HOMEMADE COCONUT YOGURT

Homemade Coconut Yogurt image

Provided by Katherine Sacks

Yield About 3 cups

Number Of Ingredients 6

3 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
2 teaspoons pectin powder (such as Pomona's)
4 tablespoons store-bought coconut yogurt with live cultures
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Special Equipment:
3 (8-ounce) or 2 (16-ounce) glass jars with lids

Steps:

Working in 2 batches, purée coconut and 4 1/2 cups hot water in a blender on high with vent open or lid slightly ajar covered with a towel (hot liquids can splatter) until smooth, 4-5 minutes. Pour mixture through a fine-mesh sieve set over a large bowl. Using a small ladle, spatula, or wooden spoon, press as much liquid from coconut as possible. You should have approximately 3 1/2 cups of milk. Discard solids or reserve for another use (see headnote). Rinse blender.
Blend pectin and 1 cup coconut milk in blender until smooth, about 1 minute. Heat the remaining coconut milk in a medium saucepan over medium-high until an instant-read thermometer registers 140°F. Stir in pectin mixture and return to 140°F. Remove from heat and cool until thermometer registers 110°F. Whisk in coconut yogurt and vanilla, if using, pour into jars, and seal.
Fill a large stockpot with water and heat until thermometer registers 115°F. Remove from heat, carefully place sealed jars in pot, and check water level-the jars should be submerged enough to cover all of the yogurt. Cover pot and let culture at least 12 hours and up to 1 day. Transfer jars to the refrigerator and chill at least 6 hours-the yogurt will become thicker as it chills.