vegan yogurt?

[Ice Cream]

I noticed some soy and some other "non-dairy" yogurts in the supermarket.  Can you make yogurt yourself without including dairy at all?  How do you get the starter bacteria in there?  I make all my own yogurt with milk, but it would be fun to experiment.

[onawhim]

You can buy the grains.  I know people make coconut kefir and yogurt. 

[Run Amok]

You can. Same process as milk. The only thing about most non dairy yogurts is that they don't really have any nutrition. I'd rather spend the calories on something else, but ymmv!

[Ice Cream]

You can. Same process as milk. The only thing about most non dairy yogurts is that they don't really have any nutrition. I'd rather spend the calories on something else, but ymmv!

Why don't they have nutrition?  I was going to use coconut, rice, or soy milk.

[Run Amok]

Why don't they have nutrition?  I was going to use coconut, rice, or soy milk.

Well, check out the nutritionals on those... If it's within the realm of what works for you than it's great! They are mostly carbs and fat, which I eat judiciously... So, not a great choice for me, but ymmv.

[nadra24]

Why don't they have nutrition?  I was going to use coconut, rice, or soy milk.

Coconut milk and rice milk don't really have any protein in them, so neither would the yogurts you make with them.  Depending on whether they're fortified, they may or may not be similar to cow's milk in regards to calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and other vitamins/minerals.  I'm also not sure how well unsweetened milks would ferment to make yogurt, because the bacteria in cow's milk yogurt need eat the milk sugars.  If there's no carbs in the milk to feed the bacteria, I am not sure that you'd get yogurt. 

Sweetened soy milk does have protein and carbohydrate, so you might want to try that first.

[merigayle]

I am not a fan of non dairy yogurt. Happy Herbivore has a non dairy "yogurt" recipe made with banana, lemon juice and silken tofu I
Find tasty, and you can add probiotics if you wish.

[Ice Cream]

Coconut milk and rice milk don't really have any protein in them, so neither would the yogurts you make with them.  Depending on whether they're fortified, they may or may not be similar to cow's milk in regards to calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and other vitamins/minerals.  I'm also not sure how well unsweetened milks would ferment to make yogurt, because the bacteria in cow's milk yogurt need eat the milk sugars.  If there's no carbs in the milk to feed the bacteria, I am not sure that you'd get yogurt. 

Sweetened soy milk does have protein and carbohydrate, so you might want to try that first.

Oh, brainfart...  why did I not think of protein?   

[Run Amok]

If you like soymilk, that is a good one to use. I'm not a fan of it so I always forget!

[caribougrrl]

I saw an almond-based yogurt in the store today.  http://amandeyogurt.com/

I picked up the cherry one (because cherry + almond =  ), and had a look: 6 g of fat per serving, 3 g of protein, 14 g sugar.  For comparison I picked up a same-sized Astro Balkan style black cherry yogurt: 4 g of fat, 3 g protein, 12 g sugar. 

[merigayle]

Amande is one of the few brands I do buy for DD. It is relatively new in our area.