Recipe for Homemade Almond Milk
With all the issues surrounding dairy and its link to gut issues, allergies, and other symptoms, it’s no surprise that people are looking for alternative sources to add to their cereal, smoothies, and morning coffee. Skip the soy milk, and go for a more nutritious and tastier alternative in almond milk. Find all the hints, tricks, and must do’s in this at home recipe.
Almond Milk Recipe: Step 1 – Source the Best Almonds
When preparing any recipe, it’s always imperative to get the cleanest and freshest ingredients possible. In an almond milk recipe, it really comes down to two ingredients – almonds and water.
In the case of almonds, it’s best to go organic and raw if possible. Conventional almonds go through a fumigation, pasteurization, and/or irradiation process that effectively leaves the nuts “dead”, or nutrient deficient, as well as toxic. You will definitely pay a bit more for organic almonds, but in the end you can save on the final product.
Consider that my fresh, organic, sprouted almond milk cost me $2.18/L to make, and the old, conventional, non-sprouted almond milk in the store is typically is in the $2.25/L range. Not only do you save a few pennies, you also save your health!
As for water, make sure it is at least filtered. If you can get your hands on a mineralized water (a Santevia system, for example), even better.
Almond Milk Recipe: Step 2 – Soak Your Almonds
This is a crucial step, and one that is skipped by 99.99% of every almond milk producer out there.
Almonds contain natural enzyme inhibitors. This is nature’s way of preserving the life of the nut that falls off a tree and lays on the ground, waiting for water so it can sprout and grow. The enzyme inhibitors allow the almond nut to survive a period of time, until it receives moisture, which then releases the enzymes so it can come to life.
Soaking your almonds for 8-12 hours releases those enzymes, and effectively “sprouts” them, which makes the almonds much more digestible and alive.
During those 8-12 hours you will want to drain and rinse in the first few hours, then one more time when preparing to make the almond milk.
* Note that the almonds will not actually grow a sprout, but rather, become swollen. You will know you have a good batch of almonds if they swell after 8 – 12 hours of soaking (a good way to tell is the “wrinkles” on the almonds are gone).
Almond Milk Recipe: Step 3 – Blending (5 mins)
Your next step is to add 1 cup of sprouted almonds to your blender and enough water to cover. Blend the mixture until smooth.
Then fill the blender with enough water to make 4 to 5 cups (depending on desired consistency). Blend again until you have the consistency of milk.
Now you have your first batch of organic almond milk ready! Only a few steps to go…
Almond Milk Recipe: Step 4 – Straining (5 mins)
Within this delicious almond milk mixture, you will have to strain out the skins and pulp so that it doesn’t taste and feel gritty.
There are a couple ways to accomplish this (strainer or nut milk bag), but I personally prefer the nut milk bag as it seems to do a much better job. However, the choice is yours, just make sure it is fine enough to sift out the pulp and allow the almond milk to flow through.
One way to accomplish this is to place the nut mylk bag or strainer over top a 1 liter container (a measuring cup that allows you to pour after is a good idea) and pour the almond milk through the strainer of choice. The almond milk will slowly sift through and leave a bit of pulp behind, which some people use in their baking recipes.
The sifting process can take up to 45 minutes if you just let gravity do it’s job, but if you have a nut milk bag you can squeeze the milk out much quicker (5 mins).
Now you have your first batch of organic, sprouted, and fresh almond milk. Are you excited?
Almond Milk Recipe: Step 5 – Storage (5 mins)
Freshly made almond milk can easily last in the fridge for up to 3 days (the longest it’s been in my fridge before being consumed), and up to 5 days should be fine.
If you have extra almonds you didn’t use, simply store them in the fridge and they will keep for a couple weeks. You could also use them for salads and other recipes that call for almonds.
There are also several additions you can make to your almond milk including dates to sweeten (or stevia), along with vanilla or even cinnamon. Get creative, after all, you can now make your almond milk to order!
For more information on ways to get healthy on the cheap, visit http://ganocoffeebenefits.com/.
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