The 30-Minute Vegan - Mark Reinfeld [19]
Nut/Seed Soak Time in hours
Almonds 4 to 6
Brazil nuts 4 to 6
Cashews 1 to 2
Hazelnuts 4 to 6
Macadamia nuts 1 to 2
Pecans 4 to 6
Pine nuts 1 to 2
Pumpkin seeds 1 to 4
Sesame seeds 1 to 4
Sunflower seeds 1 to 4
Walnuts 4 to 6
HAZELNUT-FIG MILK
This is just one of many ways you can create unique creamy nut milks, using the basic recipe. The fig and hazelnut combo is especially tasty. Try experimenting with different varieties of figs and nuts. Vary the amount of figs or add agave nectar to enhance sweetness.
MAKES 1 QUART
6 dried figs
4 cups water
1 cup hazelnuts
1. Place the figs in a bowl with 4 cups of water for 15 minutes. Place the hazelnuts in another bowl with a few cups of water for 15 minutes.
2. Drain the hazelnuts, rinse well, and place in the blender. Add the fig soak water, but not the figs, to a blender with the hazelnuts and blend well. Pour this mixture through a fine-mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or fine-mesh bag, saving the liquid in a bowl and discarding any hazelnut meal left in the strainer. If using a fine-mesh strainer, use a spoon to swirl the meal around, which allows the milk to drain faster.
3. Return ½ to 1 cup of the milk to the blender and blend with the figs until creamy. Add the remaining milk, blend, and enjoy.
Variations
• Add 3 tablespoons of raw cacao nibs or powder and/or 1 teaspoon of maca powder to the finished product and reblend.
• Replace the hazelnuts and figs with your favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. Some combinations to consider include Brazil nut-apricot milk, hemp-date milk, sunflower-raisin milk, or carob-mint-almond milk.
Quicker and Easier
A highly refreshing beverage consists of placing some dried figs in a mason jar or water bottle and filling it with water. Over time, the water takes on a fig flavor. Bring along on a hike, and when you are finished drinking the water, you can feast on the plump figs. The fig water will last for 1 day if left unrefrigerated, and for 3 days if stored in the refrigerator.
WATERMELON COOLER
It is hard to improve upon simple watermelon slices. But give this drink or any of its variations a whirl and you, too, will soon be a drinkable watermelon convert. Little else can be so refreshing! Depending on how sweet your watermelon is, you may wish to add a little agave nectar as well. Use a cold, refrigerated watermelon and/or frosted glasses if you desire to serve cold drinks immediately.
MAKES FOUR 10-OUNCE SERVINGS
6 cups scooped watermelon, seeded
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
¼ cup mint leaves, lightly packed
Agave nectar, to taste, if necessary
1. Blend everything together until the mint leaves are well ground up.
2. Serve immediately or refrigerate to chill.
Variations
• For a plain watermelon slushie, just use the above recipe minus all of the ingredients except the watermelon, adding the agave nectar to taste.
• Another pretty party presentation is to add 1 tablespoon of food-grade rose water to a full blender of watermelon for a delicate floral drink. Try sprinkling with culinary-safe rosebuds, too!
• For a berry-melon version, use one 10-ounce package of frozen strawberries or raspberries and fill the rest of the blender with watermelon. Blend and add agave nectar as necessary. Some lime or lemon juice will go beautifully with this as well (start with 2 tablespoons).
Tips and Tricks
A good trick for keeping this beverage cold at parties is to freeze some of the mixture in an ice cube tray and serve the cubes with the drink, or add some cubes and reblend before serving.
Quicker and Easier
Herbal and green teas make a refreshing beverage. To conserve on packaging, try using loose teas and herbs, such as chamomile, mint, or yerba mate in bulk and using a tea ball rather than purchasing individually packaged teas. Bagged teas are quite convenient to have in a pinch and there is a wide range of brands to choose