How To Make Yogurt Cheese; Recipes for Delicious Yogurt Cheese

Yogurt cheese is delicious and simple to make. Even the kids can do it. You can make it a savory cheese for chips and dips, or a sweet cheese for dessert toppings or to spread on toast and muffins. It’s up to you.

Below is a pictorial step by step on how to make Yogurt Cheese followed by Yogurt Cheese Recipes.

Step One

Get out all your equipment. You’ll need one at least one pound of yogurt to make a good amount of cheese.

Your typical yogurt contains a liquid substance called whey. We are going to drain this from the yogurt. Keep in mind that the process of draining out the whey will cause the yogurt to “shrink” quite a bit. Consider how much yogurt cheese you want and make certain you start with more yogurt than that.

Step Two

Line the strainer with a napkin. Be sure to wet the napkin just slightly. This will help stop the yogurt from wicking into the dry napkin.

Take 1/2 container to one full container of plain yogurt. The brand of yogurt does not matter. Low fat swiss style works best, but you can use other kinds. Experimentation is a wonderful thing.

Step Three

Add the yogurt to the napkin lined strainer. Be sure the napkin does not fall in on you. Fold up the napkin surrounding the contents.

Note: Be sure to use a clean napkin that has been rinsed well before use. I keep this napkin for straining purposes only.

Step Four

After you get the napkin all folded up, slowly and gently squeeze out the whey.

Don’t press too hard, as the yogurt may come through the napkin. When you can’t seem to squeeze any more whey out, it’s time to stop.

Step Five

After hand squeezing out as much whey as you can, put a weight on it (such as the old fashioned iron covered in tin foil that I’ve used). Let it sit in the fridge for 12 hours, or overnight. Overnight works best, as it gets out as much whey as possible.

Another method to drain out the rest of the whey is to hang the napkin from a string over the bowl. The weight of the yogurt allows whey to drain out.

Step Six

The next morning, take the bowl out of the fridge. Take the weight off the napkin. Open the napkin slowly. The soft cheese will be all over the inside of the napkin. Transfer the chess from the napkin to a clean bowl, scraping off all the precious morsels that you can.

The whey that you’ve drained off can be disposed of, or saved for other uses. If you would like to save it, you can read more about ways to use whey here.

Step Seven

Your yogurt cheese is done! It should be of a soft cream cheese consistency.

You are now ready to use as is, or add various other items to flavor it up. Read on for a few recipe ideas.

Yogurt Cheese Recipes

Below are some recipes that we have come up with over the years. I do hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Recipes for Savory Cheese

Garlic and Herb Yogurt Cheese

Make yogurt cheese as above.

Add:

• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic clove, peeled and crushed. You can also use garlic powder. If you use powder, cut measurement in half…and then taste test.
• 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• 1/2 teaspoon onion
• sprinkle of thyme
• sprinkle of basil
• Mix in bowl. Serve with crackers or use as dip.

Spicy Garlic Yogurt Cheese

• Recipe as above and add 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Onion and Garlic

Add to yogurt cheese basic recipe:

• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic clove, peeled and crushed. You can also use garlic powder. If you use powder, cut measurement in half…and then taste test.
• 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• 1/2 teaspoon onion
• Mix in bowl
• Note: You can adjust recipes according to your favorite herbs and spices.

Recipes for Sweet Yogurt Cheese

Peaches N Cream Yogurt Cheese

• Make yogurt cheese, and add peaches and a touch of vanilla.
• Add just a touch of honey or turbinado sugar

These recipes below used Monin Syrups with sugar. They are also available sugar free.

Strawberry Irish Cream Delight

Add to yogurt cheese :

• 1/4 cup strawberries
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 Tablespoon Monin Irish Cream Syrup

Blueberry Muffin Yogurt Cheese

Add to yogurt cheese:

• 1/4 tablespoon Monin Hazelnut syurp
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Sweet Blueberry Yogurt Cheese

Add to yogurt cheese

• 1/4 cup blueberries
• tsp of honey.

Mix, and enjoy. You can use yogurt cheese on crackers, toast, veggies, meats, or anything. The possibilities are endless.