How to make vegan alternatives at home?
Following a vegan diet might be hard at some point because of the limited options available in the market. And the brands that are offering these vegan alternatives can be a bit expensive for some. However, you can work your way around it by making these alternatives at your home, it would not only be cheaper, but you will also eliminate the possibility of added preservatives in those packaged products.
This article will cover instructions on how you can make some significant vegan alternatives from the comfort of your home.
How to make Vegan Alternatives at home- Vegan Milks?
Soy milk
- Soak 1 cup of soybeans overnight in water.
- After soaking, drain and rinse thoroughly.
- Place the drained soybeans in a high-speed blender with 1.5 cups of water and blend till smooth.
- Strain the milk through cheesecloth.
Coconut milk
- Soak 1 cup of chopped coconut overnight in water.
- After soaking, drain and rinse thoroughly.
- Place the drained coconut chips in a high-speed blender with 2 cups of water and blend until smooth.
- Strain the milk through cheesecloth.
Almond milk
- Soak 1 cup of raw, unsalted almonds overnight in water.
- After soaking, drain and rinse thoroughly.
- Place the drained almonds in a high-speed blender with 4 cups of water and blend till smooth.
- Strain the milk through cheesecloth.
Peanut milk
- Soak 1 cup of raw, unsalted peanuts overnight in water.
- After soaking, drain and rinse thoroughly.
- Place the drained peanuts in a high-speed blender with 1.5 cups of water and blend till smooth.
- Strain the milk through cheesecloth.
Oat milk
- Soak 1 cup of rolled oats (not instant/quick-cooking) overnight in just enough water to cover the oats.
- In the morning, rinse the soaked oats thoroughly – the soaking liquid will feel a little slimy, so you want to get rid of the excess starch.
- Once the soaked oats are rinsed and drained, add to a blender with 1 cup of water and blend until smooth.
- Drain the blended oat mixture through a cheesecloth and set aside.
- Take the remaining oat pulp that it’s in the cheesecloth and put it back in the blender with ½ cup of water. Blend and strain once more.
Cashew milk
- Soak 1 cup of raw cashews (none of the roasted, salted stuff here, people!) overnight in enough water to cover.
- In the morning, drain your cashews and put them into a blender along with 3-4 cups of water, depending on how thick or thin you would like your milk to be.
- Blend, starting on a low speed and gradually increasing the speed, until smooth and frothy. No straining required!
How to make Vegan Alternatives at home- Vegan Cheese ?
Vegan cheese is easy to find in the market but did you it is basically crushed soybeans made into a block.
Here’s how,
- First, wash the soybeans and then soak the soybeans overnight or 4 hours until softened. Transfer to a blender and add water.
- Blend until very smooth.
- Place gauze on a filter and then strain the soy milk.
- Bring the soy milk to a boil—skin of the bubbles on the surface. Stir from time to time in the heating to avoid the sticky bottom. Remove from heat and rest for 2 to 3 minutes until the temperature drops around 80 degrees C to 90 degrees C.
- Whisk three tablespoons of vinegar or three fresh lemon juice with 1 cup of water
- Use a small spoon and gently stir the acid mixture in until all the tofu protein becomes firm. Please don’t use all the acid mixture all at once (Use it accordingly)
- Transfer the mixture to a shaping tool and press it with a heavyweight for at least 1 hour.
- After this process, transfer the block into cold water and let it sit for half an hour.
- Now your tofu is ready to eat.
How to make Vegan Alternatives at home- Vegan Egg?
An egg is a great binding mixture for most of the recipes. However, in vegan culture, it’s a strict no-no. There are several other vegan substitutes that can do the job as well as an egg. Few of them are –
- Mix 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon vinegar
- Add any vegan yogurt
- Whirl 1/4 cup silken tofu in a blender, adding water until smooth.
- Mash ripened banana
- Stirring 1 tablespoon ground flax seed in 3 tablespoons water until thick and gelatinous.
How to make Vegan Alternatives at home- Vegan Butter?
Some vegan butter and margarine brands are questionable due to some questionable ingredients and hydrogenated fats. So it’s better to make your vegan butter at home to get the same creamy and buttery texture.
Making butter can take a few minutes. To make almond butter,
- Roast some almonds on a pan for few minutes
- Transfer those roasted almonds into a blender, add a pinch of salt and blend it until you achieve a creamy consistency
- After mixing, transfer the mixture into the vessel and refrigerate it for a few hours.
- Your vegan almond butter is now ready.
You can add powdered cinnamon, vanilla extract, or honey to give an extra twist to the butter. Also, this same routine can be followed to make peanut and cashew butter.
Disclaimer: This is article is not sponsored by any brand or company. The information contained on Target100years is provided for general and educational purposes only and must never be considered a substitute for medical advice from a qualified medical professional. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription medicines, are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals before beginning any nutrition or lifestyle programme. Target100years does not take responsibility for possible health consequences for any person following the information in the educational content.
A majority portion of the mother’s diet should consist of carbohydrates. When we mention carbs, there will always be the inclusion of whole grains here. The best examples of whole grains are oats, quinoa, brown rice, brown bread, etc. They are a healthy source of carbs which are the primary energy source of your body. Apart from carbs, they contain fiber, which helps prevent constipation and keeps the digestive system healthy. With a good amount of carbs and protein, whole grains are also a significant source of minerals like iron and magnesium, which help keep the immune system healthy.