Today is World Vegan Day. Over the years, the concept of veganism has gained popularity. Vegans believe in avoiding animal meat, and even poultry products such as eggs and milk.
Vegan milk has gained a lot of demand in recent times with many people shifting to plant-based milk options over the conventional animal dairy products. For some, the reason behind this shift is the cruelty that animals have to go through during the process of extraction of milk. Vegan milk options have also come of great help to people who are allergic to animal milk or lactose-intolerant.
Vegan milk is basically a plant-based product that resembles the taste, texture and qualities of conventional dairy milk. It can also be used to make many products. Many dietitians believe that vegan milk is a healthier alternative to dairy products.
Here are some easy-to-make plant milk options:
Almond milk
Almond milk is full of protein and is a great dairy replacement with a flavour that complements almost any beverage and a texture that mimics dairy milk.
How to make almond milk:
Soak 1 cup of raw, unsalted almonds overnight in water or 1-2 hours in hot water
Drain it and place the drained almonds in a high-speed blender with 4 cups of water and blend till smooth
Strain the milk through cheesecloth
Oats milk
Oats milk is easy to prepare, economical, and creamy. It has quite a neutral flavour thus it works with almost all kinds of beverages. Oats milk is not easily available in the marts thus this recipe will help you to make you your own cup of oats milk.
How to make oats milk:
Soak 1 cup of rolled oats overnight in just enough water to cover the oats
In the morning, rinse and drain the oats, then add it to a blender with 1 cup of water and blend until smooth
Strain the blended oat mixture through a cheesecloth and set aside
Put the remains of oat pulp back in the blender with ½ cup of water. Blend and strain once more
Soy milk
Most of the people prefer soy milk while replacing the traditional dairy milk in their coffee. Soy milk has a “beany” taste and a creamy consistency that makes it a good option for a cup of coffee.
How to make soy milk:
Soak 1 cup of soybeans overnight in water
In the morning, drain it and place the drained soybeans in a high-speed blender with 1.5 cups of water and blend till smooth
Strain the milk through cheesecloth
Rice milk
Rice milk is fortified with bone-strengthening calcium. It's also a good choice for people with allergies who can't drink almond or soy beverages.
How to make rice milk:
Soak rice in 2 cups in very hot (not boiling water) for 2 hours. The rice should be soft but still very raw - you should be able to snap a piece in half with your fingernail without much effort
Drain it and add to a high-speed blender
Blend it and strain it with a cheesecloth
Coconut milk
We live in a tropical country that has plenty of coconuts. Coastal and Southern cuisine incorporates a lot of coconut milk anyway, so we’re not alien to it. Coconut milk is extracted from the meat of the coconut and is creamy. It has an acquired taste - so if you do enjoy the rich, unctuous flavour, you will love a coconut milk latte. Coconut milk is high in vitamins, minerals and good fats.
How to make coconut milk:
Take a fresh mature coconut and break it open. Collect the water in a glass and grate the white flesh with a hand grater
Take the coconut grating in a blender jar. Add 1 cup of coconut water and blend till the coconut is ground well for a couple of minutes
Strain it and store it
