Walnut Milk | Brain Boosting Recipe

Fresh walnut milk has the most incredible flavor and comes packed full of essential nutrients and minerals. You will be amazed at how easy it is to make this brain-boosting nut milk at home.

This homemade walnut milk makes rich and creamy plant-based, dairy-free milk that you can use in sweet or savory recipes. I like to add it to my overnight oats and smoothies. Wait until you try warm steamed walnut milk with your coffee!

Making your own plant milk at home is not only incredibly satisfying and connects you with your food at a deeper level, but you are also saving money and doing away with the need for unknown sweeteners, additives, gels, and binders. 

Walnut milk nutrition and brain health

It’s the Omega 3 walnut benefits that really get me excited. Omega 3 essential fatty acids are often lacking in Western diets despite the fact that they are much needed for optimal health and wellness.

Walnuts are the only tree nut that is an excellent source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the plant-based omega-3 essential fatty acid. As one of the best plant food sources of omega-3s, a one-ounce serving of walnuts provides 2.5 grams of ALA.

Omega 3’s are good for brain health and the circulatory system. They are high in antioxidants and mineral levels.

Walnuts also contain melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland that regulates your sleep-wake cycle, promoting healthy sleep (which in turn supports healthy, alert brain function).

Walnuts are high in vitamin E. This super vitamin E anti-oxidant quality means better brain health. Vitamin E is thought to help prevent oxidative stress and damage in the brain. Low levels of vitamin E have even been linked to Alzheimer’s disease. 

HOW TO MAKE WALNUT MILK

Start by soaking the nuts in water overnight in the fridge. When you are ready to make the milk you can strain and rinse the walnuts.

Add the walnuts, water, dates, and a pinch of pink salt.

Blend on high speed for about 30 seconds until smooth.

Now it's time to strain the milk through a nut milk bag, making sure to get all the liquid out. Transfer the strained liquid into a glass bottle and refrigerate.

Keep the walnut pulp for another application. You can freeze it for use another time or add it to cake, cookies, or even dog cookies recipes!

MAKING PLANT-BASED MILK WITH WALNUTS

Walnut milk is one of the healthiest plant milks. It’s really easy to make and offers a great way to get a helpful dose of walnuts in your system. Making milk with walnuts also means that they have already been broken down and are much easier to assimilate into your body.

SOAKING YOUR NUTS FIRST

It's best to soak your walnuts overnight. Soaking nuts and seeds increases their enzyme activity and allows greater absorption of the food's nutrients by the body, and increased digestibility. Simply cover the walnuts with water and leave in the fridge overnight. Strain and rinse before making the walnut milk.

You do not need a fancy high-powered blender – a cheap inexpensive blender will do just fine.

STRAINING WALNUT MILK WITH A NUT MILK BAG

A nut milk bag is best to strain (or some muslin or cheesecloth). Nut milk bags are not expensive. You can reserve the pulp to add to cakes, muffins, cookies, or bread recipes.

WALNUT MILK VARIATIONS

Making your own nut and seed milk is so much fun, you can add different variations to create exciting recipes.

As with all homemade milk, there are few ways you can sweeten your milk without refined sugars.

• Dates, figs, or raisins can be blended for a more natural sweetener.
• You can try adding maple syrup, honey, or coconut nectar.
• Vanilla adds a nice sweet flavor also.

Once you have sweetened your milk there are various flavors you can play around with.

• Adding raw cacao turns your milk into nice chocolate milk. Cacao is naturally bitter, so you may need to add an extra date or squeeze of maple syrup to balance the flavors.
• Add a shot of chilled espresso for a mocha-style drink.
• Bring some seasonal aromas to your nut milk by adding some mulled spice mix or pumpkin spice mix.
• Store the homemade walnut milk in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

BANANA WALNUT SMOOTHIE

Try my favorite brain-boosting smoothie recipe with your fresh homemade walnut milk

OTHER PLANT MILK RECIPES YOU MAY LIKE

If you are interested in trying more delicious dairy-free milk recipes, then check out these other recipes on my blog. My Pumpkin Seed Milk or Black Sesame Seed Milk recipes are easy and fun to make at home.

If you try this walnut milk (or any of the variations), please let me know in the comments below, and remember to tag #holisticchefacademy. I love to see your creations!