Instant Pot Yogurt - Cold Start

There are so many recipes and information for instant pot yogurt on the internet, it will make your head spin!  I settled on making the cold start method as it seemed the easiest.  This is the first recipe I tried and it turned out perfect.  Why try any other, one and done!  It's from the blog, Pipping Hot Curry.  Below I'm going to share the exact ingredients and instructions I use but if you need any more info check out Pipping Hot Curry.  She goes into detail about the kind of milk, starter, and sweetener you must use for cold start to turn out.  


*Very important before starting - sterilize your pot first.  It's not enough to just clean because you never want your yogurt tasting like last night's dinner.  I even went as far as having a designated pot just for yogurt.  To sterilize, you simply pour boiling water in the inner pot and discard it or pressure cook one cup water one minute to sanitize.  I'm not sure if this matters but I always make sure my pot is back to room temperature before I start.  Being a cold start method I don't want to start it out in a hot pan.  

ingredients:

• 52-ounce Fairlife Whole Milk 
• 2 tablespoons Fage Yogurt (*see note below)
• 1/2 can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

Instructions

• Add milk, yogurt and 1/2 can sweetened condensed milk to Instant Pot insert. Whisk together very well to incorporate completely.
• Place on instant pot lid or a glass lid.  (It doesn't pressure cook so you can use any lid)
• Push the Yogurt button and use the +/- buttons and set time to 8 hours. (mine automatically sets for 8 hours)
• When the yogurt cycle is completed and the Instant Pot beeps, DON'T (**see note) stir but carefully remove the lid not letting the condensation drip into the yogurt.  Remove the inner pot and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.  (**see note) At this point, if it's not as thick as you like, strain in a yogurt strainer.  
• Enjoy yogurt with your favorite flavor and toppings. 

Note

*After you have made your first batch of yogurt, be sure to scoop 2 tablespoons of the yogurt into a small container and freeze to use for making the next batch.  This will be your new yogurt starter, you won't have to buy another container of yogurt again.  Just defrost in the refrigerator overnight and add to the milk and condensed milk.

**The yogurt needs several hours in the fridge to set up and thicken so don't be tempted to stir!

***Strain or not to strain - I've made it both ways and I prefer not straining.  Not straining you get a creamy smooth texture and straining it, it is thicker but not as smooth.  Recently I read you can use a hand mixer (a whisk just doesn't do the trick) to get the strained yogurt more smooth.  I'll have to give it a try and let you know.                                                                                                                                                                                             

Chicken Mango Avocado Salad

I've been asked what I'm making these days in isolation. Even for me, who enjoys cooking, having to prepare three meals a day and only going to the grocery store as little as possible is a huge ordeal.  I'm used to going to the grocery store almost daily but the new normal is stocking the freezer and using up the fresh ingredients I have so they don't go to waste.  It has taken a lot of organization.  I have a list on my fridge on what leftovers I have and meals I can make.  Each day I look to see what needs to be eaten first.  Today we had yogurt, fruit and granola for breakfast, this salad for lunch (below) and Italian meatloaf with roasted vegetables for dinner.  I got this salad recipe from Natashia's Kitchen.  On her blog, she makes a large salad that serves 8.  Here, I've adjusted it to make 2 meal-size portion salads for my husband and I.  When the day comes that I can have others over for dinner the full size will be on the menu.  It's delicious!  It has chunks of juicy mangos, creamy avocado, crunchy veggies, and the chicken makes it a hearty satisfying meal.  Right now, we all need the extra comfort good food can bring.  In a few days, I'll be back to share with you the instant pot yogurt I've been making.  It too is delicious, so easy and I make it often.  It's nice to always have fresh yogurt in the fridge for breakfast or a healthy snack.  Enjoy and stay healthy!!

I ended up making an extra chicken breast so that I could make it again the next day so to use up the 1/2 avocado and 1/2 mango.
The next day the mango was good but the avocado got a little brown, which was fine but next time I'll just buy a smaller avocado and use it all.  Avocados are best eaten fresh.

Chicken Avocado Mango Salad Ingredients:

• 1 medium chicken breast (sprinkled with garlic salt and freshly ground pepper)
• 1 tsp olive oil (I like to use avocado oil as it has a higher smoke point)
• 3-4 cups romaine lettuce rinsed, chopped and spun dry
• 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes halved
• 1/4 cucumber sliced
• 1//2 mango pitted, peeled and diced
• 1/2 avocado pitted, peeled and diced (or 1 small)
• 2 tablespoons red onion, diced 
• 2 tablespoons cilantro chopped
• 2 tablespoons almonds toasted, for topping
• 
  
• 

Honey Vinaigrette Dressing: (I make the full recipe for dressing as it's great on any salad)

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 
• 2 tsp dijon mustard 
• 2 tsp honey 
• 1 garlic clove - 1 tsp minced
• 1 tsp kosher salt 
• 1/4 tsp black pepper 

Instructions

How to Make Chicken Mango Avocado Salad

1. Cut chicken breast in half lengthwise then season with garlic salt and pepper to taste and saute in oil over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through. Remove from pan, cool for 5 minutes then slice into strips against the grain.
2. 
   In two large salad bowls, add chopped romaine. Top with cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, diced mango and avocado, red onion and cilantro.

How to Make Honey Vinaigrette Dressing:

1. Combine the Honey Vinaigrette Dressing Ingredients in a bowl and whisk together.  If not using dressing right away, shake well just before serving. Drizzle over salad. 

                                                           

22 of the Best Things to do in Door County, Wisconsin

I love Door County!!