Cooling You Down
>> Thursday, November 08, 2007
The soy milk I am talking about is not the sorts you can find in most supermarkets which come nothing close to the natural fragrance and tastes of soy. The real soy milk, which a lot Asians grow up with, is a lightly sweetened drink. It is easy to make from dried soy beans, and does not go through the whole process to make it more like normal milk. If I want soy milk, I want to taste the whole goodness of soy in my drink. But if you want cow milk substitution, the processed soy milk from supermarket is the one to choose.
Making soy milk at home is surprisingly easy. All you need is dried soy beans, a food processor, cheesecloth, a large saucepan, optional flavoring and sugar. Start the night before since the soy beans need to be soaked overnight. I normally soak 2 cups of dried beans, which gives enough soy milk to last for 2 days for two (don’t make more than that since home made soy milk does not keep well). If you want your drink a bit richer, soak some unpeeled peanuts with the beans as well. The next day, this is what you will have:
Now, you need to roughly process the soaked beans in a food processor in batches. The bean & water ratio is 1:2, i.e. 1 part bean, 2 part water. This ratio gives a light drink. You may want to vary this to make the drink thicker and more concentrated in flavors. The processed mixture of beans and water has a cloud-like appearance…
Then, in batch, pour the mixture through large cheesecloth & squeeze out liquid into a large saucepan. Discard the soy beans, and boil the soybean water over medium heat until just boil. Here you can add optional flavoring like knotted pandan leaves or even a few drops of vanilla. Add in enough sugar to sweeten the milk to your liking. Remember to stir the milk frequently when boiling so you won’t burn it.
As easy as that, the soy milk is ready. I love to drink it at room temperature, but a few ice cubes adds a nice touch on hot days. And as tradition goes, soy bean is particularly good with some Chinese-style steamed buns!
I am submitting this entry to Weekend Herb Blogging. Our guest host for this week is The Expatriate Chef from The Expatriate's Kitchen. Make sure to check out the round up. And don’t forget to drop by Kalyn’s blog for all the information about WHB.
39 comments:
thank you, thank you! I wanted to make soy milk for sometime but just never come across any relevant recipe. Yours certainly suit the bill! :)
It amazes me just how, if you take the time to listen, your body really does tell you what it needs. Caffeine, summer and I are a disasterous mix...
I've never even thought to make my own soy milk! This is fascinating - and looks light as a feather. Tell me, do the peanuts make the whole much richer?
Another of life's mysteries solved.
Anh, your photos are simply instructive and simply beautiful. I can't stop losing myself in that colander of beans - great, great texture.
thank you for sharing, Anh
Soy milk can keep at home if you put it in a sterile container. But of course not as long as the store-bought. If you can store it in a glass container with an airtight lid that you have microwaved for 60-80 seconds to kill all the bacteria it will help. Good luck to all!
i never knew soy milk was so easy to make. but i wish i could have some fresh soy milk now. miss the days when my mom would buy it fresh from the open air market in new orleans.
Mandy. you are welcome.
Lucy, depending on the amount of peanuts put in, the drink will be richer but not the whole munch richer (I think). I normally didn't include peanuts in mine, but my grandma used to do it. I think she put nearly a handful. This is something you need to play with to get the ratio you like :)
Susan, thank you. You are so sweet.
Andaliman, :). You have this in Indonesia too, right? Good stuff!
whatweatelastnight, thanks for the tip. It is much appreciated!
bluang3lbby, I only made soy milk in Oz even though I could buy the Asian-style soy milk from Asian shops. But in Vietnam, we used to have it delivered to our door every morning - fresh and still warm! And I can tell, it is the drink i NEED for my breakfast!
I remember in college this VNese guy I knew strained his soy milk with pantyhose. :P
this soy milk became the most wanted in indonesia when the cow's milk price was gone rocketing. and i think it is more digestible and safe for those who have allergic problems. good post, anh.
Thank you!!! I don't like any of the soy milk in the grocery store, so I would love to make it myself. Great post.
I had absolutely no idea it was this easy. Great post, Anh!
This is amazing, I didn't know you can make soy milk so easily at home. My mum wanted to get me a machine that can process beans and nuts into milk, but it doesn't seem too difficult to do it your way.
making soya milk seems like a long process. Kudos to you for this energy. Send a cup over coz Kae simply love them. Of course, mommy just get a store bought version. hehehe
Aren't you talented, my dear?? Making your own soy milk?? :)
The weather here in São Paulo is just the same, Anh. One day is 15ºC, the other 30ºC. :S
It's very chilly here too! Soya drink looks yum!:))
That is so cool - I'd never even thought about making your own soy milk. Thanks for the instructions and photos.
I am intrigued! I had no idea it was so simple or was something that could be done at home.
I don't drink coffee in the summer either...but I'm in winter now.. I'd still rather have chocolate!
WC, hahaha, really? :D :D :D
Arfi, I agree that soy milk is good to our health!
Sher, this makes a great drink. Hope you like the taste and texture of it.
Wendy, thank you.
Little Nutbrown Hare, I actually wouldn't mind the machine if it is cheaper. I am gonna make almond milk sometimes soon, too. The same principle, now I just have to find the right ratio!
Edith. in Asian countries soy milk is easy to get from the market. not here you know? :(
Pat, you always make me so happy! ;)
Asha, thanks!
Lynn, it is really not hard. But the result is very different from the western-style soy milk.
Katiez, a lot of Vietnamese, especially old grannies, still make this at home. With the food processor is an easy job! And ya, chocolate rules in winter months! ;)
Anh, thank you for sharing the process of making soy milk. I never would have thought it was so easy. Since I'm not a fan of soy milk at the market, I should try this at home.
hi Anh, my mom often makes homemade soy milk too. It's fun squeezing all the milk out. I like mine warm :-)
Wow, what an interesting and fun project- I've never made my own soymilk before, but considering how often I drink it and use it in baking, perhaps I should experiment myself! Thanks for the inspiration. :)
I've never tried the real soymilk...only chocolate flavored ones, I'm sorry to say!
This project does sound exciting. Thanks for posting step by step pictures!
Healthy drink with beans I never taste before at home made this type of drink. Thanks for sharing.
Happy diwali to you and your family.:))
I have never tried soy milk. This recipe to make it at home sounds nteresting.
Forget the soy milk, love the glass!
Susan, you are so sweet. I don't like the soy milk available at normal store either. It tastes a bit 'fake' to me.
Nora, I think Asian kids grow up with this! Such a lovely memory for me, too.
hannah, I hope you like this. For baking though, almond milk might be a better choice.
Nabeela. try it my dear. Hope you will be converted to the real taste of soy! ;)
Kajal, thanks honey.
Kevin, soy milk was not popular in the west until lately. But give it a try to see if you like it.
Cate, thanks! This glass is cute, isn't it?
Wow. This is os interesting. Happy to find your blog too. I haven't updated the English version of my blog in a long time. Maybe, I should start again. Thank you for the visit.
I love the taste of soy milk and it never occured to me that I could make it myself...or that it would be so easy! Thanks for sharing this :)
This is a great informative post for me Anh, as my hubby is alergic to all cheese and milk products. So soy milk is in our fridge all the time. I had no idea it is so simple to make. Thanks!
As always, your photos are lovely!
Homemade sữa đậu nành - wow. My mother would love you. I think it's great for people to see how it is traditionally made. Great job!
My mom also likes to steep lá dứa (pandanus leaf) with it.
anh my mom also made this for us once in awhile- tastes totally different. The only thing, do you ever do anything to the spent soybeans? Im sure they are less flavorful but it seems they would be good pureed into a pancake or something.
Very interesting post, Anh. I've never had real soy milk. Thanks for showing us all how it's done :)
Anh, thanks for this - I am definitely going to try it. I always wondered ...
You constantly amaze me.
Hi Anh,
lovely soy milk you've made here:) I myself like to make my own, because I think that the commercial ones do not contain 'enough' soy & sometimes too much sugar!
It's been ages since I made my own soymilk but thanks for reminding me of it. I am trying to clean up the diet before Thanksgiving so I don't feel all emotional from bad eating. Love your pictures!
I am sorry to say this... Unless you use the same type of soy beans as being used in Vietnam, you can NEVER make the soy milk with the same taste and aroma like Vietnamese soy milk.
I love this milk, my mom used to make it when I was a child..
I love soy milk but never really had the time to make 1 myself. Thanks for the guide as you surely made it look a bit easier than I thought it would be.
Post a Comment