Vegan Store Cupboard Challenge

Wednesday2000

ToastLady said:

One question I would like to ask is about vegan milk. I have made oat milk and that is fine with me, don't like soya milk at all. I am not vegan, am vegetarian, but sometimes get bloated, so looking for decent nut or plant milks that I can do myself. I really can't buy them here, and suspect that if I ever found them, would be very expensive. Any suggestions are very welcome. 

Homemade almond milk? I haven't made it myself but I know vegans who have.

ToastLady

Thank you Wednesday, almond milk is something I can try to make when I can get to the open market, and get at a better price than supermarket. If anyone has instructions, please feel free as I really am a total numptie.

[Deleted User]

Almond MilkBegin by soaking your almonds overnight in a bowl of water.*In the morning, drain the excess water and rince the almonds. Add 1 cup almonds to 4 Cups filtered water to your blender ** and blend for two minutes, till smooth and creamy. Using a nut milk bag, strain the almond milk into a large bowl, squeezing out as much of the liquid from the remaining almond pulp.***Pour this into an airtight bottle and keep stored in the fridge for 3-5 days.Options for homemade flavoured almond milk:
- For a simple sweetened version: add 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup OR 2 Medjool dates. Optionally, add vanilla
- Chocolate almond milk: add 2 Medjool dates, 1/2 Tsp Vanilla extract & 1 Tbsp cacao/cocoa- Strawberry almond milk: add 2 pitted Medjool dates, 1 Tsp Vanilla extract & 1 Cup fresh strawberries.
- For a coconut almond blend: swap out your filtered water with coconut water

NOTES

* If you're in a pinch then I'd say a minimum of around 4 hours in warm water, but it's best if left closer to 8-10 hours!
**The ratio for nut milks works brilliant as a 1:4 ratio. However, if you're wanting to make more of a 'cream', then use a 1:2 ratio!
*** This almond pulp can then be dried out in the oven and ground into flour or used in its pulp form for a whole ton of recipes. To top your cereal, added into a smoothie, as a topping for yogurt, in homemade granola. You can also use it for plenty of baking recipes. This includes energy balls, cookies, crackers, muffins, brownies, tart bases etc. 
This will last 3-5 days in an airtight container, in the fridge

ToastLady

Thank you Squirrelgirl, brilliant. Will give that a try soon.

Baileys_Babe

Thanks for sharing the recipe and tips @squirrelgirl
A quick question can you freeze homemade almond milk?

joedenise

Have had a tin of jackfruit in the cupboard for ages so have decided to use it today to make a curry for dinner.  No idea what it's like as never had it before!  Someone gave it to me at my Slimming World group several months ago as she didn't fancy it!

[Deleted User]

Baileys_Babe said:

Thanks for sharing the recipe and tips @squirrelgirl
A quick question can you freeze homemade almond milk?

I've done it once - it tend to separate when it's defrosted but I just shook it each time I used it and it was fine (I do that with all plant milks to be honest! 😉 ) 
Joedenise, I love jackfruit! I've never made a curry with it but I've made chilli, bbq jackfruit, hoisin, 'bolognese' etc -  I've used the leftovers on pizzas, in wraps, pies etc - it's really versatile! 
I've decided that as it's a 3 day weekend, I'm going to make banana blossom 'fish' and chips - I'm not great with deep fried food (😝 hate grease!!) and have to leave the kitchen door open for hours and completely clean the kitchen after I've done it so it has to be a lunchtime meal!! 😂 dh is looking forward to trying it though (as am I but I won't eat the batter 😉) so I'll let you know how I get on - I'm hoping it goes well as I have several tins of it!! 😂😂😂

joedenise

Never heard of banana blossom!  What is it?

[Deleted User]

It's quite literally the flower that the banana plant grows! The bananas grow on the stalk and the flower is at the end 😉 you can buy fresh ones and prepare them but I've bought tins - apparently it has the texture of white fish (you add nori to the batter and/or blossom to get the taste of the sea 😉) 
Once I've tried it and know more about how it tastes and handles, I'll be looking for additional ways to use it - hopefully it won't be hideous!! 😂

joedenise

Thanks squirrelgirl.  Have to say it doesn't really appeal to me!  I don't even eat bananas very often so eating the flower really doesn't seem right to me!