One of the reasons we got a Thermomix was to make nut milks. With cow dairy an issue here, it’s nice to have a variation on goat milk from time to time. The Thermomix is very powerful and grinds the nuts and dates easily. Once it has been strained (I use some fine muslin I bought from Spotlight) it makes a lovely creamy “milk”. It does NOT work in tea or coffee! It splits! It does make REALLY nice hot chocolate though and is fabulous on porridge adding more protein and keeping me, at least, satisfied for longer after eating it! I am going to try and make some custard with it…
The almonds (and any other nuts I use) are soaked overnight as apparently the skins have enzyme inhibitors. Soaking the nuts releases them and makes them easier to digest. I also find it makes them easier to grind. It’s quite interesting how “dirty” the soaking water becomes. Here is an interesting piece of information about soaking times and sprouting.
After making the milk, you are left with the ground almonds and dates which can then be used to make other things, like some yummy chocolate biscuits, the recipe for which will be coming once I get a photo of them. They don’t last long enough!
This recipe uses the Thermomix but any good blender will make it, it may just mean that it will take longer to blend. I don’t know how long it will last in the fridge as we use it all in one go.
RECIPE
Ingredients
1 Litre water
100g raw almonds, soaked over night, then drained and rinsed well
2 medjool dates
Method
Place water in the jug.
Add the almonds and dates.
Slowly take the speed up to 8 and blend for up to a minute.
Strain through the muslin into a jug, squeezing as much out as possible.
Oh what a great idea to use in porridge for added protein. The girls have porridge every morning. I'd do it half and half with cow's milk for the calcium. Will def try this. Have to see if we have dates, otherwise I guess in porridge it doesn't matter if it's unsweetened.
The dates actually add creaminess otherwise it tastes like a watery almond drink! We're now going to be having porridge a lot more often now that we add the almond milk. Have also added flaked almonds or almond meal to the porridge but the milk wins it 🙂