Making your own milks at home (check out this 3 Ingredient Oat Milk recipe) not only saves you money, but also cuts down on the amount of packaging waste you’re producing and is also a great activity to do with children. Not to mention how satisfying it is to look into your fridge and see a glass bottle of homemade milk staring back at you. A lot of the shop bought plant milks – besides being pricey – have added sweeteners or preservatives; this super simple version contains absolutely no nasties.
I make this coconut milk every couple of days, and use it for things like tea, cereal, porridge or for making creamy curries. If I know I’m going to use it in a savoury recipe, I’ll omit the dates to keep it more savoury; if I’m in a pinch, I wont bother to soak my coconut or strain the milk after, especially if I’m just adding the milk to a curry or porridge as the coconut pulp will soften as you cook it and you’re adding some extra nutrients to your meal while reducing your waste. If you want a smoother milk you can strain it, and use the pulp in cookies or granola.
To make roughly one litre you will need:
-1 cup of coconut flakes, desiccated coconut or the flesh of one brown coconut
-4 cups of water
-a pinch of salt
-2 dates (optional)
Method:
Add all of your ingredients to your blender – remember to pit your dates first. Leave for a few minutes to soak – the longer the better to let the coconut soften a little. When you’re ready, simply blend everything together for a minute or two. At this point you can choose whether to strain your milk or not – it depends how smooth you’d like it. Pour your milk into a bottle or glass jar, and store it in the fridge. It will keep well for 3-4 days, if it lasts that long!
Optional additions:
If you’re feeling it, you can add 2 tbsp of cocoa powder and a dash of cinnamon to make a rich chocolate milk. I’ve also experimented with adding some fresh turmeric and ginger before blending which is delicious – although you’ll definitely need to strain the milk if you use these.
Ideas for using your milk pulp:
-granola
-cookie dough
-add to smoothies or porridge
-lightly toast it and sprinkle onto yogurt & fruit
Hope you love this recipe – let me know how you get on.
Daisy xxx
P.S Vegan Olive Oil Chocolate Cake and Why & How you need to Start Bulk Buying Today
P.P.S. aren’t these silicone baking mats great?!