5 ideas to use up your leftover almond pulp

Our culture is a little milk obsessed. With so many opting out of dairy for allergy or dietary preference, instead of opting out of milk altogether, they’re turning to alternative milks. Almond milk is the fastest growing in popularity. I’m not a huge fan of packet almond milks nor of drinking massive quantities of the stuff. Fine, if you fancy a drop for your tea or coffee, or a little for a smoothie, but if you eat lots of good, real food, there is no need to ‘supplement’ with almond milk so to speak on a daily basis, by the cup full. What do we have here? We love a bit of hippy raw illegal grass fed cow’s milk and cream from time to time and otherwise make almond milk ourselves, unless it’s a hectic week.

Buying it is cost prohibitive, and often you are completely jipped with as little as 2.5% almonds in a 1 litre carton. Crazy to pay $5 for what is essentially water. If you are time poor and need options however, the brand I recommend is Luz Almond. It’s second to none in quality and care for manufacture. For travel and long life option, Pure Harvest unsweetened is the only one to consider. To make almond milk, read on.

Making it is super easy. You need a nut milk bag.

I do 1.5 cups of overnight soaked and rinsed almonds to 4 cups water. You get a delicious, thick result. Blend well for at least a minute on high, with a little vanilla paste or powder and a pinch of stevia or a teaspoon of maple or rice malt syrup. Then strain through your nut milk bag, into a jug and then pour into your bottles. Done. It will last 4-5 days in your fridge as will the pulp.

Now that you’re left with pulp. Here’s what to do with that, so that it doesn’t get wasted.

Make a chocolate mousse

Make a random slice type thing

This baby is packed with fibre and protein and perfect for breakky along side a smoothie or if you do dairy, with a great dollop of yoghurt or cream on top.

Make a smoothie

Smoothies are a great thing to add 2-3 tablespoons of the pulp to for extra nutrients and fibre.

I did 1/2 cup mixed berries, 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1/2 cup coconut water , teaspoon cinnamon, 1 date  and 2 tbsp pulp. It was simple and delicious. All blitzed in a blender until smooth. I topped with coconut flakes and hemp seeds so that it forces me to ‘chew’ my smoothie – Chugging them down isn’t good for digestion as the enzymes for digestion begin in the mouth, as does the signaling to the rest of the body to ‘get ready to digest’. Read more in a post I wrote on the subject here. 

And lastly, mix a little pulp into your favourite bliss ball recipe or your raw chocolate. 

So voila, a few ideas for the almond milk brigade to stretch the budget, the nutrition and the imagination when it comes to making the most of leftover pulp.

I’d love to hear your ideas on how to use it up and what’s worked for you!

Real Food. Happy Bodies