capsule into the blended tofu and left it in the refrigerator overnight.

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The next morning I was amazed to discover that not only had the Vegan Greek Yogurt thickened, but it actually tasted tangy, like yogurt! The tang wasn’t super strong, but I bet if you left it for longer, it might be!

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So of course, for breakfast that day I enjoyed a yogurt-y bowl with some gluten free cereal and fruit.

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Oh, how I’ve missed yogurt bowls!!

My next plan is to try freezing the yogurt, or putting it in an ice cream maker for some dairy-free (and sugar free) fro-yo. Try it, let me know how it works for you!

Published on July 28, 2010

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Chocolate Covered Katie is one of the top 25 food websites in America, and Katie has been 
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ABC's 5 O’Clock News. Her favorite food is chocolate, and she believes in eating dessert every single day.

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44 Comments

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  1. Justine says

    When I was in Montreal, I stumbled upon a Lululemon only to find that they were cloaeddue to a national holiday. We were able to go back the next day either. Better luck to you! 🙂

  2. Kate says

    I have made a few attempts at straining coconut yogurt overnight…pretty close to greek yogurt taste & texture. I’m not vegan, but dairy & I are not friends;) I like dairy…it doesn’t like me!

    • Lisa says

      If you combine vegan yogurt with vegan sour cream it will taste like Greek yogurt. I then add some strawberry preserves and it tastes like Fage yogurt

  3. Stef says

    Hey,
    I’m intrigued. i eat a lot of yoghurt myself and have recently started making my own yoghurt and here is the thing that has me intrigued: The Bacteria (or probiotics) only grow at warm temperatures. So it is kinda weird that they should do that in your fridge???
    I actually have a kit to make my yoghurt. I heat up the milk and then add starter cultures or some of the yoghurt I made and keep the mixture in a styrofoam box (so they stay warm) for about 11 hours, then just plopp it in the fridge and you have yoghurt. if you want a thicker consistency you can just strain it. I’m pretty sure it would also work with vegan milk substitutes or even the Tofu stuff. But that they yoghurt fermented in the fridge seems unlikely to me, maybe the tofu just got harder?

    • Meg says

      I was wondering this myself. It did actually get much thicker and taste tangier, though, so I’m not sure what happened! I am going to experiment with leaving it out in the kitchen to see how that works.

  4. Little Bookworm says

    Great guest post! Lovely photos by Meg. I like mixing fruit, occasionally nuts and chocolate into yoghurt. 🙂

  5. Eimear Rose says

    Great idea, I love the idea of the whipped cream but I try not to eat too much tofu (I think there’s a litle too much antinutrient going on in unfermented soy, but the protein profile is great). Adding probiotic is a great idea, must try this. It would be much richer and thicker and my homemade soy yogurt. Thank you both!

  6. Caroline says

    How creative! I never would have thought about that. I’m fine with dairy right now, but applaud your innovation. We’ll be sure to benefit from seeing what creative things you and Katie come up with now that you have vegan Greek “yogurt.”

    I do not actively try to eat probiotics, but I suppose I happen to love all the foods you listed that contain them. I eat yogurt multiple times a week and I LOOOVE super spicy kimchi and tempeh and some sauerkraut. I didn’t even know that kimchi, tempeh, and sauerkraut had probiotics, actually. I guess nature and my taste buds know how to take care of me.

  7. Vanilla says

    I tried freezing yogurt before, it works well if you stir it every 20min or so! It works best with thicker yogurt 🙂
    I don’t know if it works with vegan yogurt though…probably 🙂

  8. elizabethjarrard says

    excellent post! adding the probiotic capsule was such a great idea! i too know that i feel 100% better without dairy in my diet, but do miss the taste, consistency and convenience of plain no-fat greek yogurt. Thanks!

  9. Pure2Raw Twins says

    Great guest post! I drink my homemade kombucha daily and have lots of fermented drinks and foods to ensure I get the healthy bacteria in my diet. I would rather drink/eat these instead of supplements, I am not a huge of fan of supplements unless I absolutely have too 😉

  10. Bianca- Vegan Crunk says

    Okay, I must try this! I’ve never had dairy Greek yogurt, but I’m fascinated by the idea of it. I’d never even heard of Greek yogurt until after going vegan in 04, and I was always a little sad that I never got to taste it so I would know how to recreate it. Thanks for the idea!

  11. Raychel says

    Hey. That smashberry jam looks so good! I was wondering which type of berries you use, in what quantity, and if anything is added to them when you boil them (water, etc)? Thanks 🙂

  12. caronae says

    I’m not vegan but would love to try this recipe! I need to get me some silken tofu ASAP. 🙂 And my probiotic/fermented food intake is LOW. I am having trouble with lactose still because I am recovering from a serious GI infection. I have a little kefir and might get some more. But the problem is, I hate most pickled/fermented foods. I need to get those capsules!

    Yum. 🙂

  13. Mary @ Bites and Bliss says

    I love yogurt bowls!!! My favorite mix ins are chopped grapes, strawberries, bananas, blueberries, raisins, every-other-fruit, ten different kinds of cereal, more fruit..it never ends. 🙂 Or at least I *wish* it didnt!

  14. Laura says

    Hi Katie, not sure if this is where I tell you, but I did manage to make a post with my breakfast sundae!!! Here’s the link!

    olauralife.blogspot.com/2010/07/coco-loco-sundaes-for-two.html

  15. Jen says

    How does one go about opening a capsule? Should I split it with a knife or is there a way to pull the two halves of the capsule apart?

  16. Megan (Braise The Roof) says

    Wow, that yogurt looks amazing! I eat plain old Greek yogurt, but I’d definitely give this a try! I love yogurt bowls. As far as mix-ins, I have to have some kind of fruit that I can mash into the yogurt (like raspberries)- it sweetens the yogurt that way. Plus it’s fun to take out your aggression on your food. 🙂

  17. Jenny says

    I wonder if the addition of jam had something to do with the “yogurt” actually thickening and becoming tangy? How interesting! I’d love to try it out for myself one day, and hopefully unhook myself from always eating normal yogurt…

    If you go to Vancouver, there are Lululemon stores GALORE. Definitely can’t visit even one mall there without running into one (and there are all these different varieties too). I have to say though… I find it very overpriced and overhyped. :S But to each his or her own I suppose! Guess trying and seeing for yourself if you like their products is the way to go…

  18. kelsey@snackingsquirrel.com says

    i cant go too long without a yogurt bowl or i will have withdrawl symptoms 🙁

    whether its soy probiotics, rice probiotics, or dairy, its important to get them in our bodies! all yogurt (unless its the crappy sugar filled ones) are wonderful!!

    xoxo

  19. donna says

    pom used to do countless tests and experiments on animals – I’m glad you turned them down. I hate to sound rude but sometimes I’m unsure if you cross reference or check the products you use

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      donna,
      When they first contacted me, it never even crossed my mind to see if they tested on animals. After all, they’re a juice company. But after my first post, others started writing things in, which prompted me to contact the company, who ensured me that they turned a new leaf and assured me they no longer test. I believe in second chances (even Whole Foods isn’t shunning them anymore). So I feel it’s unfair of you to accuse me of not checking the products I use. I try to be the best vegan I can be, but I will be the first to admit I’m not perfect.

  20. Psyckoprincess says

    Hi! I found this linked over from Katie’s whipped cream in a bowl post.. and since I happened to have both a mori-nu and some probiotic in capsules awaiting my pleasure I decided to give it a go! I mized mine with some blueberries and it’s in the fridge! OH I can’t wait to see how it’s turned out in the morning! 🙂 Thanks for the idea!!!

  21. Ruby says

    Hey Katie,
    I’m a vegetarian teen and looking to go vegan, but one of my most loved foods is good greek yoghurt. In all honesty, is the vegan version like ‘real’ yoghurt?

    Ruby

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Hey Ruby!
      I actually have never tasted real greek yogurt! You could always try it, even while still being a vegetarian, just to see what you think… and then let me know how it compares lol!
      Also, apparently the So Delicious company is coming out with a new non-dairy Greek yogurt this summer. I’m excited to try it :).

  22. Ruby says

    Oh right! Yes, I read your post after I posted this. Wow, I can’t believe it! It’s good you haven’t tried it because you wouldn’t miss it, I’d miss it too much. Yeah, I will definitely try the So Delicious version and test it out 🙂
    I wonder if I don’t like it whether I could be vegan…with yoghurt? Haha 🙂

  23. Fran says

    This looks great but what sort of probiotic capsule does one use and should one refrigerate thus to work or just leave out in a warm place..confused as I thought probiotics needed warmth to work their magic!!

    • Jason Sanford says

      I think it was a guest post from a blogger who no longer has a blog. But maybe look up how to make vegan yogurt using probiotic capsules on google?

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