3-Ingredient Milk Substitute: Versatile, Easy, Fresh, and Healthy
Milk substitutes are so simple to make. If you have any nuts, seeds (like hemp), oats, or coconut flakes, you can make a milk substitute. Once you know how to make a basic milk substitute, you can always have milk in your fridge. For a basic recipe, all you need are nuts, sweetener, salt, and water. See the notes section for variations to adjust to your preferences and needs.
Servings: 8 cups
Ingredients
Soaking Ingredients
- 1 cup almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts (any nut) whole and raw are best (no shells)
- ½ tsp salt
- filtered water enough to cover nuts by 1 inch
Milk Substitute Beverage Ingredients
- 1 cup almonds or whatever nut that was soaked (at this point you can use dry oats, hulled hemp seeds, or coconut flakes) all nuts that were soaked or other substitute
- 1 tsp salt
- 2-5 tbsp honey, maple syrup, any granulated sugar or other sweetener or 1-3 pitted dates
- 4-8 cups water, depending on your preferred thickness 4 cups = 2% - whole milk consistency: 8 cups = skim - 1% milk consistency
Optional Ingredients (not necessarily together)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼-½ tsp almond extract
- ¼ tsp rose water
- ½ cup berries strawberries, blueberries, etc.
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
Instructions
Soaking Directions
- In a small bowl, add nuts, salt, and cover well with filtered water. The nuts will expand as they sit, so be sure to cover them up to an inch or so above. Leave the bowl on the counter for at least 8 hours (in the morning before work or overnight).
- After at least 8 hours of soaking, rinse and drain the almonds using a colander or strainer.
Milk Substitute Beverage Directions
- In a high-speed blender, add the drained nuts. If you are using seeds, oats, or coconut, you do not need to soak them; just add them to the blender.
- Add salt, sweetener of choice, and optional flavorings. Pour in enough water to cover the nuts, seeds, oats, or coconut.
- Blend on low and slowly increase the speed (up to 6 on a Vitamix). Blend until the nuts are broken down.
- Stop the blender, remove the lid, and add the remaining water, if using up to 4-5 cups total. If using more water, leave out the last 3-4 cups. Turn on the blender and blend for another few seconds just to get it all blended well.
- If adding up to 8 cups water total, add the remaining water and blend for another 15 to 20 seconds.
- Strain the milk to separate it from the pulp. You can use double/triple folded cheese cloth, a clean kitchen towel, nut bag, or use 2 fine mesh strainers stacked. A kitchen towel is the best option for eliminating all the pulp from the milk. If you don't mind a little pulp, then any of the other options are fine.
- Ladle the milk into a jar with a lid. Place in fridge and use within 4-5 days. Be sure to shake the bottle well before pouring as the milk will separate.
Video
Notes
*Depending on your preferred thickness, start with less water, then taste, and add more to the blender as you make the milk. You have the control in making the milk of any consistency.
*For a sweeter milk, add 4-5 tbsp for the 8 cups of water and use in breakfast cereal or just to drink.
*For use in a savory dish, add closer to 2-3 tbsp for the 8 cups of water and use in making sauces or where ever you need milk.
* 8 cups of milk beverage = 1/2 gallon of milk = 64 oz
*You can half the recipe and use 1/2 cup nuts with 2-4 cups water; be sure to adjust the other ingredients as needed.
*Save the pulp and use in other recipes. You can dry out the nuts in an oven set at 175˚F / 80˚C for 4 hours. Place them in a zip-top bag and freeze until ready to use them.
*Add the dry pulp to cookies, pancake/waffle batter, as a binder in burgers, to top salads, etc.