Coconut Yogurt + Recipe

Fermented foods, such as  yogurt, are often missing from our daily diets.   Good bacteria can be found in these foods which help strengthen the overall  gut health and  improve the immune system.  They also aid in the reduction of inflammation in the body and realign the gut natural flora.   This particular yogurt recipe is higher in beneficial bacteria than traditional store-bought yogurt, without the added sugar.  Enjoy the benefits of natural foods.

Homemade Vegan Coconut Yogurt & Berries

Yields 2 servings

Ingredients

• 1 16-ounce Mason jar (or any glass container with a secure lid)
• 1 can original coconut milk
• 5 probiotic capsules with live cultures of your choice
• 1 cup fresh strawberries
• 1 handful of  chopped nuts (optional) for topping

Directions

In a 16-ounce Mason jar, combine coconut milk and a high quality probiotic by opening the capsules and pouring the probiotic powder directly into the coconut milk. Discard the capsules. Close the lid tightly and shake.

Store the Mason jar in a cool, dark corner on the kitchen counter away from heat,  for three days, shaking periodically. After three days, the yogurt is ready to be served.  For  thicker yogurt,  refrigerate the jar/mixture for up to one week. Refrigerated, thickened yogurt should be stirred prior to serving.

Prior to serving, slice fresh strawberries and add to the yogurt with a drizzle of pure maple syrup (optional)  and top with chopped nuts (also optional).

Note: If the yogurt doesn’t culture, one of two things may have happened: check to be sure the lid is properly sealed. Secondly, various brands of probiotics effect the recipe differently.  For the next recipe,  replace the probiotic capsules with a different choice from a health food store, or an organic grocer which will change the results in the yogurt.