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Photo:Ana Cadena
Ana Cadena
Prep Time:15 minsAdditional Time:8 hrsTotal Time:8 hrs 15 minsServings:6Yield:6 servingsJump to Nutrition Facts
Prep Time:15 minsAdditional Time:8 hrsTotal Time:8 hrs 15 minsServings:6Yield:6 servings
Prep Time:15 mins
Prep Time:
15 mins
Additional Time:8 hrs
Additional Time:
8 hrs
Total Time:8 hrs 15 mins
Total Time:
8 hrs 15 mins
Servings:6
Servings:
6
Yield:6 servings
Yield:
6 servings
Jump to Nutrition Facts
Jump to recipe
One of the most ubiquitous of all nondairy beverages out there is almond milk. You can buy it sweetened (or not), flavored (or not), refrigerated or shelf-stable. The choices are endless. So why the heck would you make it yourself? If you’re a fan, it turns out that there may be plenty of good reasons—and it’s easier than you think. Read on for why you should give almond milk a try, why making it yourself could be beneficial and how to make it at home.
Why Almond Milk?
If you’re vegan or lactose intolerant, almond milk offers a great alternative to skim milk. But if you’re none of the above, it still touts plenty of advantages. It’s relatively low in calories (about 30 calories per cup depending on the brand for the unsweetened variety versus 80 calories for 1 cup of skim milk), and with virtually no sugar (again, for the unsweetened stuff) it has almost no carbohydrates. If you’re looking for protein, almond milk is lacking (it has around 1 gram per cup) but if you’re using it in smoothies, adding nuts,lentilsorprotein powdercan give it a boost. Nutrition aside, its mild, nutty taste is never intrusive and it’s a great starting point for people trying nondairy beverages for the first time.
Why Should You Make Almond Milk Yourself?
Almond milk is everywhere, so why make it yourself? Well, you may be surprised to learn that almonds are only one of the ingredients in store-bought almond milk. Stabilizers, flavors and additives are all common ingredients in store-bought almond milk. What are the main ingredients in homemade almond milk? Almonds and water. Plus, making it yourself gives you some creative liberties that you wouldn’t otherwise get. You can use spices like cinnamon or cardamom to give it flavor all your own and choose whether or not to add a sweetener like maple syrup, honey or agave at the end to sweeten it up.
Is Almond Milk Good or Bad for the Environment?
Equipment for Making Homemade Almond Milk
Cook Mode(Keep screen awake)Ingredients1cupraw whole almonds5whole pitted dates1cinnamon stick5 ½cupswater, plus more for soaking1teaspoonvanilla extract¼teaspoonsalt½teaspoonHoney, maple syrup or agave syrup
Cook Mode(Keep screen awake)
Ingredients
1cupraw whole almonds
5whole pitted dates
1cinnamon stick
5 ½cupswater, plus more for soaking
1teaspoonvanilla extract
¼teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonHoney, maple syrup or agave syrup
DirectionsCombine almonds, dates and cinnamon stick in a large bowl. Cover with water and let soak at for least 8 hours or overnight. Drain almonds and dates; discard cinnamon stick. Rinse almonds and dates.Ana CadenaPuree the almonds, dates and 5 1/2 cups water in a blender until finely ground. Strain the almond milk through a sieve lined with a double thickness of cheesecloth (or a nut-milk bag) into a large measuring cup or bowl. Gather the cheesecloth (or the nut-milk bag) and squeeze to extract as much almond milk as possible. Discard the pulp or reserve for another use (see Tips). Whisk vanilla, salt and sweetener, if using, into the almond milk.Ana CadenaTipsTo make ahead: Refrigerate the almond milk for up to 3 days.Tips: To prepare in an Almond Cow machine, place almonds in basket of the machine. Pour water into the base, up to minimum line, adding more if necessary. Close and grind for 1 minute (2 cycles). Discard almond pulp or reserve for another use (see below). Place dates in the basket, grind for 1 minute. Discard date pulp. Whisk vanilla, salt and sweetener, if using, into the almond milk.You can add the leftover almond and date pulp to hot cereals and smoothies.Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, March 2018
Directions
Combine almonds, dates and cinnamon stick in a large bowl. Cover with water and let soak at for least 8 hours or overnight. Drain almonds and dates; discard cinnamon stick. Rinse almonds and dates.Ana CadenaPuree the almonds, dates and 5 1/2 cups water in a blender until finely ground. Strain the almond milk through a sieve lined with a double thickness of cheesecloth (or a nut-milk bag) into a large measuring cup or bowl. Gather the cheesecloth (or the nut-milk bag) and squeeze to extract as much almond milk as possible. Discard the pulp or reserve for another use (see Tips). Whisk vanilla, salt and sweetener, if using, into the almond milk.Ana CadenaTipsTo make ahead: Refrigerate the almond milk for up to 3 days.Tips: To prepare in an Almond Cow machine, place almonds in basket of the machine. Pour water into the base, up to minimum line, adding more if necessary. Close and grind for 1 minute (2 cycles). Discard almond pulp or reserve for another use (see below). Place dates in the basket, grind for 1 minute. Discard date pulp. Whisk vanilla, salt and sweetener, if using, into the almond milk.You can add the leftover almond and date pulp to hot cereals and smoothies.
Combine almonds, dates and cinnamon stick in a large bowl. Cover with water and let soak at for least 8 hours or overnight. Drain almonds and dates; discard cinnamon stick. Rinse almonds and dates.
Puree the almonds, dates and 5 1/2 cups water in a blender until finely ground. Strain the almond milk through a sieve lined with a double thickness of cheesecloth (or a nut-milk bag) into a large measuring cup or bowl. Gather the cheesecloth (or the nut-milk bag) and squeeze to extract as much almond milk as possible. Discard the pulp or reserve for another use (see Tips). Whisk vanilla, salt and sweetener, if using, into the almond milk.
Tips
To make ahead: Refrigerate the almond milk for up to 3 days.
Tips: To prepare in an Almond Cow machine, place almonds in basket of the machine. Pour water into the base, up to minimum line, adding more if necessary. Close and grind for 1 minute (2 cycles). Discard almond pulp or reserve for another use (see below). Place dates in the basket, grind for 1 minute. Discard date pulp. Whisk vanilla, salt and sweetener, if using, into the almond milk.
You can add the leftover almond and date pulp to hot cereals and smoothies.
Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, March 2018
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Nutrition Facts(per serving)10Calories1gFat1gCarbs0gProtein
Nutrition Facts(per serving)
- Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.
