I got completely hooked on Greek yogurt when I was on vacation but now that I'm back home, I can't find it anywhere. Has anyone tried the straining regular yogurt through cheesecloth method? Does it come close to the real thing?
It's not really homemade, it's kind of cheating. I think the method calls for draining plain yogurt in cheesecloth for a few hours so you're left with thick yogurt (like the Greek yogurt). I did see a real recipe somewhere, but it seemed too complicated for me.
Thanks, Sarah. I am in rural NH and there aren't any TJs or WFs here. I've asked the grocer, but I have to convince him that I won't be the only person buying it. I think I'll try straining some Stonyfield and see if it's a worthwhile substitute.
Oh, veerie, where do you live? I grew up in MA, and lived in N. Conway NH for a number of years. Of course, I'm in the real "north country" now.
I've never had Greek yogurt, but I have strained regular yogurt and gotten the thick stuff. If you use good yogurt to start with, it's fantastic strained! I just line a strainer with a coffee filter and dump in the yogurt. I keep it in the fridge, and it's ready after several hours, though truthfully, I usually leave it overnight.
A lot of greek yogurt I see in the store calls itself "strained yogurt". I have used a cheesecloth to strain it. Since I use nonfat yogurt, it doesn't taste exactly like the yogurt you find in greece but it tastes pretty close. If you do full fat yogurt, it probably would taste like real greek yogurt although I think they may use goat milk.
The Fage 0% is a great nonfat, plain Greek yogurt. It's how I got hooked on Greek yogurt, which is bad because they don't sell it in my town. I have to drive an hour to get it or coerce my sister to buy it for me where she lives.
I've been thinking about doing that because I can't get the Fage. Just been too lazy, I think. Maybe I'll try it this weekend since I just bought some yogurt.
take 1 cup PLAIN yogurt (not flavored), put it in 1 gallon of warmed milk (110-120 deg) and then let it sit covered, in some place that doesn't lose heat easily. Let it return to room temp for about 6-8 hours. Drain the fluid after the yogurt has thickened. It should come out alright, but using muslin or cheesecloth is better- I don't have cheesecloth to strain the plain yogurt, so this is what I do.m