How to Make Curd (Yogurt - Dahi)

How to Make Curd or Indian Yogurt at Home with just 2 ingredients. Curd is known as Yogurt in English and Dahi in Hindi. Yogurt is consumed throughout the world and is known for its probiotic benefits. You can make curd easily at home without any special equipments. I have shared detailed method for making curd at home and shared all my tips and tricks for perfect set yogurt. Be sure to read the entire post for step by step pictures, video and troubleshoot & Faq for curd making. What other way to use this perfectly set curd other than this creamy curd rice.

How to make curd

We have been making yogurt for generations now. I don't remember a single instance where amma bought store bought yogurt. In amma's house it is always homemade. Curd making is like a carry-on process. Every night she reheats leftover milk from the day and mix with previous batch thayir and let it ferment the whole night for next day. This process is repeated daily.

After marriage I used to do this same process. But someday when I miss doing this step, we buy store bought yogurt for lunch. But still I enjoy the taste of homemade curd than store bought ones.

What is Curd?

Curd is a traditional yogurt or fermented milk product, originating from the Indian subcontinent, usually prepared from cow's milk, and sometimes buffalo milk, or goat milk. It is popular throughout the Indian subcontinent.

As a South-Indian, we consume curd daily. Every Indian household has a container of thayir in their fridge. Yogurt is our staple food. We have them them daily with our rice at the end of every meal. Our lunch is incomplete without curd. After an elaborate lunch of kuzhambu, poriyal and rasam, the final serving of rice mixed with curd is what gives the satisfaction.

We enjoy recipes made using curd like salted chaas, lassi, mango lassi, and even a cup of buttermilk.

Curd takes an integral part in our culture. We use them in different forms throughout the day. It is used in making kuzhambu like moru curry, pulissery. Many Indian dishes like raita, dahi vada, kadhi, biryani uses curd as main ingredient. It is also used as tenderizer in kebabs and meat based dishes.

In this recipe post, I am sharing detailed recipe for making curd with whole milk, homogenized or pasteurized milk and recipe for making curd using milk powder.

How it works?

When you mix your starter curd into warm milk, the bacteria in the curd reacts with the warm milk and turn the entire milk into curd.

Ingredients for Making Curd

Milk

If you are using fresh raw milk then making curd is not a problem. Not everyone have access to fresh milk. In that case you can use full fat homogenized or pasteurized milk. Whole milk is preferred. Low fat, reduced fat milk, skimmed milk results in watery yogurt.

Curd | Yogurt

For making curd or yogurt at home, you need curd or yogurt as starter. Save couple tablespoon of curd from your previous batch to make curd. You can use store bought curd.

Container to Use to Set Curd

Can you believe that the container which you use to set curd plays an important role in the texture. Few years back I used to set curd in plastic containers. But after trying to reduce plastic usage, now I am using glass containers with plastic lid. I am sharing my knowledge about the containers so you can pick whichever suits you.

Plastic containers - I have stopped using plastic container. But it does the purpose and the only thing which I don't like is pouring warm milk in plastic. So try to choose BPA free containers.

Glass Jars - I prefer this containers these days. I like to use glass jars with plastic lid though. Because I find glass jars with metal lid rust faster because of the acidity. You can refer my yogurt with milk powder recipe below, that is my current yogurt jar.

Ceramic Canisters - One of the best jar you can use to set yogurt. It keeps the yogurt cold even when stored at room temperature. ceramic jars are convenient because you can put the canister directly in fridge.

Clay Pot - mud pot or clay pot gives thick set. The clay outer absorbs the excess moisture and gives thick yogurt always. Clay pot is best to store yogurt at room temperature, but the curd might get too sour. The only draw back, you cannot store clay pot in fridge.

How to Make Curd (3 Easy Steps)

Boiling Milk

Take your milk in a sauce pan and bring to boil. Remove this from the pan and pour it into another bowl and allow it to come to warm temperature.

Mixing Yogurt Starter

In a separate jar where you are planning to ferment curd. Add yogurt and pour in warm milk. Mix really well and let it ferment in a warm spot.

Fermenting

Cover the container with a lid and leave it in a warm place(in my house everywhere is warm, so I leave it over the counter top) for around 6 to 8 hours, it even takes 10 hours. Once set Place them in the fridge for a good couple of hours. Now your yogurt is ready to serve. serve as it is or add some sugar and serve as lassi.

How to Make Curd (Stepwise Pictures)

1)Take your milk in a sauce pan and bring to boil. Remove this from the pan and pour it into another bowl and allow it to come to warm temperature.

2)In a separate jar where you are planning to ferment curd. Add curd.

3)Mix curd till smooth and creamy so it evenly mixes with the milk.

4)pour in warm milk. Mix really well and let it ferment in a warm spot.

5)Mix this well and cover with a lid.

6)Cover the container with a lid and leave it in a warm place. I leave it over the counter top) for around 6 to 8 hours, it even takes 10 hours.

7)Once set Place them in the fridge for a good couple of hours.

8)Now your yogurt is ready to serve. serve as it is or add some sugar and serve as lassi.

9)Thick set curd is ready.

How to Make Curd using Milk powder

Traditionally yogurt is made with milk and yogurt culture. When you are out of milk, you can easily make yogurt using milk powder. It is easy and fast to make and sets beautifully just like regular yogurt.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Milk Powder
• 3 cups Water
• 4 tbsp Curd | Yogurt

How to Make Milk powder yogurt

1)Take milk powder in a sauce pan.

2)pour in water and mix well till properly mixed.

3)Place it on heat and bring it to a boil. Once it boils, turn off the heat and let it get warm.

4)It has to get luke warm. When you touch the milk using your finger it should be warm.

5)In a clean glass jar, add in yogurt or curd from your previous batch. You can add some store bought curd .

6)Pour the warm milk from a height. So the yogurt and milk mixes evenly.

7)Mix well, Cover the jar with lid and let it sit overnight at room temperature somewhere warm.

8)Next day yogurt will be set. Taste the yogurt, if it is not sour enough for you. You can leave it to ferment for few more hours. You can transfer the yogurt to fridge for few hours before serving.

9)Enjoy yogurt made with milk powder.

Pro Tips for Thick Curd

Starter

Try to use a good starter to make your first batch of curd. It can be storebought or it can be from your previous batch of curd. The starter should be at room temperature.

What Milk to use

If you want thick, creamy curd just like mine, Use a full fat milk. I always use "Arokya milk" when i make curd. If you use skimmed or low fat milk then the curd will not set thick, It will be runny.

Temperature of Milk

The temperature of the milk should be luke warm, just as the water which you add yeast in while making bread. If you add starter curd to hot milk, then the milk will curdle. If you add starter curd to cold milk, then the curd wont set. So make sure your milk is warm when you add the starter curd in. Another way to find the temperature of the milk is. If you dip your finger into the milk, it should be like a very warm bath, if it is too hot then you should allow the milk to cool completely.

Container to set yogurt

You can use stainless steel utensil, air tight plastic containers, tupperwares, glass containers.

Cold Climate & Winter Season

If you live in cold place, you want to leave the container in a warm oven for 8 to 10 hours. Turn the oven light on, so that it creates a warm temperature inside the oven.

Faq's

How is curd made at home?

When you mix your starter into warm milk, the bacteria in yogurt reacts with the warm milk and turn the entire milk into yogurt.

What are the steps in the process of curd?

The process is very simple, heat milk, mix starter with milk and leave to ferment. After fermentation you will get a perfectly set thayir or yogurt.

How long does it take for curd to set?

Depending on the climate and weather the time may vary. In warmer weather it will set in 8 hours. In colder weather it might take 12 to 18 hours.

What is the setting temperature of yogurt?

The perfect setting temperature to set yogurt is 37-42 degree centigrade.

How to set curd without starter?

You can set yogurt without a starter by using green chillies and dry red chillies. When I think about this method, I am remembering a similar version in which I made a dessert made with milk and ginger in which I add ginger juice into milk to make it set like a pudding which is called as ginger milk pudding.

using Dry Red Chillies - Add few dry red chillies with stalk in warm milk. The yogurt will be set for 12 to 14 hours.

using Green Chillies - Add few green chillies with stalk in warm milk. The yogurt will be set for 12 to 14 hours.

Why is my curd watery?

The main reason is the reduced amount of protein in the milk. If your milk has more water content the curd will be watery.

Why my curd slimy?

If the temperature of milk is not warm enough, the yogurt might get slimy. So heat your milk enough before adding the yogurt starter.

Why is my curd not thickening?

The reason for curd not thickening is because of these reason.

• not enough starter added
• temperature of milk not right
• fermentation time is not enough
• climate issues (too cold, winter)

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If you have any questions not covered in this post and if you need help, leave me a comment or mail me @[email protected] and I’ll help as soon as I can.

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