Ready to make your own homemade soy yogurt? In this blog post I share video tutorials and complete step-by-step recipe for how to make soya yoghurt using both commercial soy milk and homemade soy milk from beans.
Homemade soy yogurt is one of the easiest ways to enjoy a high-protein, dairy-free yogurt made with simple ingredients you control. Whether you’re looking to save money, avoid unnecessary additives, or create thick and creamy Greek-style soy yogurt, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
This guide is designed for beginners and will continue to grow as I test new methods, ingredients, and equipment. Throughout this article, I’ll also share the tools and ingredients I use, along with videos demonstrating each step of the process.
Why Make Homemade Soy Yogurt?
Making your own soy yogurt has several advantages over buying it at the grocery store.
You control every ingredient that goes into your yogurt, avoiding unnecessary gums, preservatives, and added sugars if you choose. Homemade soy yogurt can also contain more protein than many store-bought plant-based yogurts while costing significantly less per serving.
Once you learn the process, making a new batch only takes a few minutes of hands-on time.
Benefits include:
- High in plant-based protein
- Dairy-free and vegan
- Less expensive than store-bought yogurt
- Customizable sweetness and thickness
- Can be made into Greek-style yogurt
- Excellent source of probiotics when made with live cultures
- Easy to flavor with fruit, vanilla, or other ingredients
Equipment You’ll Need
While soy yogurt can be made using several different methods, having the right equipment makes the process much easier and produces more consistent results.
For this series, I’ll be testing and comparing several methods and tools, including:
- Ultimate Yogurt Maker
- Ultimate Yogurt Strainer
- Instant Pot Pro 8 Quart (Yogurt Function)
- Novalife Nut Milk Maker
- Nut Milk Straining Device
- Glass jars with lids
- Measuring spoons
- Silicone whisk
- Optional digital thermometer
Each piece of equipment serves a different purpose, and throughout my testing I’ll compare which methods produce the best texture, flavor, and consistency.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Homemade soy yogurt only requires a few ingredients, but each one plays an important role.
Soy Milk
The quality of your soy milk has the biggest impact on the finished yogurt.
You can use either homemade soy milk or store-bought soy milk. Homemade soy milk gives you complete control over the ingredients and often produces a richer yogurt with fewer additives.
For my recipes, I’ll primarily be using homemade soy milk made with the Novalife Nut Milk Maker.
Soy Beans
Starting with quality soybeans makes a noticeable difference.
I’ll be using Be Still Farms Organic Soy Beans because they are non-GMO, organic, and produce a clean-tasting soy milk that’s perfect for yogurt making.
Fresh soybeans stored in a cool, dry place will provide the best results.
Yogurt Starter Culture
Every batch of yogurt needs live cultures to begin fermentation.
Several options work well:
- Store-bought plain soy yogurt with live cultures
- Freeze-dried vegan yogurt starters
- Previous homemade batch
- Dairy yogurt cultures (for those who don’t require a vegan starter)
I’ll be testing several different starter cultures to compare flavor, texture, and reliability.
Inulin Powder
Inulin is an optional ingredient, but it offers several benefits.
It is a natural prebiotic fiber derived from chicory root that may help support certain probiotic bacteria during fermentation. It also improves the body and creaminess of soy yogurt while helping reduce liquid separation after fermentation.
In addition to improving texture, inulin increases the fiber content of your yogurt and adds a very mild natural sweetness without adding sugar.
A good starting point is one to two tablespoons per quart (4 cups) of soy milk.
I’ll also be testing batches with and without inulin to see how much difference it makes.
Here’s the best inulin powder for making yogurt: Ultimate Organic Inulin Powder
Optional Ingredients
Depending on the recipe, you may also use:
- Cornstarch for additional thickness
- Sugar if your starter culture benefits from it
- Vanilla extract
- Maple syrup
- Fresh fruit
- Salt (for savory recipes)
Step-by-Step: How to Make Soy Yogurt
The basic process is simple.
Prepare your soy milk.
If making homemade soy milk, use fresh soybeans and strain the milk using a nut milk straining device before heating if needed.
Allow the soy milk to cool to the appropriate culturing temperature.
Mix in your yogurt starter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
If using inulin, whisk it into the soy milk before fermentation.
Pour the mixture into clean jars or yogurt containers.
Incubate using your yogurt maker or the yogurt setting on your Instant Pot.
Once fermentation is complete, refrigerate the yogurt for several hours before serving.
The yogurt will continue to thicken as it chills.
Homemade Soy Milk vs. Store-Bought Soy Milk
Both options can make excellent yogurt, but there are some differences.
Homemade soy milk allows you to control the protein content, ingredients, and consistency while eliminating stabilizers and added oils commonly found in commercial products.
Store-bought soy milk offers convenience and consistency.
I’ll be comparing both methods to determine which produces the best homemade yogurt.
Yogurt Maker vs. Instant Pot
One of the most common questions is whether you need a dedicated yogurt maker.
The Ultimate Yogurt Maker is designed specifically for culturing yogurt at stable temperatures over long periods.
The Instant Pot Pro 8 Quart includes a yogurt function that can also produce excellent results while serving many other kitchen purposes.
Throughout this series, I’ll compare both methods to see which produces the best texture, consistency, and ease of use.
How to Make Thick Greek Soy Yogurt
If you enjoy Greek yogurt, homemade soy yogurt can easily be transformed into a thick, creamy version.
After fermentation and chilling, transfer the yogurt to the Ultimate Yogurt Strainer and allow it to drain until it reaches your preferred consistency.
Straining removes excess liquid while concentrating the protein and creating a rich, spoonable yogurt that’s perfect for breakfast, dips, sauces, and desserts.
The leftover liquid can also be saved for use in smoothies, baking, or other recipes.
Troubleshooting Homemade Soy Yogurt
If your yogurt doesn’t turn out as expected, don’t worry. Small changes in ingredients, temperatures, or starter cultures can affect the final product.
Common issues include:
- Yogurt didn’t thicken
- Too much liquid separation
- Grainy texture
- Sour flavor
- Weak fermentation
- Starter culture didn’t activate
- Yogurt became too thick
- Yogurt developed off flavors
I’ll be creating videos that address these common problems and how to fix them.
Soy Yogurt Experiments I’ll Be Testing
Throughout this series I’ll continue adding new experiments to help determine the best methods for making homemade soy yogurt.
Some upcoming tests include:
- Ultimate Yogurt Maker vs. Instant Pot
- Homemade soy milk vs. store-bought soy milk
- Vegan starter culture comparisons
- Different fermentation temperatures
- Different fermentation times
- Organic soybeans comparison
- Inulin vs. no inulin
- Cornstarch vs. no cornstarch
- Inulin plus cornstarch
- Greek soy yogurt techniques
- Flavor comparisons
- Texture comparisons
Each experiment will include detailed results and video demonstrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make soy yogurt without a yogurt maker?
Can I use the Instant Pot instead?
Can I make yogurt from homemade soy milk?
Do I need a vegan starter culture?
Can I reuse homemade yogurt as a starter?
How long does soy yogurt last?
Can I freeze soy yogurt?
How do I make thicker soy yogurt?
Should I add inulin?
Do I need cornstarch?
Can I flavor my yogurt after fermentation?
Can I make Greek-style soy yogurt?
Recommended Equipment and Ingredients
For this series, these are the products I’ll be using and testing:
- Ultimate Yogurt Maker
- Ultimate Yogurt Strainer
- Ultimate Organic Chicory Root Inulin Powder
- Novalife Nut Milk Maker
- Be Still Farms Organic Soy Beans
- Nut Milk Straining Device
- Instant Pot Pro 8 Quart
- Glass yogurt jars
- Silicone whisk
- Measuring spoons
As I continue publishing videos and recipes, I’ll update this guide with additional tips, comparisons, and test results so it becomes a complete resource for anyone interested in making homemade soy yogurt.