Yogurt
Makes 1lt
Difficulty level: Hard
Ingredients
1lt milk, room temperature (fat free milk is fine but avoid UHT)
一升牛奶，室温
3tbs plain yogurt, room temperature
3茶匙酸奶，室温
Materials
8lt pot, 8 升的锅
4lt pot with lid, 4 升带盖的锅
Metal or plastic spoon 不锈钢或者塑料勺
Dial thermometer with clip 带挂钩的刻度盘温度计
Electric heating pad 电热小毯子
Large bowl 大碗
Directions
1. Create a water jacket by placing the small pot inside the larger one. Fill the large pot with water until it reaches half way up the side of the small pot.
2. Sterilize all of your equipment by boiling the thermometer and spoon in the large pot of water. Sterilize the small pot at the same time by placing it upside down over the larger pot as the water boils. This step is very important as it will ensure your yogurt is free from unwanted bacteria.
3. Once the water has boiled, take the small pot off of the top of the larger one and fish out the spoon and the thermometer.
4. Carefully place the smaller pot into the larger pot of boiling water.
5. Slowly pour your milk into the smaller pot and clip the thermometer to the rim of the smaller pot.
6. Keep the water boiling until it heats the milk to 85°C. Stir constantly. For thicker yogurt, keep the milk at 85°C for 30 minutes and remember to keep stirring.
7. While you are waiting for the milk to reach 85°C, fill your sink about one-quarter of the way with cold water.
8. When the milk has reached 85°C, or after it’s reached 85°C and you’ve waited 30 minutes for a thicker consistency, take the small pot out of the larger one and place it carefully into the cold water.
9. Cool the milk to 45°C, stirring occasionally. This is the temperature at which yogurt cultures reproduce themselves.
10. Pour the starter yogurt into the 45°C milk and remove the pot from the cold water.
11. Stir the milk to make sure the starter yogurt is distributed evenly.
12. Put the heating pad on a heat-proof surface and set it to medium. Place the pot on top of the heating pad. We cheated and used a Japanese brand of heating pad normally used for muscle aches. The pads reach 53°C and last for 12 hours. They weren’t entirely effective and required us to leave the yogurt out much, much longer in order for it to cultivate. Stick to electric heating pads. An electric blanket would also work, but be careful.
13. Put the lid on the pot and cover with a towel. Leave undisturbed for a minimum of seven hours.
14. Remove the pot from the heating pad and uncover the yogurt. It should have liquid on the top – if it’s slightly green or yellow, don’t worry, this is normal.
15. Use a flat spoon or spatula and run it across the surface of the yogurt to see that milk has curdled.
16. Stir the yogurt vigorously to mix the curds in with the liquid.
17. Pour the yogurt into a container with a tight fitting lid – old yogurt containers work well. The yogurt will be runnier than the store bought variety.
18. Place the yogurt in the coldest part of your fridge (this is normally at the back) and leave overnight.
19. The yogurt should have thickened overnight and is now ready to eat.
We found our supplies at:
Mannings 万宁
Sells makeshift heating pads.
Daily 10am-10pm. B1/F, Viva Plaza, Northeast corner of Shuangjing Qiao, by Fuli City, Chaoyang District (5903 7478) 朝阳区东三环双井桥东北角
Dongjiao Market 东郊市场
Sells dial thermometers.
Daily 8am-5pm. Shop: Jinju No. 24-25, 12 Xidawang Lu, Chaoyang District (131 6109 8607, Chinese only)
朝阳区西大望路甲12号金菊厨房用品 24-25号
Jenny Lou’s 婕妮璐
Sells milk and yogurt.
See Directory for listing.
Carrefour 家乐福
Sells household items.
See Directory for listing.
DIY Tips:
• Different milks and starter yogurts work differently together. You may need to try some variations until you get a pair that provides the consistency and flavor you like. Dannon brand yogurt comes highly recommended as a starter.
• Reserve 3tbs of your yogurt to use as a starter for you next batch.
• Remember, there is no sugar in this yogurt so you may want to add berries or honey.
Find other food and kitchen supplies at:
Dazhong ( Dawangqiao) 大中电器连锁店
Find soy milk makers, bread makers, juicers and electrical goods.
Daily 9.30am-7pm. 200 meters west of Dawang Qiao, Jianguo Lu (across from Wanda Plaza), Chaoyang District (8884 9522) 朝阳区大望桥店,建国路大望桥往西200米万达广场对面
Suning (Ciyunsi) 苏宁电器
Purchase soy milk makers, juicers and electrical goods.
Daily 9am-9pm. 5 Balizhuang Dongli, Chaoyang District (6557 9996) 朝阳区八里庄东里5号
Carrefour (Shuangjing) 家乐福
Stocks reasonably priced organic food, including organic soy beans. Also, find all manner of home appliances.
Daily 8.30am-10.30pm. 31 Guangqu Lu, Chaoyang District (5190 9508) 朝阳区广渠路31
See directory under Supermarkets for more listings.
Gome (Shuangjing) 国美
Find electrical goods including soy milk makers and rice cookers.
Daily 9am-9pm. Shungjing Qiao West, Chaoyang District (5862 3091) 朝阳区东三环双井桥西
Wal-mart 沃尔玛
This hyper-mart stocks all of the basics including organic grains and produce and home appliances. Their selection isn’t as exhaustive as one may suspect.
Daily 7.30am-10.30pm. B1/F, Block B, Wanda Plaza, 93 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District (5960 3566) 朝阳区建国路93号万达广场B座 B1层
Fuhongyu Baking Store 府红宇烘焙店
Sells electric ovens, cheese, cake mixes, baking trays and cooking equipment.
Daily 9am-6pm. Rm 718, Moma Dasha, 199 Chaoyang Beilu, Chaoyang District(8598 5803) 朝阳区朝阳北路199号摩码大厦718室
Jiayou Zhubi 家有猪鼻
Sells electric ovens, cake mixes, baking trays and cooking equipment. This store is hard to find, but serves as the wholesale distributor to many local bakeries.
Daily 8.30am-8pm. 26 Jintaili A, Jintai Lu, Chaoyang District (133 6641 8325) 朝阳区金台路金台里甲26号院
Dongjiao Market 东郊市场
The go-to market for Beijing’s high-end hotels. Here, you’ll find Egyptian cotton sheets, coffee machines, baking equipment and many Western and European favorites.
Daily 8am-5pm. 12 Dawang Xilu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区西大望路甲12号
Ikea 宜家家居
Stocks a range of measuring cups, mixing bowls and kitchen gear.
Daily 10am-10pm. 1 Taiyang Gonglu, Dongbahe (northwest corner of Siyuan Qiao), Chaoyang District (800 810 5679)
朝阳区东坝河太阳宫路1号（四元桥西北角）
