Homemade Date Cardamom Almond Milk and a Vitamix Giveaway


Making almond milk at home is super easy. The total amount of work involved is less than 10 minutes and the benefits of homemade almond are numerous. For one, you get to control what goes into the almond milk. You control the sweetness and flavoring. And there are no chemical additives in home made almond milk. All thats in it are almonds and water and whatever flavoring you choose to add. Pure and simple.

I like adding Indian flavors like cardamom when I make almond milk at home. It reminds me of the traditional badam kheer – which is a heavy smoothie of milk, almonds, cardamom and saffron. In this recipe, I’ve lightly sweetened the almond milk with dates. You can leave it out for unsweeted almond milk or add sugar instead of the dates.

If you have a Vitamix, its the best way to make almond milk at home. It blends the soaked almond into a creamy puree in no time. If you don’t have a Vitamix, use whatever powerful blender you have. Or enter the Vitamix giveaway below for a chance to win this awesome blender!

When you are done making the almond milk, you will have almond meal as a by product. Don’t throw it away. Its good stuff! I save the almond meal in a zip lock bag or tupperwear and add a little to my breakfast smoothies. Others like to dehydrate the almond meal, and freeze it for use in cookies etc.

Home made almond milk will keep in the fridge for about 5 days.

Homemade Date Cardamom Almond Milk Recipe

Makes about 4 cups

Ingredients
1 cup raw almonds
1-2 cardamom pods
4-6 seeded dates
4 saffron strands. Optional

Method
1.Soak the almonds in plenty of water over night, about 8 hours.
2. Drain the soaked almonds, and put them into a blender (I used my Vitamix), along with 3 cups of water. Add the cardamom and dates to the blender.
3. Blend on medium-high speed till all the almonds are well blended into a homogenous puree, about 2 minutes.
4. Line a fine mesh strainer with two layers of cheese cloth. Place a bowl under the strainer. Pour the pureed almonds into the strainer, gather up the cheese cloth into a ball, and gently squeeze till all the almond milk comes out.
5. This first extract of almond will be thick. Add more water to it to dilute it to your preferred consistency.
6. If you wish, you can make a second extract – scoop the almond meal in the strainer and put it back in the blender. Pour 1-2 cups water and blend. Strain the second extract of almond milk through the strainer. This extract will be thinner. You could also use this thinner second extract to dilute the thicker first extract.
7. Sprinkle saffron strands, if using, on top of the almond milk.
8. Home made almond milk will keep in the fridge, in an air tight container for about 5 days.

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Vitamix Giveaway

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Comments

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211 thoughts on “Homemade Date Cardamom Almond Milk and a Vitamix Giveaway

  1. I can’t wait to make a green smoothie! My regular blender just doesn’t do a proper job of pulverizing the greens – and no one wants spinach chunks in their smoothie!

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  2. I have always wanted a Vitamix. I’m going to make that homemade almond milk ASAP!!!! I adore cardamom, it is an amazing and under appreciated spice. :)

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  3. I heard that the Vitamix will grind grains/nuts. I want to use that feature to grind nuts to put in smoothies or on oatmeal.
    mpwhelanpeng2000 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  4. Sala, you have an awesome blog going! I love the photography too. Gives a whole new meaning and dimension to food. Your blog is extremely well articulated and presented. Keep up the good work and of course, your infectious enthusiasm!

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  5. Can the Vitamix be used as a juicer? To make say carrot juice or celery juice? If so, it would hugely benefit the 3 senior citizens and one octogenarian in my family!!!!

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  6. The first recipe I would try is a cashew cream. I’ve never been able to get it smooth enough with a food processor, but I know a VitaMix can do the job!

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  7. Sala,
    thanks for the opportunity to win a Vitamix!

    Definitely THIS recipe would be the first thing I’d make. I had no idea it was so easy to make your own almond milk! And I love the addition of cardamom. Such a complex and delicious flavor.

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  8. Ohh, how I’ve wanted a Vitamix for so long! This recipe for homemade date cardamom almond milk looks like a perfect way to break in a new blender. I’d also attempt to make soups and smoothies!

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  9. Hi there,
    This looks great. Any ideas how many grams in a cup? Am not very familiar with cup proportions as we tend to use grams here in the UK. I would love to try making it. Pity the competition does not include UK entries ;o( maybe another time. Best Torie

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  10. I would LOVE to win this Vitamix! So great that you are giving away a Vitamix! They are AMAZING for breaking down the cell walls of food so you can absorb the nutrients. Great contest!

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  11. mmm First thing out of the Vitamix (if I won!) would be this almond milk. I do use my food processor but keep wondering if I would get less texture / more creamy milk if I had a souped-up blender. I love love cardamom and I’m going to use that next time instead of the usual vanilla + cinnamon.

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  12. The First thing i would make if I one would be a Coconut, Pineapple Banana Smoothie. Then Pumpkin soup. The Almond milk recipe looks pretty fabulous too! Thanks for the opportunity fingers and toes crossed!

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  13. I always love to make and try healthy recipe and this one is my favorite
    Lemon+Kale+Spinach+Apples and Celery
    it is nice and healthy and good for weight loss

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  14. Mmm, this looks amazing! I love making soup purrees in my blender, but with a Vitamix my first recipe would be a raw, zucchini/tahini salad dressing that my regular blender can’t quite handle ;)

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  15. I don’t have a vitamin, but I would totally use it to make dosa batter!

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    Preethi Reply:

    I meant vitamin!

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    Preethi Reply:

    Autocorrect is the bane of my existence :/

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  16. Over weight & getting inspired by trying a blending diet. Vitamix is so expensive so thanks for this chance to win & get healthier. The first thing I would try is some vegetables. I don’t eat enough daily & hope a blender mix with vegetables will be terrific

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