If you’re a lover of almond milk and head to the supermarket every time you have a craving, why not make it at home instead? Making almond milk at home is entirely organic and reduces your chances of consuming added preservatives.
Here are some delightfully easy recipes to whip up some almond milk at home in a jiffy:
Classic almond milk
The quintessential almond milk is not flavoured separately. It is made from just three ingredients. The omega-3 fatty acids present in almonds are responsible for lowering the bad cholesterol in blood as well as helping with weight management.
You need:
- 1 cup almonds
- 3–5 cups chilled water
- strainer or nut-milk bag
Method:
- Soak the almonds for 4–5 hours (or overnight). Soaking ensures that the almonds are adequately plump and can be easily blended. If you don’t have the time to soak the almonds for so long, consider soaking them in hot water for just an hour. Doing so will make them soften quickly so that they are easier to blend.
- After soaking, strain the almonds and rinse them clean.
- Put them in a blender, add the water and blend for 3–4 minutes, or until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- With the help of a strainer or nut-milk bag, separate the almond pulp from the milk. You can put the almond milk into the blender and turn it on once more to get a thicker consistency.
Chocolate almond milk
If you’re starting to get bored of the natural flavour of almond milk, it’s time to mix things up a bit. Chocolate is an easy place to start, so go ahead and add some to your almond milk. It stimulates the secretion of happy hormones that alleviate anxiety and depression.
You need:
- 1 cup soaked almonds
- 3–5 cups chilled water
- 1 cup dairy-free dark chocolate
- strainer or nut-milk bag
Method:
- Follow the recipe for making almond milk, as above (soak the almonds in water, blend and strain).
- Melt the dark chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water.
- Once the chocolate is melted, pour about ½ cup almond milk into the molten chocolate and whisk well. This process ensures that there are no chocolate clumps.
- Pour the chocolate-almond milk mixture into the remaining almond milk and whisk thoroughly. Your thick and delicious chocolate almond milk is ready to enjoy!
Coconut almond milk
Another twist to regular almond milk is adding coconut water to it. Coconut water is a highly hydrating drink. Also, unlike regular water, coconut water contains some salts and minerals that help to replenish the nutrients that are lost when we perspire.
You need:
- 1 cup soaked almonds
- 3–5 cups chilled coconut water
- strainer or nut-milk bag
Method:
- Follow the recipe for making almond milk, as above (soak the almonds in water, blend and strain).
- Take the almond milk and blend it with the coconut water.
Vanilla almond milk
Quell those ice-cream cravings by turning your almond milk into a yummy vanilla-flavoured drink. Vanilla has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to soothe joint and muscle pain. It also helps to lower bad cholesterol in the blood, keeping your heart healthy.
You need:
- 1 cup soaked almonds
- 3–5 cups chilled water
- 2–4 pitted dates
- 1 vanilla bean (or ½ tsp vanilla extract)
- strainer or nut-milk bag
Method:
- Follow the recipe for making almond milk, as above (soak the almonds in water, blend and strain).
- Add the dates and vanilla to the almond milk. Blend again until it’s thick and creamy.
Cinnamon almond milk
You might also choose to spice up your almond milk with a hint of cinnamon. Cinnamon has a host of health benefits such as reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and lowering blood-sugar levels.
You need:
- 1 cup soaked almonds
- 3–5 cups chilled water
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- strainer or nut-milk bag
Method:
- Follow the recipe for making almond milk, as above (soak the almonds in water, blend and strain).
- After you have strained it, put the almond milk in the blender again, add the cinnamon and blend on full speed for another minute or so.
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