Kefir yogurt may be too sour for some people. Sweden offers an alternative to kefir fermentation that can also be done at room temperature. Filmjolk is a fermented yogurt that has a creamy custard-like consistency, and is much sweeter than Kefir. The taste is similar to buttermilk. In Sweden, filmjolk yogurt is used in breakfast cereal or mixed with fruits and spices. Sweden used the cultures as a way to preserve milk. The climate changes between severe winters and intense summers, so different methods of preserving food were necessary for survival. Filmjolk has similar probiotic benefits as kefir and yogurt. It can also be used to make a yogurt cheese or butter.
Steps to Make Filmjolk Yogurt
What You Need
Fresh filmjolk starter
Glass jar
Fresh milk
Wooden or plastic spoon
Rubber-band
Coffee filter
Step 1
Measure out a tablespoon of fresh filmjolk yogurt starter for each cup of milk you would like to ferment.
Step 2
Put your starter into a glass jar. Pour 1 cup of fresh milk into the jar for each tablespoon of starter you have.
Step 3
Use a wooden or plastic spoon to mix the starter evenly through the milk. Don’t use metal because it will react with fermented foods. Mix the mixture well.
Step 4
Rubber-band a coffee filter around the top of your jar to allow air circulation. Select a location to place your yogurt away from sunlight and in an area that remains at room temperature.
Step 5
Allow your yogurt to ferment for 12 hours. Check it to see if the mixture has thickened and gelled. If not, allow it to ferment for up to another 6 hours.
Step 6
Put your yogurt in the refrigerator after it has set. Let it stay in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours before setting aside some of the yogurt for a new batch.
Step 7
Reserve a tablespoon of your filmjolk for each cup of yogurt you would like to make in your next batch. Eat the rest of the yogurt. Make sure to begin fermenting your next batch within a week, or your cultures will weaken.
Sweden: The Official Gateway to Sweden; Swedish culinary classics— recipes with history andoriginality
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