Creamy, Delicious Nut Milk Recipes

Nut Milk RecipesAuthor: Lily Mazzarella
I used to think that making your own nut milk was for crazy people. Isn’t life complicated enough?

But then I started to read more about the endocrine-disrupting plastic used to line the cartons of store-bought nut milks (almond, coconut, hemp). And I looked closer and found they were fortified with potentially harmful synthetic forms of Vitamin A & D2, and contained gut-inflaming binders like carrageenan used to give them viscosity. Rice milk contains unhealthy levels of arsenic…so, how can you get a dairy alternative milk without exposing yourself to a freakish array of physiological stressors?

I found that making your own nut milk is no big deal. You do need a blender (though a Vitamix is best), but that’s as high-tech as it gets. Oh—and potentially a “nut milk bag” (a rather unfortunate sequence of words).

Here are 4 milks with similar preparation principles, and different consistencies and flavor profiles. Let’s start with Brazil Nut Milk, since it’s a great treat on your Spring Cleanse, and it’s hard to find commercially. Brazil nuts are one of the best natural sources of Selenium (each contains about 80 mcg), which the body uses to make glutathione, your body’s major intracellular detoxifier and antioxidant. Selenium, along with zinc and magnesium, also fuels the enzyme system that converts inactive thyroid hormone (T4) to T3, the form of thyroid hormone that is ACTIVE at the cell.

How to Spot a Good Brazil Nut

Brazil nuts also contain many beneficial, but delicate oils, which can easily go rancid. If you’re buying them from the bulk bin of your local Whole Foods or co-op, sniff the bin when you open it. If it smells fishy or bitter, they’re rancid! The oils in rancid nuts are very hard on the liver and should be avoided! Ask if there is fresh back stock. You can also ask to taste one before buying. They should be delicious–nutty, oily, and firm/crunchy in texture. 

CREAMY CLEANSING BRAZIL NUT MILK
Ingredients

2 cups brazil nuts
4-6 cups filtered water (less water yields a thicker, creamier milk)
½-1 tsp vanilla extract (or, ½ of a vanilla bean)
Pinch pink Himalayan salt

 
Instructions

Soak brazil nuts in water overnight (or 6-8 hours).

Strain and rinse.

Add brazil nuts, water, vanilla and salt to a blender or Vitamix.

Blend on high until all chunks are gone and consistency is uniform.

Strain in a nutmillk bag or cheesecloth.  Solids can be saved in the freezer for a 2nd run.

 ALMOND MILK
Ingredients

2 cups raw (preferably organic) Almonds
4-6 cups filtered water (less water yields a thicker, creamier milk)
½-1 tsp vanilla extract (or, ½ of a vanilla bean)
Pinch pink Himalayan salt

Instructions

Soak almonds in water overnight (or 6-8 hours).

Strain and rinse—water should run clear.

Add almonds, water, vanilla and salt to a blender or Vitamix.

Blend on high until all chunks are gone and consistency is uniform.

Strain in a nutmillk bag or cheesecloth. Solids can be saved in the freezer for a 2nd run or make these tasty crackers http://elanaspantry.com/vegan-almond-pulp-crackers/

 

NO-STRAIN MILKS 

You can dispense with the nut milk bag/cheesecloth. These tasty milks are even easier, since they don’t need to be strained.

CASHEW MILK
Ingredients

2 cups raw (preferably organic) cashews
4-6 cups filtered water (less water yields a thicker, creamier milk)
½-1 tsp vanilla extract (or, ½ of a vanilla bean)
Pinch pink Himalayan salt

Instructions

Soak cashews in water overnight (or 6-8 hours).

Strain and rinse.

Add cashews, water, vanilla and salt to a blender or Vitamix.

Blend on high until all chunks are gone and consistency is uniform.

HEMP MILK
Ingredients

2 cups hemp seeds
4 cups filtered water
½-1 tsp vanilla extract (or, ½ of a vanilla bean)
Pinch pink Himalayan salt

Instructions

Soak hemp seeds in water overnight (or 6-8 hours).

Strain and rinse until water runs clear.

Add hemp seeds, water, vanilla and salt to a blender or Vitamix.

Blend on high until all chunks are gone and consistency is uniform.

If making your own nut milk still feels out of the question after these compelling arguments, you can  by-pass the additives in cartons by adding 8 OZ WATER + 1 TBSP NUT BUTTER to your shakes. Or, purchase coconut milk in non-BPA-lined cans. 


 

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