Dairy-Free Coconut Yogurt

Dairy-free yogurt has risen in popularity over the years, but many products contain lots of sugars and other additives or they are more expensive than conventional brands. Fortunately, it’s easy to create a batch of dairy-free coconut yogurt that will still provide gut-healthy probiotics and be a great addition to breakfasts, smoothies, popsicles, and other recipes.

Because this is a fermented food, it’s important to make sure it isn’t contaminated with any harmful bacteria that will spoil your batch. Sterilize your utensils and never use coconut milk from a dented or bulging can. A cheesecloth cover will work well in a pinch as the fermentation time for yogurt is so short, but these tend to be too porous for keeping out pests and contaminants. You can use several layers of cheesecloth over your jar, but a thin cloth or coffee filter works best.

The type of probiotics you use is up to you, as every person responds differently to different strains. What you should know about selecting your own is that there are two types of strains: transient and resident. The former works better in the short term, while the latter is better for supporting chronic or inflammatory conditions. Bifidobacterium longum is one strain in particular that has shown promise in maintaining a healthy microbiome and alleviating several inflammatory conditions.^1-4 However, we recommend consulting with your healthcare provider for the best probiotic recommendations for you.

The fermentation time for this Dairy-Free Coconut Yogurt depends on climate and personal preference. The yogurt will ferment quicker in warmer climates, so you don’t need to leave it out as long. It will also become more tangy the longer it ferments, so if you want your yogurt on the sweeter side, check it sooner.

Tips: 

• Enjoy this snack on its own or with toppings such as blueberries, unsweetened shredded coconut, cinnamon, sliced bananas, pecans (omit for AIP), or a dollop of nut butter (omit for AIP).

Recipe adapted from Plentyfull Vegan.

Love our recipes? Make going Paleo even easier and download our 7-Day, 14-Day, and 28-Day digital meal plans!

References

1. Mills, S., Yang, B., Smith, G. J., Stanton, C., & Ross, R. P. (2023). Efficacy of Bifidobacterium longum alone or in multi-strain probiotic formulations during early life and beyond. Gut Microbes, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2023.2186098
2. Yu, J., Zhu, P., Shi, L., Gao, N., Li, Y., Shu, C., Xu, Y., Yu, Y., He, J., Guo, D., Zhang, X., Wang, X., Shao, S., Dong, W., Wang, Y., Zhang, W., Zhang, W., Chen, W.-H., Chen, X., & Liu, Z. (2024). Bifidobacterium longum promotes postoperative liver function recovery in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Host & Microbe, 32(1), 131-144.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2023.11.011
3. Yao, S., Zhao, Z., Wang, W., & Liu, X. (2021). Bifidobacterium Longum: Protection against Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Journal of Immunology Research, 2021, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/8030297
4. Cao, F., Jin, L., Gao, Y., Ding, Y., Wen, H., Qian, Z., Zhang, C., Hong, L., Yang, H., Zhang, J., Tong, Z., Wang, W., Chen, X., & Mao, Z. (2023). Artificial-enzymes-armed Bifidobacterium longum probiotics for alleviating intestinal inflammation and microbiota dysbiosis. Nature Nanotechnology, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01346-x