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Friday, August 26, 2011

Make Your Own Yogurt "Clay Pot Curd"

Day4 of BM8: Making Yogurt at home is a time honored ritual at almost all Indian homes. I also learnt that the Turkish and Russians are equally passionate about making Yogurt at home. One of my hubby's colleagues sent me a gift -- Tibetian Milk Mushrooms/Kefir Grains to make Kefir(Fermented Milk Drink). So I got into the task of "Kefir making" rather enthusiastically. After a week I found it very difficult to care for those mushrooms. And then it was time for me to look for a new hobby. He He. But if you guys are curious about this you can check this link.

I have seen my grandma set the Yogurt in an unglazed clay pot. So when MIL came, I asked her to get me a small clay pot. Somehow the clay pot made the journey all the way from across the world without breaking. The clay will allow the yoghurt to become thicker because of its water absorbing characteristics.

Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum-Part1(Political):
Mr and Mrs. Obama. Famous Obama Quotes: **A good compromise, a good piece of legislation, is like a good sentence; or a good piece of music. Everybody can recognize it. They say, 'Huh. It works. It makes sense.'** I think when you spread the wealth around it's good for everybody.** Money is not the only answer, but it makes a difference.**
The Great Soul/"Mahatma" Gandhi: A few of his famous quotes: **We must be the change we wish to see.**Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.** Culture of the mind must be subservient to the heart.**Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.**An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.**
Now onto the recipe:
Ingredients(For 4 Servings of thick Yogurt):
  • 5-6 Cups Whole Milk 
  • 3 Tbsp Yogurt, any brand of choice
Tool/Utensil:
  • Unglazed Clay Pot
  • Steel Sauce Pan
  • Ladle
Procedure:
  • Scald the milk in a stainless steel sauce pan.
  • Keep the flame medium and occasionally stir for 12-15 minutes. The milk shouldn't boil. Switch off the stove and let it cool down until it is "warm". Too hot milk might kill the bacteria in the Yogurt.
  • Dilute the Yogurt with a ladle-ful of warm milk and pour it into the clay pot. Cover it with a lid or cheese cloth and let it sit "undisturbed" in a warm spot.
  • The milk ferments in 4-5 hours or overnight depending on the weather.

How to make Raita/Pachadi/Indian Tzatziki:
This is somewhat similar to the Celery Root Remoulade that I had posted ages ago.

Ingredients(4-5 Servings)
  • 2 Cups of thick homemade or store-bought Yogurt (If the yogurt isn't thick, strain it)
  • 1/2 Small Red Onion
  • 1-2 Small Seedless Cucumber
  • 2 Small Carrots
  • 1/2 tsp Peppercorns
  • 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
  • Salt for taste
Procedure:
  • Strain the Yogurt for a couple of hours or simply use thick greek yogurt.
  • Shred the onion, carrot and cucumber.Mix it and set it aside.
  • Dry roast the peppercorns and cumin seeds.
  • Pound the toasted peppercorns and cumin seeds in a mortar-pestle.
  • Transfer the strained Yogurt, shredded Veggies to a large shallow bowl.
  • Add the coarsely ground peppercorns, cumin seeds along with salt.
Enjoy!

19 comments:

  1. I cannot stress enough about the divinity of home made yogurt made with culture got from back home :)

    I envy your clay pot ..I just missed getting it on my last trip!

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  2. Wow...wonderful..Love homemade curd...tastes great...loved ur clay pot too....Nice salad...

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  3. Home made yogurts are thick and divine.. loving your pics...
    Krithi's Kitchen

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  4. lovely pics CL....i love make it in a clay pot!....tastes surely different! the nice indian flavor!

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  5. Clay pot goes on my list of things to bring from India.. Raita looks awesome.

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  6. this surely tempts me to make homemade curds...wonder where my claypot is...??..love the colorful raita.....

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  7. Vowww....homemade yogurt is best and with clay one is fab...
    after seeing i remember my grandamom house n childhood memories...I only used to curd rice when i went 2 mygrandma house..
    thanks for sharing...
    first time 2 ur space....grt wrk...keep going dear...gud luck!!

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  8. Nothing will beat the homemade yogurt na, looks marvellous..love that raita too..

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  9. I have been thinking of getting a clay pot to set curd. Now you pics are giving me the much needed nudge.

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  10. awesome post on homemade curds n superr clicks!!!

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  11. such a great post... love it.. reminded me of home!!

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  12. and how about tea in a clay pot...or kulfi

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  13. I first came across yogurt in an unglazed clay pot in a food canteen in Delhi. This fascinated me because I could see that the clay had pulled moisture out of the yogurt. Now I've got the unglazed pots but worry that some of the clay will leach into the yogurt--and heaven only knows what additives might have been used in making the pots. Anybody have ideas on my concert?

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Thanks a bunch for your valuable comments and continued support.They are very much appreciated. Yes,like "Rain on Dry Land" and like "Oasis in Desert Sand".
XoXo, Cool Lassi(e)