Vegan Substitute for Greek Yogurt – Your Ultimate Guide

Updated on: 28.11.2020

Are you looking for the perfect vegan substitute for Greek yogurt? Well, look no further. We’ve got the best list of vegan Greek yogurt substitutes for you!

vegan greek yogurt

Let’s be honest. Sometimes you just need that amazing Greek yogurt flavor and texture, whether it’s for baking, desserts, or to upgrade your oatmeal game.

To help you out, we’ve compiled a guide of great vegan substitutes for Greek yogurt, with all the flavor and texture, but none of the animal exploitation and environmental drawbacks.

Making your own yogurt is incredibly environmentally friendly since you no longer require non-recyclable plastic containers of store-bought yogurt. It can also save you a bunch of cash.

You can try established vegan Greek yogurt appliances, or, if you’ve got time on your hands and are savvy in the kitchen, make a delicious batch from scratch yourself by following the recipes below.

FAQ about Greek Yogurt for Vegans

Is Greek yogurt vegan?

No. Greek Yogurt is made from dairy and is only vegan if it’s vegan certified or has no animal ingredients in its ingredients list.

What is a vegan substitute for greek yogurt?

Here are some great vegan Greek yogurt substitutes:
1. Choose a good brand of silken tofu to blend as a vegan greek yogurt substitute. Note that regular tofu is not a good replacement.
2. Make your homemade vegan Greek yogurt with an automatic yogurt maker. Simply choose your favorite plant milk, mix it with a non-dairy yogurt starter, set the timer, and let the appliance do the rest.
3. Effortlessly transform plain vegan yogurt into Greek yogurt by using a yogurt strainer.
4. Combine raw cashews, canned coconut milk, and tapioca starch. Blend, bring to a simmer, and let cool. Stir in vegan probiotic and cover the container with cheesecloth. Let ferment overnight at room temperature. For more details, look at the recipe below.

How to make vegan yogurt with probiotics?

Use an automatic yogurt maker and a non-dairy probiotic starter culture. If you don’t have a yogurt maker, you can get similar results in an oven, but you need a candy thermometer to keep your milk at precisely the right temperature.

vegan greek yogurt and blueberries with granola

How can I make a vegan substitute for Greek yogurt?

Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced cook, a vegan veteran or just starting out, or perhaps you just want to surprise a vegan in your life, the following list has what you are looking for.

Here are 5 easy ways to make a vegan substitute for Greek yogurt

Use an Automatic Yogurt Maker

For the best hassle-free result, buy a vegan yogurt maker. Then all you need is your favorite plant-based milk and non-dairy yogurt starter. The machine does the rest. Easy peasy!

Use a Yogurt Strainer

If you already have a favorite vegan yogurt and just want to make it thicker, you can use a yogurt strainer to get the desired creamy texture of Greek yogurt.

Use a Blender and a Block of Silken Tofu

If you have a good blender and some silken tofu on hand, try this step. Some additional seasoning, such as salt and lemon juice, is recommended for the best effect.

Make it From Scratch

You can follow this vegan Greek yogurt recipe and see if you like the result. Ferment a mixture of raw cashews, canned coconut milk, and tapioca starch with a good quality vegan probiotic.

Read Our Vegan Greek Yogurt Guide in Full

Check out our Vegan Substitute for Greek Yogurt article in full to get all the information about the know-how, recipes, and best kitchen appliances for the perfect vegan Greek yogurt.

Store-bought yogurts, whether regular or Greek, tend to contain lots of sugar and preservatives.

Making your own homemade yogurt is much healthier because you get to control all the ingredients that go inside, and you can also add extra ingredients to your heart’s desire.

It can also save you a lot of money long-term. Quality vegan yogurts can be quite expensive, so making them at home is great for your budget.

Using an Automatic Yogurt Maker

The easiest and most effective way to get the perfect vegan Greek yogurt is to use an automatic yogurt maker.

vegan greek yogurt
vegan greek yogurt

Not only is it super easy because the machine does everything for you, but it’s also a great investment in your health. No added sugars are needed, and the end result feeds your gut bacteria with billions of live probiotic cultures.

Here’s what you will need:

  • your favorite non-dairy plant milk
  • a non-dairy yogurt starter
  • an automatic yogurt maker machine

If you don’t yet have an automatic yogurt maker machine but love yogurt, we really recommend you get one. Check out our Best Yogurt Maker for Vegan Yogurt Guide.

Using a Yogurt Strainer to Make a Vegan Greek Yogurt Substitute

If you already have a vegan yogurt you like and just want to make it thicker, you can use a yogurt strainer to get the desired creamy texture of Greek yogurt.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Your favorite yogurt
  • A yogurt strainer

If you don’t have one on hand, feel free to check out our Yogurt Strainer Guide to learn more.

vegan greek yogurt
vegan greek yogurt serving with forest fruit

Alternatively, you can also improvise a yogurt strainer with a metal kitchen strainer and an appropriate clean cheesecloth.

Place the cheesecloth over the strainer and lay the strainer into a slightly larger empty pot. Pour the yogurt into the cheesecloth and wrap the cheesecloth over the yogurt to cover it.

Let sit in the fridge at least overnight, preferably longer.

For the best Greek yogurt effect, we recommend you use plain vegan yogurt. A longer straining process will yield a thicker and creamier yogurt texture.

Greek Yogurt from Silken Tofu

If you have a good blender and some silken tofu on hand, you can test this method and see if you like the result. Choose the brand of silken tofu you like best. A dash of additional seasonings, such as salt and lemon juice, is recommended for the best effect.

What you’ll need:

  • Silken tofu
  • A good blender
  • Optional: seasonings

Silken tofu is not to be mistaken for regular tofu, which has a much firmer curdled texture. Silken tofu is, as the name implies, much smoother and lighter and is the softest type of tofu.

To find the best blender for you, feel free to check out our 5 Best Blenders for Vegans – The 2020 Buyer’s Guide to find your perfect match.

Easy Greek Vegan Yogurt Recipe

If you don’t have silken tofu but do have a powerful blender, you can also try our Greek Vegan Yogurt from Scratch recipe.

vegan greek yogurt
vegan greek yogurt

What you’ll need:

  • 200g or 1 1/3 cups of cashews (soaked overnight or in boiling water for 10 minutes)
  • 2 cups of canned coconut milk (carton will not work)
  • 1/3 cup or 40g tapioca starch
  • a non-dairy yogurt starter culture or vegan probiotic (about 4 capsules)
  • A skillet
  • A glass, ceramic, or wooden bowl and spoon

WARNING: Once the probiotic is introduced, make sure it does not come into contact with any metal, or it will ruin the entire process.

  1. Drain the cashew nuts. If using boiling water, wait for them to completely cool and then add them to a blender together with the coconut milk.
  2. Blend until very smooth. You might need to stop the blender a few times during the process to let it cool and scrape down the sides if it’s not a powerful model.
  3. When the mixture is super smooth, add in the tapioca starch and blend until well combined.
  4. Pour the mixture into the skillet and bring to a simmer. The heat will make the tapioca starch thicken the mixture.
  5. Pour the thickened mixture into a bowl and stir in the yogurt starter culture or prebiotic capsule contents.
  6. Cover the bowl with a cheesecloth and secure it. Let the contents ferment at room temperature for at least 12 hours.

So there you have it, your easy Greek vegan yogurt substitute. Enjoy!

For more easy and delicious vegan recipes check out the Recipes section on our page.

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