Cashew & Almond Yogurt (Greek-Style!)

You guys are loving this Vegan Almond Milk Yogurt, but some of you had trouble getting your hands on the gums used to thicken it.

So I went back to the drawing board and created a brand new vegan yogurt that is thick (think Greek-style), super creamy, gum-free, agar-free, coconut-free, and that requires just 4 ingredients! It’s thick, rich, perfectly tangy, and so easy to make!

⭐️ Why You Should Try It

• Few ingredients. No gums or agar, this recipe relies only on raw cashews, almonds, and some cornstarch. Basic ingredients you can find very easily.
• Creamier and thicker than ever. While my almond milk yogurt was already thick, this one has an even more pleasant texture and a richer mouthfeel.
• Mild yogurt flavor. I tweaked a bit more the amount of starter used, as well as the incubation time. Now, it relies only on yogurt from a previous batch (or store-bought), which is much easier to find than vegan yogurt starter or probiotics.
• Three ways to make it. 1) With an Instant Pot. 2) With a Yogurt Maker. 3) In the oven.  I’m giving directions for each method in the recipe.

🥣 How to Make It

To achieve a thick consistency without using gums, I relied on cashews that add a lot of body to the texture, almonds, and just a little bit of cornstarch. If you are worried this yogurt tastes like raw cashews, don’t worry! The flavor is very subtle.

Preparing the milk

Start by blending soaked cashews and almonds with water to make a rich nut milk. Then, strain through a nut milk bag. This step is essential to achieve a silky smooth texture.

Thickening

Once the milk is ready, dissolve a tablespoon of cornstarch in a couple of tablespoons of milk and pour it back into the milk. Transfer to a saucepan and heat over medium heat until it thickens, whisking regularly.

Remove the milk from the heat and transfer it to a glass bowl.

Culturing

To ferment, you can use a yogurt maker or an Instant Pot. I went with the Instant Pot, set on Yogurt mode for 7 hours. Finally, refrigerate for a few hours before enjoying! Check out the recipe to learn how to make it in an oven or yogurt maker.

🍓 How to Flavor Yogurt

Not a fan of plain yogurt? Here are a few ideas to add more flavor to it! These are for one serving (add to already-made yogurt).

• Strawberry Jam: Add a couple tablespoons of your favorite jam and stir.
• Mango: Make some mango purée in a blender, add a squeeze of lime or passion fruit juice, and mix.
• Maple Coffee: Stir in about 1/8 tsp of coffee extract and maple syrup to taste.
• Vanilla: 1/8 tsp of vanilla extract is just enough to add a delicate flavor to your yogurt.
• Nutella: Stir in a tablespoon of hazelnut butter and a spoon of cacao powder and mix!
• Pumpkin Spice: Add 1 tablespoon of pumpkin purée, 1/8 tsp of pumpkin spice, and maple syrup to taste.

🍫 Toppings

• Granola: I’m thinking vanilla or chocolate granola!
• Bars: Your favorite energy bars cut into chunks. Or even Protein Bars for extra protein!
• Nut Butters: Peanut butter, almond butter, or vegan Nutella!
• Chocolate Chips: It’s just too good and adds crunchiness.
• Crushed Cookies: When I’m out of granola but have leftover cookies, you can be sure they will be crumbled on top of yogurt.