Goat Milk Yogurt

There is no sure evidence about the discovery of yogurt, but one thing that can be said is that it was discovered by chance. And we should be thankful to whoever discovered it, because it is just delicious. Cow's milk is the commonly use milk. But some people are allergic to this kind (dairy products from cow's milk), and yogurt made from goat milk is specially useful to this community.

Why Goat Milk?

One would naturally have the question - 'why have yogurt of goat milk, when cow milk yogurt is easily available'. As such, there are no major differences between yogurt made from these two types of milk, and in fact, goat milk is higher on the calcium, vitamin A and iron count, as compared to other types of milk. When compared to cow milk, goat milk has high amount of saturated fats and cholesterol (a negative point). The plus points of goat milk is that it is normally suited to people who have allergy to other types of milk, and is beneficial to people suffering from degenerative diseases, asthma, etc.

I think there is no need for me to explain what is yogurt. In short, it is a dairy product prepared from bacterial fermentation of milk.The fermentation process is easy, and we would discuss the recipe in detail later.

Nutrition

Note: The nutritional facts presented below are based on the serving size of one container (6 oz), and comply with a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Information
Total Calories	100
Calories from Fat	40
Saturated Fat	3 gm
Sodium	80 mg
Total Carbohydrates	7 gm
Sugar	7 gm
Proteins	7 gm

Apart from the above, it is rich in vitamin A, calcium and iron, and contains good percentages of these. The benefits are listed below.

Benefits

• Digestion: One reason why it is better than cow milk yogurt is its easily digestible nature. Desired levels of fatty acids, linoleic acids, globules and arachnodonic acids in it, make it easy to digest.
• Rich Source: Goat milk is very rich in calcium, proteins, vitamins, magnesium, and other nutrients, making it a very healthy option. Compare it with cow's milk yogurt, and you will find that this milk is rich as far as vitamins and nutrients are concerned.
• Suits All: Goat milk is easily suited to toddlers and people prone to allergies. This option is very good for people allergic to cow's dairy products, and people with lactose intolerance and intestinal diseases.

Recipe

Making yogurt is easy, and considering that this type is not easily available in stores, a recipe would surly help. Take a look below. You must have also noticed that homemade yogurt tastes like heaven, and is free from added artificial ingredients.

Ingredients

• Milk - 1 gallon
• Cultured yogurt - 2 tsp (as a starter)
• Kitchen thermometer
• Glass quarter sized containers

Procedure

The first step to any milk fermentation process is heating the milk (this will kill the unwanted bacteria). So boil the milk to around 80°C, and stir it occasionally. Use a sterilized container to prepare and store the it. Let the previously heated milk to cool till 42°C (use a thermometer occasionally). Now add cultured yogurt into it, and keep stirring it till a consistent mixture is formed (stirring will help in spreading the bacteria and allow them to grow). Pour the milk in a glass container and cover it with a lid (to prevent other impurities to enter in it). The fermentation process will take around 8 hours to complete. Check it after the said duration, and you find that it has become thick, with a yellow film over it (you can discard this if you want). Use the yogurt within 5 days from the date of preparation.

There are many benefits of this food item as we have seen, and it is also very delicious. So try making this yogurt at home and enjoy the rich benefits.