Vietnamese Yogurt (Yaowu)

Ingredients

• 14 oz sweetened condensed milk (Longevity brand recommended; use the empty can to measure other ingredients)
• 14 oz yogurt (Vietnamese yogurt or plain store-bought yogurt as a starter)
• 49 oz whole milk (3.5 parts milk (using the 14 oz condensed milk can as 1 part))
• hot water (Heated to 122°F (50°C) for the incubator)

Steps

1. 1

   In a large mixing bowl, combine the 14 oz of sweetened condensed milk and 14 oz of yogurt starter. Mix thoroughly until smooth.

2. 2

   Add the 49 oz (3.5 cans) of whole milk into the mixture and continue mixing until fully incorporated.

3. 3

   Place the bowl with the mixture over a pot of bubbling water (double boiler method). Stir in one direction continuously as you bring the temperature of the mixture up to 100-110°F (38-43°C). Note: The author corrected the video's mention of 70-80°F to this higher range for better results.

4. 4

   Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to ensure a smooth texture and remove any air bubbles.

5. 5

   Pour the strained mixture into individual serving containers (plastic or glass).

6. 6

   Prepare an incubator using an insulated box or cooler. Place a rack at the bottom. Add 122°F (50°C) hot water into the cooler. If using plastic containers, fill the water only up to the rack so the containers do not touch the water. If using glass, you can let the containers sit directly in the water up to the halfway point.

7. 7

   Place the containers in the cooler, close the lid tightly, and let the yogurt ferment undisturbed for 8 to 12 hours.

8. 8

   Once fermentation is complete, remove the containers from the incubator and place them into the fridge immediately to set and stop the fermentation process.

Notes

Pro-tip: Pour the condensed milk out first and use the empty can to measure the yogurt and the milk for the perfect ratio. The author notes that Vietnamese aunties often go by feel, but maintaining the incubator water at 122°F is key for the 8-12 hour fermentation.

Nutrition per serving

• vietnamese
• yogurt
• dessert
• snack
• fermented
• homemade
• sweetened condensed milk