Part I: Hemp
Part II: Almond
Part III: Rice
Now that I have made three somewhat decent non-dairy milks, I decided to try something a little different and make a flax seed milk. It seemed like to make a non-dairy milk you really just need a seed or nut, soak it overnice and then process with water and strain. The hemp and almond milk were really good. The rice milk was not quite perfect the first time I made it with short grain rice, but switching to long grain and it worked really well.
I figured I should start experimenting. My experiment today was flax seed milk. Now looking back, I should have saw this happen. When I soaked the flax seed overnight, the result was very similar to a flax egg. (more on flax eggs here). It was gooey and sticky and immediately thought that it probably wouldn't make the best milk.
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However, I followed through and finished the recipe. Here it is:
Flax Milk
- 1/2 cup flax seeds
- 3 cups water
- dash of salt
- 1 tsp of maple syrup
pour the flax mixture through the cheese cloth and let it strain. You can pull up the corners of the cloth and squeeze the liquid through. Once strained, test and adjust the sugar and the add more water if it is too thick.
So, I am undecided on this one. I found the end result to be a bit sticky. It would not be a milk I would put on cereal or just drink a glass of. On the other hand, this was really cheap to make (About $2 to get enough seeds to make a litre of milk) and it worked well in my smoothie and in a muffin recipe I made.
I guess in the end it depends on what you use milk for. So far, if I wanted a milk that was an all-purpose and could drink a glass of, bake with, and use in a cereal, the Almond is my favourite so far. However, I really use my non-dairy milks for smoothies more than anything and it has been fun switching it up. The flax milk provides a lot of nutrients at a low cost. It's high in omega-3 and has been thought to lower cholesterol. It is high in fibre and people think that it has disease fighting power! It has a unique taste and was a great addition to my morning smoothie. So if you can get over the funny consistency, give this one a try!
Up next in the non-dairy milk... Sunflower seed!
Have you tried this again? I'm very interested since I have a 25lb bag of flax I need to use! Let me know if I should follow this recipe or if you made modifications! I cant find any other recipes out there.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried this one again. I think the measurements are right, but I would maybe try it without the soaking. I need to make some milk tonight, so I will try it and let you know.
ReplyDeleteI grind flax and put it in all sorts of things.. Smoothies, pancake batter, breads and other baked goods. I kind of use it as healthy sprinkles. :)
Is there a limit on how much flaxseed one should eat in a day? I read that 2 tablespoons was the maximum amount?
ReplyDeleteI have heard that too, but from what I have read flax is pretty safe to consume and the the only concerns can be GI issues if you eat a lot of it and that is more from the fibre.
ReplyDeleteMy rule is, everything in moderation. If you are worried, I would check it out with a doctor.
With milk, I try to mix it up. I usually have hemp hearts, flax and almonds in the pantry, so I change the milk up each time I make it.
Hope that helps!
I have a soy milk maker. I think I will try and use it with unsoaked flaxseeds...if it works well, I will post the results.
ReplyDeleteI have tried this with the seeds unsoaked, and it has a bitter aftertaste. So, I am looking forward to tasting it with the seeds being soaked overnight. About the consistency... It can be a bit gooey, as it makes for wonderful natural hair gel. I bet ya that this consistency would be perfect for eggless mayo!
ReplyDeleteTakiyah, I think you are right. It was excellent egg consistency after soaking. Hair gel would be an interesting one. I don't really use hair gel, but might be worth a try just to see its holding power!
ReplyDeleteHi Caity - You definitely have an adventerous side!! I just finished making this recipe...it reminded me of wallpaper paste. haha...I think I'll be sending my flax seeds to the grinder from now on :) Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd let you know that I've also tried making almond/flaxseed/sunflower seed milk with excellent results!
As a rule, I've been told to use 100 gr seeds soaked overnight, rinse seeds, blend with 1 liter of water and honey (as required)and finally strain through a cotton sock or cotton sheet.
Regarding flaxseed gooeyness,once you get to the final stage, it's just wonderfully snow-white,tasty milk!!
As for sunflower seeds, the initial soaking procedure actually doubles the volume!!
greetings from Diana
Does it have to be strained? Is there a specific reason to strain after it has been blended...
ReplyDeleteThis morning I took about 1T of flax seeds and one cup of cold water, 1/4 c. raisins blended it well then added it to my oatmeal, it was really good...
I don't think it has to be, but it makes for a smoother milk if you do. I know that hemp milk you don't have to strain. I think it depends on what you use it for and personal preference... kind of like juice (with or without pulp)!
ReplyDeleteI have never tried this with oatmeal, what a great idea! Thanks for sharing :)
So I have made this kind of milk before and you do NOT have to soak flax, like you do with most other things. Straining gets the husk and 'extra' bits out so that it is a smoother and better looking milk.
ReplyDeleteOh forgot to mention that you should probably cut the amount of flax in half and that would get rid of the too gooey issue.
ReplyDeleteI just made almond milk this morning for the first time and I am super excited to try flax milk now. Thanks so much for writing about this! I have a whole box of flax seed in my cupboard and was looking for something new to do with it.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to try making it by soaking milled flax seed, too. I have some of that coincidentally.
Oh and by the way about the 'max' amount you should eat of flax? It depends a bit from person to person. Generally, if you start having gas issues then you've reached your limit. Anything under that is pretty safe.
I have heard *not* to soak the flax, just add flax seeds to the water and blend. easy peasy. I will be experimenting shortly.
ReplyDelete