Homemade Tigernut Milk
Tigernut milk is one of my favorite dairy-free alternatives. I love that its rich, creamy, and seriously satisfying. The best part about this refreshing drink is that it's super easy to make with just four simple ingredients.
Homemade Tigernut Milk
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Tigernut milk is one of my favorite dairy-free alternatives. I love that its rich, creamy, and seriously satisfying. The best part about this refreshing drink is that it’s super easy to make with just four simple ingredients.
Tigernuts are typically harvested, cleaned and dried to preserve their nutritional value and extend their shelf life. When properly dried and stored, tigernuts retain their nutrients and can last for years without spoiling ensuring their availability all year round. Tigernut milk originates primarily from Africa and the Mediterranean region. In Nigeria, tigernut milk (or Kunu Aya) is a popular drink made from tigernuts and in the mediterranean, particularly in Spain, tigernuts are also used to make a traditional drink called horchata de chufa.
While it is called Tigernut milk, in Nigeria, it is usually prepared by adding coconut milk for extra richness and creaminess, dates for sweetness and ginger for that extra punch. This ingredient combination is traditionally believed to promote reproductive health. Let’s get into the preparation.
Dry joke Wednesday
Why did the tigernut milk break up with the almond milk?
Because it found someone a little more nutty!
Main Ingredients and Subs
Tigernuts: I mostly use dried tigernuts which can be found at local markets, supermarkets, or even on Amazon if you’re abroad. If using dried tigernuts, ensure to soak in water overnight to rehydrate it. You can also use fresh tigernuts when in season.
Water: to rehydrate the tigernuts and blend the ingredients together and extract that delicious juice. I prefer using room temperature water for blending, as it helps prevent the coconut from separating. You can adjust the amount of water to make it as thick or as light as you like.
Coconut: adds a wonderful flavor and richness to the mix. It adds a subtle sweetness, healthy fats and nutrients.
Dates: this is traditionally used as the sweetener for tigernut milk. I absolutely love adding them for that natural sweetness. If you want to switch things up, you can substitute dates with honey, sugar, ripe bananas, or even pineapples. Just keep in mind that using honey or fruit sweeteners will change the flavor profile. Remember to remove the seeds from dates before blending. If using dried dates, soak for 8 hours or overnight to rehydrate.
Ginger: I personally love the subtle kick I get from adding a little ginger to my tigernut milk. You can add more for a stronger ginger flavour, less for just a hint, or skip it altogether if you’re not a fan.
Benefits of Tigernut milk
Tigernut milk has quickly become one of my dairy-free alternatives, it offers a host of benefits such as:
Dairy-Free & Nut free: Tigernut milk is dairy-free, which makes it perfect if you’re lactose intolerant or avoiding dairy. It’s also nut-free making it’s safe for anyone with nut allergies.
Naturally Sweet Flavor: One of the things I love most about this tigernut milk is its natural sweetness. You don’t need to add a ton of sugar or sweeteners to enjoy it.
Packed with Nutrients: Tigernut milk is loaded with fiber, healthy fats, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals like magnesium, potassium, and iron. It’s a nutrient packed drink!
Super versatile: You can drink it straight, mix it into smoothies, pour it over cereal, or use it in recipes as a dairy substitute.
Did you know tigernuts aren’t nuts? They’re tubers
Customize it
Tigernut milk is delicious on its own but can also be customized with your favorite flavors. Here’s a few examples:
Peanuts: add for extra nutty goodness.
Vanilla: brings a light, aromatic flavor that compliments the drink.
Cinnamon/Nutmeg: adds warmth, extra flavour and a hint of spice.
Pineapple: skip the dates and use pineapple to sweeten or combine both for a tropical taste.
Banana: replace tigernuts with dates or add a mix of both for an extra creamy and thick tigernut milk.
Feel free to mix and match!
How to serve
You can serve tigernut milk with ice or straight out of the fridge. It’s also perfect as a dairy-free alternative in cereal, coffee, or tea. I love to mix in banana and serve with granola for a healthy snack or pour into popsicle molds for the kids to enjoy!
Storage
If you happen to have any leftover tigernut milk (though I’m not sure how that would happen, it’s so good!), you can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Tigernut milk doesn’t stay fresh for long because it’s made with whole ingredients and no preservatives so be sure to keep it refrigerated in an airtight container to preserve its freshness. You can also freeze it to last longer.
Consider making it in smaller batches to enjoy it fresh every time.
how to make tigernut in the Nama M1 plant-based milk maker
Here’s how I whip up tigernut milk in my Nama M1 milk maker:
Prep the Ingredients
- First, soak the tigernuts and dates in water for at least 8 hours or overnight. This softens them up and makes them much easier to process ensuring a creamier milk. Skip this step if you’re using fresh tigernuts and dates. Once soaked, drain and rinse the thoroughly.
- Remove the Pitts from the dates if they aren’t already pitted.
- Break the coconut, flesh out and cut them into smaller pieces.
- Thoroughly rinse and cut the ginger into smaller chunks.
Load Up the Milk Maker
- Add the tigernuts, dates, coconut, ginger, and water directly into the chamber and push start.
Let the Magic Happen
- The Nama takes over from here, extracting the milk at the push of a button. The best part? No messy cleanup thanks to the built-in strainer.
Taste and Tweak
- Once the milk is ready, give it a quick taste. If you like it sweeter, you can add in an extra date or two.
Store and Serve
- Pour the milk into an airtight container and refrigerate. It stays fresh for up to 4 days—just shake it up before serving as the contents tend to settle.
how to make tigernut milk in a juicer
1. Soak the Tigernuts & Dates:
- Soak the tigernuts and dates in water for 8 hours or overnight. This softens them and helps with easier juicing while ensuring you extract more liquid. Don’t skip this step as dry tigernuts can be tough to juice.
2. Prepare the Ingredients:
- Rinse the soaked tigernuts and dates thoroughly to remove any residual dirt or grit.
- Remove the pits from the dates and break the coconut flesh and ginger into smaller chunks to make it easier for the juicer to process.
3. Juicing:
- Don’t overload the juicer all at once. Juice in small batches to avoid clogging. Start with a handful of tigernuts, then add a few dates and coconut chunks, followed by some ginger. Repeat the process, adding water gradually to keep the ingredients moving smoothly.
4. Use a Slow Juicing Speed (if applicable):
- If your juicer has variable speeds, use the slowest setting. This helps to prevent clogging and ensures that the tigernuts and coconut are thoroughly processed. if you’re using a handsfree juicer, add enough water to ensure the ingredients run smoothly. Checkout my absolute favourite juicer here.
5. Strain (Optional):
- After juicing, pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag to remove any leftover pulp. You can save the pulp for smoothies or baking if you like.
6. Serve & Enjoy:
- Transfer the freshly made tigernut milk to a jar or bottle. Be sure to shake well before drinking, as the milk may naturally separate.
Tips and Tricks to Avoid Clogging Your Juicer
- Soak Tigernuts Long Enough: Soak the tigernuts overnight to soften them. Dry, unsoaked tigernuts can clog the juicer’s filter or mesh because they’re too hard to process.
- Use Water to Help the Juicing Process: Add water gradually as you juice to keep the ingredients moving through the juicer. This helps prevent the pulp from building up and blocking the juicer.
- Juice Soft Ingredients First: Start by juicing ingredients like the dates or coconut before adding the harder tigernuts. This helps lubricate the juicer and prevent any dry ingredients from clogging it.
- Don’t Overload the Juicer: Avoid adding too much at once. Juice in small batches to ensure that the machine has enough room to work and doesn’t get stuck.
- Clean Your Juicer Regularly: After each batch, clean the juicer’s components to prevent pulp buildup, which can clog the machine over time.
Ingredients
- 200 g Tigernuts
- 100 g Dates
- 50 g Coconut
- 8 g Ginger
- 5 Cups Water
Instructions
- Soak the tigernuts and dates in water. I recommend soaking them overnight, as this softens them and helps extract the most juice when blending.
- Once they are softened, rinse thoroughly and remove the seeds from the dates by cutting or pressing them open.
- Next, extract the flesh from the coconut shell and rinse the tigernuts thoroughly. Be sure to discard any dates with black spots and discard any floating tigernuts as they may be bad.
- In a strong blender, combine the soaked tigernuts, pitted dates, coconut flesh, ginger, and 5 cups of water. Blend for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Transfer the blended mixture into a nut milk bag or fine mesh strainer placed over a bowl. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible. You can discard the pulp or save it for smoothies, baking, or other recipes.
- Pour the freshly made tigernut milk into a glass jar or bottle for storage. Tigernut milk tends to settle, so be sure to shake well before drinking.
Did you make this recipe?
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Thanks for the recipe. Is this 200g for dry tigernut or soaked? Thanks In advance