Monday, February 20, 2012

Easy Homemade Almond Milk

My list of new recipes to try seems to be monumental right now!  But trying almond milk has been near the top right now as I have been looking for creative liquids to give my toddler.  One of my sister's happened to be in town last week and she has made almond milk before, so she gave me a little lesson.

Photo Credit: Youthfulhearts.com
We covered 2 cups of almonds in water and left them overnight.  In the morning we poured out the soaking water and placed the almonds in my vitamix (a strong blender should work as well).  We then added 2 cups of water and blended on high for about 1 1/2 -2 minutes.  We strained the liquid through a very tiny mesh strainer, then place the pulp back into the vitamix and added another 1 1/2 cups of water and ran it again on high for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes.  We strained the liquid again and were left with some yummy almond milk.  I saved the pulp and have used it in smoothies, oatmeal, and sourdough bread.  Don't want those nutrients to go to waste!

We will be enjoying this in our house on a regular basis now, I hope, though definitely not daily, as almonds have oxalates which can interfere with calcium absorption and can be difficult for some people to tolerate.

(Featured on Nourishing Treasures, Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms, My Sweet and Savory, Healthy Home Economist, Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker, Ruth's Real Food, Homestead Revival, Real Food Forager, Simply Sugar and Gluten Free)



3 comments:

  1. Isn't homemade almond milk wonderful?! I often add cocoa powder to it or make it into strawberry milk. I have been loving all of the recipes you have been posting!

    ReplyDelete
  2. If I am not incorrect, the oxalates are in the skin and get soaked off - so when you pour out the soaking water you also pour out the oxalates. If you want to be extra careful you can rinse the almonds again after you pour out the soaking water, before you blend them.

    And if you want to have fun with your kids [or your own inner kid!] after the soaking, squeeze each almond and it will just pop out of its skin - but take care because they can shoot across the room. Skinless almonds will give you whiter milk if that is something you look for - also will get rid of all sources of oxalates. Using less water will give you creamier milk. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That's great to know! I don't like to waste the almond meal, so I'm glad to hear that soaking will help to remove the oxalates...my son also LOVES almonds, so will be enjoying them a little more now!

    ReplyDelete