Almond Milk Two Ways
Nut milk is all the rage today. As many people realize that they have dairy allergies, and no longer want to pump their bodies full of hormones and antibiotics, the nut milk industry has boomed. My body does not digest dairy well, so I have been on the nut milk train for a long time! However, I only recently found out that there are some hidden ingredients in store-bought almond milk that I do not want in my body. Good reminder that just because something is “healthy”, does not mean that the ingredients should be overlooked.
A lot of store bought almond milk contains natural flavors – whatever that means, sunflower lecithin, and guar gum. These emulsifiers can cause digestive issues and alter healthy levels of intestinal bacteria (yikes!). As someone who suffers from GI issues, these are a no go.
Good news, making homemade almond milk is CRAZY easy, fast, and I find it to actually be way tastier! This can be repeated for almost any nut. Some other favorites are cashew milk and pecan milk. I seriously could not believe how easy it was to make. It only takes a few ingredients and a blender and voila!
Almond milk #1
(traditional version)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup raw almonds (soaked overnight in water)
- 4 cups filtered water
- pinch of salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1-2 tbsp maple syrup (or 2 dates)
Instructions:
- Put almonds in a bowl and cover with water
- Set on your counter and let soak overnight
- Add all ingredients to a blender and let it rip
- Place a bowl on the counter and put a nut milk bag in the bowl (this is the one I use)
- Pour the mixture into the nut milk bag, close it up and squeeze to get all the goodness out
- When you have your milk, pour to a jug, or glass bottles and enjoy for around 3 days
Almond milk #2
(lazy gal version)
Ingredients:
- TBSP raw almond butter
- cups of water
- Optional: 1-2 dates, dash of maple syrup or vanilla
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to a blender and let it rip
- When done, add to your favorite glass jar and keep in the fridge for around 5 days
- When ready to drink, shake it up. No need to strain it.
