Kefir is Similar to Yogurt, and Seriously Easy to Make
Table of contents
REASONS TO MAKE IT YOURSELF
- You can use your favorite brand of milk. We use Horizon – it’s organic, tastes great, and they are taking action on climate change to be carbon positive in just 4 years.
- You can use whole, lowfat or nonfat milk.
- You will know that it contains nothing but milk and kefir.
- The starter is dry and lasts for months, so it’s easy to have on hand.
- It can be made only when you need it.
- Kefir can be used like yogurt, but has more probiotics.
- Kefir is sometimes hard to find in grocery stores.
- It’s a perfect substitute for buttermilk, so you don’t have to go to the added expense of having buttermilk on hand for the few recipes that call for it.
YOGURT MAKER
We use a Dash yogurt maker and a Kefir starter from Cultures for Health. Just pour the milk into the yogurt maker, add the starter and turn it on. That’s it – no scalding the milk or fussing with a thermometer. We have given links to the companies’ websites for the yogurt maker and the starter, but both of are also available on Amazon.
The yogurt maker also comes with a strainer if you want to take some of the water out and make a thicker version, like Greek yogurt, or even something like Kefir cream cheese. We use the kefir in breakfast shakes, healthy desserts and any recipe that calls for yogurt. We also use the yogurt maker to make creme fraiche and sour cream using cream and a different starter. It’s one of the hardest working pieces of equipment in our kitchen.
We have also made Kefir in the Instant Pot.
Equipment
- Dash yogurt maker
CHOOSING BRANDS:
For certain products, the choice of brand will make a big difference in the outcome of the recipe and in your carbon footprint. So, for those products, we have listed the brand. We are not paid to mention a brand and have no affiliates.
Ingredients
- 1 Quart Horizon milk
- 1 package kefir starter
Instructions
- Add milk.
- Add starter.
- Stir a little.
- Set yogurt maker for 24 hours and press start button.
- refrigerate.
Notes
Nutrition
WHY THIS RECIPE IS SUSTAINABLE:
Check out the chart on the blog post to see how food choices affect climate change. This recipe uses responsible brands and items that are lower on the chart and the production creates less greenhouse gas.
Photos byTony Fitzgerald Photography