Introduction
Just yesterday afternoon, a neighbor showed me this eleven-stringed instrument known as the 'Oud', that is very much like a guitar but is played very differently.
I was so fascinated by the absence of frets, the vibrato and harmonics that are played constantly when watching a professional perform for over six minutes while playing one their traditional wedding songs on the Oud.
And somewhere at the back of mind I thought, "Hey! These guys aren't so bad either…" considering the social stigma that effects these chaps wherever they go. Even though the Islamic world is a closed and a painfully rigid culture that is far too controlled by their sense of spirituality, it felt right to consider that as they have contributed quite a bit to the world in every field even including nutrition.
For example, take almond milk, that has its uses as a nutritious baby food and is consumed as a healthy drink in the Middle East as well, and is catching up as a healthy replacement for those with allergies to milk (due to its casein content) and for those who wouldn't touch a bottle of soy milk with a ten-foot pole.
Almonds
Whether based on superstition or not, almonds have always been considered nutritious in different parts of the world. In India, almonds are considered good for the brain (as if we don't have enough already that causes enough trouble!) while in China, it is considered to be a symbol of enduring sadness and female beauty.
As quaint as all this sounds for the history buffs, this drupe (not nut) has a host of benefits that pertain to health & nutrition as well as in other areas such as spirituality and so on and so forth.
And so we before we learn how to make almond milk, let's look at the benefits that come with drinking almond milk.
1) Rich in Vitamin E, an antioxidant, which is excellent for those undergoing detoxification programs.
2) Lowers the risk of heart attacks, drops bad cholesterol levels and helps in weight loss due to its high unsaturated fat levels.
3) The best alternative for lactose intolerance, and for those who aren't so fond of the taste of milk (but not necessarily allergic to it), almond milks comes with a light, nutty and crisp taste.
4) With a calorie amount of 70, one can down a glass of almond milk, without destroying your diet. Incidentally, the number of calories for cow's milk is 86…
5) Lastly, it works as an excellent substitute for vegans and for religious reasons and finally, lasts much longer than milk as it doesn't need to be refrigerated.
How to prepare Almond Milk
It's very easy to prepare almond milk which can be done in 15 minutes. And here's how:
What you need: 4 cups of water, a cup of almonds
Step 1: Add the 4 cups of water to the cup of almonds, and cover it with a lid.
Step 2: Refrigerate the container for 1-2 days.
Step 3: Next, blend the mixture of almonds and water until you get a smooth mixture.
Step 4: Use a cheesecloth to strain the smooth mixture obtained.
Step 5: Go ahead and drink like you would drink normal milk or use it for several dishes and other preparations that you can make normally.
In Closing
And so, some of us who aren't so fond of the Soy Milk can finally bid it good bye. Hehe.
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