Happy Tuesday everyone!
Sorry to be MIA for TWO whole days in a row (that ain’t right!) but sometimes a girl is just feeling not so hot. Combined with a busy social schedule, eats get rando and pics don’t get taken. But it is all good, because last night I made my very own Homemade Greek Yogurt!
Yeah, that’s right, for less than HALF the price of store-bought stuff too! My girl Nellie over at Nellie’s Bellie left me a comment telling me how to make my own, and honestly, it could not be easier! And, it tastes just like the good stuff. I suggested she perhaps do a guest post on how to create this Greek wonder, and she oh so gracefully obliged. I present to you fun, fashionable and fantastic Nellie…
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Hey lovely ladies!
I’m Nellie from Nellie’s Bellie, a little blog where I post what goes in and on my belly each day (read: what I eat and wear) thrown in with a bit o’ pop culture. Who doesn’t love a little celeb gossip? You know you’re mad that Miley deleted her twitter! Don’t lie.
I also know how to shop for cheap finds! It’s a bit of a requirement when you’re a recent college grad with no job in a recession. Don’t judge.
So after Holly posted that she was eating poor man’s plain yog instead of her usual Greek, I just had to tell my favorite Everythingtarian that you can transform cheap plain yog into a Greek masterpiece with a few kitchen tools and some patience.
Do you have a colander and/or pasta strainer? If so, you can do this!
Watch and learn!
Step-by-Step, Day-by-Day:
1. Purchase a large 32 ounce container of plain yogurt (nonfat, lowfat, whole, whatever floats your boat!) Yes, I bought a generic brand because it cost $2. But Stonyfield and Dannon work wonders too!
![step_1[1]](http://www.thehealthyeverythingtarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/step_11-937x1024.jpg "step_1[1]")
2. Line a colander or pasta strainer with enough paper towels to cover all of the holes (about 2 or 3 sheets.)
Before:
![step_2.1[1]](http://www.thehealthyeverythingtarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/step_2.11-1024x770.jpg "step_2.1[1]")
After:
![step_2.2[1]](http://www.thehealthyeverythingtarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/step_2.21-1024x770.jpg "step_2.2[1]")
3. Place colander in a large bowl (i.e. a mixing bowl) that allows an inch or two of room between the colander and bowl for liquid to collect. However, if you don’t have a bowl that allows enough room, you can either drain the liquid frequently (about every hour) or allow the colander to drain in a sink.
![step_3[1]](http://www.thehealthyeverythingtarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/step_31-1024x770.jpg "step_3[1]")
4. Empty yogurt into the lined colander and place in fridge.
![step_4.1[1]](http://www.thehealthyeverythingtarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/step_4.11-1024x770.jpg "step_4.1[1]")
![step_4.2[1]](http://www.thehealthyeverythingtarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/step_4.211-1024x770.jpg "step_4.2[1]")
5. Allow yogurt to drain for a few hours (about 4-6) or overnight in the fridge, until it reaches your desired thickness. Be prepared, the paper towels become soaking wet, but you do not need to change them.
![step_5[1]](http://www.thehealthyeverythingtarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/step_511-1024x770.jpg "step_5[1]")
6. Pour off excess liquid that collects in the bowl.
![step_6[1]](http://www.thehealthyeverythingtarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/step_61-1024x770.jpg "step_6[1]")
7. Store strained yogurt in any container you wish! (I use the yog container it originally came in!)
![step_7[1]](http://www.thehealthyeverythingtarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/step_71-1024x770.jpg "step_7[1]")
8. ENJOY in all its yog mess glory! (Visit Holly’s genius yog mess tutorial if you haven’t already!)
![yog_mess[1]](http://www.thehealthyeverythingtarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/yog_mess1-1024x770.jpg "yog_mess[1]")
Yield: one 32 ounce container will yield about 20 ounces when drained.
I hope Holly and all of you lovely readers enjoy this homemade Greek yogurt just as much as I do! Email me (dcaramico@gmail.com) or comment my blog if you have any questions or if you try it yourself, I would love to see what all you creative ladies come up with!
xo Nellie
SO DOING THIS
AND I think I made yogurt cheese by doing this years and years ago when I was a 20 something “foodie” …long before blogs were around!
WAY COOL
so basically it just thickens up and that’s the biggest difference!
LOVE IT!
Thanks for the tutorial!
YAYY the post looks awesome!!!
I feel so famous for being on your blog. You, Miss Holly, are a rock star! LOVE YOU!
Awesomeness. I couldn’t quite do that in my dorm fridge because…let’s just say it would get messy, but this is such a weekend project
Thankyou Miss Nellie AND Miss Holly for this tutorial!! I can’t get Greek yogurt in my desolate arctic area (ie, Atlantic Canada) and have been wanting to try it for-EVER! For some reason I thought I needed cheesecloth to make it, but paper towel is even better
Do you know if the homemade version has the same stellar protein content as the store bought stuff? I’m thinking it must just be a “denser” version of the original stuff…so more calories/protein/etc…
that’s all you have to do to make homemade greek yog?! thats sooo simple
jenna
Thank you soooo much!! I’m so excited to make this. I’ve always meant to, but thought it would be a huge hassle. Not so much! I’ll be trying this once I run out of my current Greek yog stash.
Awesome!! I can’t wait to try this!
You, along with many other wonderful bloggers, have inspired me to start my own blog! Feel free to check it out and let me know what you think!
I’ve heard of making this! Sounds pretty simple
Looks delish! Very impressed.
SOOO smart… I want to make some semi-homemade greek yogurt. I need to get on that!
Great tutorial! I honestly had no idea it was so easy – I’ve been complaining up a storm I can’t find greek yogurt. I will definitely try this!
This was the only way I ate yogurt when I was still on the dairy. It is so ridiculously cheap, creamy, wonderful! Plus you can buy big pints of organic yogurt pretty cheaply too!
Love that little strained yog tutorial
As for yoga and your questions girlfriend, just take your time and whenever it happens, it happens. There are scholarships I think if you find a place you love, tell them about your situation and work something out. Maybe stay at their facility and help them cook great food! or help them blog or do a trade. Yogis love trades
I did my training and my travels before my child. I worked and made plenty of cashola so pretty much just lived life and came and went as I pleased and I have to say, it was great
Then came motherhood and I am at home….for now 
xoxoxo
write more if you want, I will respond sooner
Yessssssssss. My mom used to do this when she used yogurt to make dessert and I TOTALLY forgot about it until now. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Hope you’re feeling better, my dear.
I’ve always wanted to make my own Greek… my cooking class instructor did all the time, I just never did because I figured that since the yogurt is reduced by half, you end up spending the same amount anyway. I don’t think that’s true! Thanks for the extra incentive.
This is brilliant! Thanks! What a money saver!
Wow that’s so cool!
Hope things are well Holly dearest!
it is so easy to make it – i just never remember! thanks for the process in pictures
Um this is BRILLIANT. I cannot really afford Greek Yogurt at the moment and plain yog just doesn’t float my boat as much….you have transformed everything! Trying it!
What a great post! Can’t wait to try that!
Hmmm this is interesting, a friend of mine does this but I didn’t realize it was so easy.
[...] It’s made very near my home and is always reasonably priced and it always delivers. Plus, with Holly’s new discovery, Greek yogurt can literally be created in my sleep. On a side note – I detest yogurts with fruit [...]
love this idea so much! i want to try this asap!
Thanks for sharing this awesome tip! Cheap greek yogurt is always accepted by me!
This is so cool! Thanks for sharing!
Glorious! Must try!
ok that is pure freakin genius. i wonder how my roomie would feel about me straining yog in our teny tiny fridge… HOMIES WE’RE FINDING OUT
owwwwwwww! This chica is def giving this a try! Great post
I’ve heard about this before but have tried it because it seemed a little daunting – but you made it look really easy! Thanks for the step by step!
Loves it! What a great guest post
that is just too cool! I really would love to make that one day- maybe the next time I go home my sister and I will make it! also- just wanted to thank you for your comment on my blog regarding my grandmother- very sweet of you.
great post miss nellie! I definitely waste lots of dolla dolla bills on all my oikos and chobani — and should probably take the plunge to attempt my own greek yog before I go broke! Thanks
WOW! Had NO clue it was that easy–thanks for sharing!
cool! anything you can do with the left over yogurt water?
I will be trying this soon, thanks!
wow I had no idea making your own greek yogurt was so simple!
I am SO doing this!
since it looks like the same ingredients as plain yog, where does all the extra protein come from that is found in greek yogurt??
OH dang, that definitely looks like a project right up my alley!!! What a fabulous idea and fabulous “recipe”! Thanks for the guest post that enlightned me Hollz!
I am obsessed with greek yogurt. I eat it for breakfast, on top of curries and chilis, use it in recipes, mix it with chocolate chips, etc. But it can get wayyy expensive (I get excited when it’s on sale for $1.50…, umm). I am definitely going to try this!
I love making my own strained yogurt. It really is a fraction of the cost of store bought Greek yogurt!
i LOVE your blog!!! i just found it today & spent the last hour reading your posts and falling in love. i thought the early-morning pics of your family w/ the pancakes were adorable.
you’ve given me so many ideas. the sweet potato wrap also looks amazing!
That’s genius!! How clever. I’m definitely going to try this myself.
It looks like I will be making Greek yogurt this weekend
[...] 27, 2009 by Tay I made my own Greek yogurt last night according to Holly’s guest post instructions. Just call me Betty Crocker (don’t ask me why since Betty [...]
[...] Greek Yogurt! A while back, Holly posted some instructions on how to make your own Greek-style yogurt. However, I was lacking the proper tools: a colander and [...]