All throughout January we’re bringing you 30 Days, 30 Ways to Good Health, a series of easy strategies for overall wellness (and because we love food, it’s focuses on the foods and cooking techniques to add into your life instead of what to take away.) Read on for today’s eating well strategy: DIY nut butter and milk.
Tip #3: DIY Nut Butter and Milk
Few kitchen projects are as simple and rewarding as making your own nut butters and nut milks– in fact, you only need a few ingredients and a good blender. Not only will the resulting butters and milks be more flavorful than shelf-stable ones, you control exactly what goes into them, so you can avoid additional sugars and flavorings. Our partners at Vitamix shared their recipes below for creamy peanut butter and almond milk.
Peanut Butter
3 cups unsalted, roasted peanuts
Note: Do not process for more than 1 minute after mixture starts circulating. Over-processing will cause serious overheating to your machine!
1. Place nuts into the Vitamix container and secure lid. Select Variable 1.
2. Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High, using the tamper to press the ingredients into the blades.
3. In 1 minute you will hear a high-pitched chugging sound. Once the butter begins to flow freely through the blades, the motor sound will change to a low, laboring sound. Stop machine.
4. Store in an airtight container. It can also be frozen for longer storage.
Processing: 1 to 2 minutes
Yield: 1 3/4 cups
For a spin on traditional peanut butter, substitute nuts such as almonds, pistachios or cashews. Or try one of these variations from the Vitamix Test Kitchen:
- Honey-Roasted Nut Butter: Coat nuts with honey before roasting, then follow directions in the recipe above.
- Chipotle Nut Butter: Add a hint of chipotle powder and a sprinkle of salt for a sweet, salty, nutty treat with heat.
- Chocolate Nut Butter: Blend the nuts just until they become fluid, then add mini chocolate chips to the machine.
Nut milks make great non-dairy, vegan alternatives for the real thing. Many of the varieties you find on store shelves contain extra ingredients and sweeteners, so we recommend making it yourself in the ever-versatile Vitamix.
Because nut milks — such as almond or cashew milks — are made from uncooked nuts, they are often strained to remove any solids that may have not been fully incorporated when blended. Straining is easily done by placing a fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl.
For even smoother milk, line the strainer with a layer of cheesecloth. (If you make nut milks often, you might want to look into purchasing a reusable nut milk bag.) Slowly pour the milk into the sieve, allowing it to filter through at its own pace. You can also speed things up a bit by gently stirring the milk with a spatula or the back of a spoon to encourage it to pass through the sieve more quickly. Freshly made nut milks will last two to three days in the refrigerator.
Almond Milk
This recipe calls for the Vitamix Professional Series 750 Blender.
Preparation: 3 minutes
Processing: 2 minutes
Yield: 3 1/2 cups (840 ml.)
3 cups (720 ml.) water
1 cup (140 g.) raw almonds
Sugar or sweetener, to taste (optional)
1. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
2. Select Variable 1.
3. Switch machine to Start and slowly increase speed to Variable 10.
4. Blend for 2 minutes or until desired consistency is reached.
To strain the milk:
 Wash nut milk bag thoroughly before first use by placing in a bowl of warm, soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and hang to dry. |
 Place nut milk bag over a large bowl with sides hanging over. |
 Pour mixture to be strained through the bag. |
 Gather the top of the bag and pull the drawstring tight. Gently lift off the bowl. Liquid will start to filter through. |
 To facilitate the straining process, gently twist the bag at the top. Carefully squeezethe bag, slowly working from the top down using a twisting motion. Do not squeeze too hard or the sediment will be forced through. |
 The resulting fibrous mash may be added to raw cookies, crackers, cakes, and other baked goods. |
After each use, turn the bag inside out and rinse under running water. You may want
to add a drop of dishwashing liquid to remove stains. Hang to dry.
Certain foods, such as carrots, berries, and beets, will stain the nut milk bag. To remove stains, add 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide to 4 cups of water. Soak for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly under running water.
Images and recipes courtesy of Vitamix.
