Almond Milk
If you’re a lover of almonds and DIY-ing or just simply looking to try something new, then why not have a go at making your own almond milk. Raw almonds alone are packed full of nutrients and vitamins that will give you that extra boost of energy you need for the day – but sometimes it can get slightly boring eating the same foods over and over again. That is why making your own almond milk not only gives you a fun little activity to do but it can also diversify your almond intake.
To make things better, by making your own almond milk you are able to control the amount of sweetness you add as well as infuse flavours to give your almond milk that extra flair
Making your own almond milk from home is extremely easy and involves simple household ingredients. It generally has a lifespan of 4-5 days and is perfect to add to your cereal, hot beverages, smoothies or baked goods!
As a general rule the ratio for almond milk is 1 cup almonds : 2 cups water, this will produce 2% milk. If you prefer thinner milk, add more water; and for thicker milk, add less water.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Raw almonds *
- 3-4 cups Fresh water
- Add ins (Optional: Medjool Dates *, Maple Syrup *, Raw Organic Honey *, Cacao Powder * or Berries)
- 1 Nut Milk Bag
Instructions
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Gather your almonds in a bowl filled with cool water and allow them to soak overnight
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Once almonds have been soaked for 24 hours, drain the water and add the almonds into a blender
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Add fresh water, and any additional add ins of your choice to infuse flavour
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Blend mixture for 1-2 minutes until the mixture has a smooth creamy consistency
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Pour milk through the nut milk bag into a large jug and squeeze the nut mix bag to extract all the liquid
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Pour the milk into a glass and enjoy!
What to do with the leftover almond pulp?
It is always best to avoid wasting food so instead of discarding the remaining almond pulp once you have drained your almond milk you can use it to make your own almond meal.
Ingredients
- Left over almond pulps
Instructions
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Pre-heat oven at 93°C. Add baking paper to a tray and spread almond pulp evenly.
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Once the oven is warm enough add the tray and bake for 1 hr 45 mins – 2 hrs. Stir every 30 minutes for the first 1.5 hrs, then at 15 min intervals until the pulp is as dry as possible (but not toasted)
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Remove from oven and let the dried meal cool completely (best left to cool overnight)
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Once the almond meal has been completely cooled, add to a high speed blender or food processor.
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Blend on high until the meal has a fine powdery flour consistency (roughly 15 seconds)
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Be careful not to over-blend the mixture otherwise the the almond meal will develop a clumpy consistency
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Transfer your almond meal to a jar or container and store up to 1 month non-refrigerated
Let us know what you think by sharing your creations with #nakedfoods and @nakedfoods, or leave a comment below!
References
- How to Make Almond Meal from Almond Pulp. Minimalist Baker. (2019). Retrieved 20 August 2021, from https://minimalistbaker.com/how-to-make-almond-meal-from-almond-pulp/.
- How to Make Almond Milk. Minimalist Baker. (2020). Retrieved 20 August 2021, from https://minimalistbaker.com/how-to-make-almond-milk/.
About the Author
Gabriella is a University student studying a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and International Business. She is passionate about health and fitness and follows a ‘semi-vegetarian’ diet – a less restricted diet fuelled with all the essential nutrients from whole foods and the occasional inclusion of selected meats. She is keen to learn how to implement sustainable measures in her life and lead a more eco-friendly life
