Tiger nut milk, a popular dairy-free alternative, is derived from nutrient-rich tiger nuts. If you wash your tiger nuts properly before making the milk, you will ensure its cleanliness and remove impurities.
Also, washing will enhance the overall quality of the final product.
This guide provides step-by-step instructions on washing tiger nuts for tiger nut milk preparation.
Before we begin our talk on how to wash tiger nuts for preparation of milk, we will look at a few important benefits.
According to a study, tiger nuts contain a substantial amount of lipids. Its lipid profiling is similar to olive oil that is considered to be the most suitable fat for human consumption (1). Along with the oil, it usually contains vitamin C, vitamin E, minerals potassium, calcium, magnesium and phenols.
All of these amazing nutrients make it nutritious for your consumption. It is amazing for men because it boosts reproductive health.
However, washing it the wrong way makes a mess of this nutritious compounds.
1. Choosing Quality Tiger Nuts
Indeed, making tiger nuts milk begins with the selection of your tiger nuts.
Select Fresh And Clean Tiger Nuts
Most important, start with high-quality tiger nuts. Look for fresh, clean, and well-packaged nuts to ensure the best flavour and nutritional content in your tiger nut milk.
However, if you cannot find fresh tiger nuts, use the dry ones.
Sometimes, we recommend that you get dry tiger nuts and that requires that you soak them for a minimum of five hours before engaging in the under listed processes.
Soaking removes the residue of preservatives and other pesticides that may have been applied to keep pests away.
Never soak your tiger nuts in hot water. It will spoil the nuts.
2. Rinse Under Running Water
Furthermore, place the tiger nuts in a colander or fine-mesh strainer. This allows water to flow through the nuts, facilitating effective cleaning.
Take some in your hands and rub them together to wash off dust and other impurities.
Rinse Thoroughly Under Cold Water
Rinse the tiger nuts thoroughly under cold running water.
Use your hands to gently rub the nuts, ensuring all surfaces are cleaned.
This step helps remove any loose dirt or debris.
3. Soak The Tiger Nuts
Submerge in Water
Place the rinsed tiger nuts in a bowl or container and cover them with fresh water.
Ensure the nuts are fully submerged for proper soaking.
Soaking Duration
Soak the tiger nuts for a minimum of 12 hours, or preferably overnight.
This softens the nuts, making them easier to blend and enhancing the creaminess of the tiger nut milk.
4. Draining And Rinsing Again
Drain Soaked Tiger Nuts
After the soaking period, drain the water from the tiger nuts using a colander or strainer.
Rinse Once More
Give the soaked tiger nuts a final rinse under cold running water. Never use hot water to soak or rinse your tiger nuts.
This step further removes any remaining residues and ensures the cleanliness of the nuts.
5. Optional: Remove Skins
Peel Off Skins (Optional)
If you prefer a smoother tiger nut milk, you can opt to peel off the skins from the soaked tiger nuts.
Gently rub the nuts between your fingers to remove the skins.
The skin often adds more fibre and gives it the brownish colour.
6. Ready For Blending
Transfer To Blender
Once washed, soaked, and optionally peeled, transfer the tiger nuts to a blender.
Add fresh water at a ratio of about 1 cup of tiger nuts to 3 cups of water for a creamy consistency.
Blend Until Smooth
Now, blend the tiger nuts and water until you achieve a smooth, creamy consistency.
This forms the base for your tiger nut milk.
7. Straining (Optional)
Use A Nut Milk Bag Or Cheesecloth (Optional)
Furthermore, for a smoother milk, strain the blended mixture using a nut milk bag or cheesecloth to separate the liquid from any remaining pulp.
Squeeze Out The Milk
Squeeze the bag or cloth to extract the tiger nut milk, leaving behind any solid particles.
8. Sweeten Or Flavor (Optional)
Also, sweetening or flavouring the milk is optional.
If you want to enhance the taste, you can sweeten the tiger nut milk with natural sweeteners like honey or dates.
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Also, you can add vanilla or cinnamon for additional flavour if desired.
9. Refrigerate and Enjoy
Transfer the tiger nut milk to a sealed container and refrigerate.
Shake well before serving, and enjoy the creamy and nutritious tiger nut milk in various culinary applications.
Bottom Line
If you follow this process, you will be able to wash your tiger nuts properly. Indeed, washing and preparing tiger nuts lays the foundation for delicious and wholesome tiger nut milk.
Follow these steps to ensure cleanliness, remove impurities, and create a creamy, flavourful dairy-free alternative.