Pepita Cream
Non-dairy milks and creams are quite easy to make, cost-effective, and fun to boot. Here's an easy one made from pepitas (raw pumpkin seeds).
All you need for this recipe is pepitas (raw pumpkin seeds), filtered water, a fine mesh sieve (or nut milk bag if you have one), and a container.
Soak one cup of raw pepitas in a 2 cups of filtered water for an hour or two.
Drain and rinse the pepitas, then blend in a high speed blender with 4 cups of filtered water. Pour cream into a container or pitcher and refrigerate overnight.
In the morning, strain the cream through a fine mesh sieve or nut milk bag.
Pour into a clean container.
That's it! Easy and fun to make. This makes a very creamy non-dairy milk that can be used either alone as a creamer or in cream sauce recipes.
All you need for this recipe is pepitas (raw pumpkin seeds), filtered water, a fine mesh sieve (or nut milk bag if you have one), and a container.
Soak one cup of raw pepitas in a 2 cups of filtered water for an hour or two.
Drain and rinse the pepitas, then blend in a high speed blender with 4 cups of filtered water. Pour cream into a container or pitcher and refrigerate overnight.
In the morning, strain the cream through a fine mesh sieve or nut milk bag.
Pour into a clean container.
That's it! Easy and fun to make. This makes a very creamy non-dairy milk that can be used either alone as a creamer or in cream sauce recipes.
I find this idea very intriguing. I have a couple of questions for you. First, what does this taste like? Does it have a distinctive taste? Second, does it separate when introduced to something hot, say for instance coffee? Third, what do you use this "cream" for? Thanks! --Melissa
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Hi Melissa,
The pepita milk/cream has a mildly nutty flavor. If you think of what pepitas would smell like ground up, it is like that. It doesn't separate when added to coffee. You can use it for a coffee creamer or you can use it anywhere you might use another non-dairy milk like soy milk or almond milk: smoothies, sorbets, or in a sauce.
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Thank you so much! I fully intend on giving this a try!
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What is your reason for leaving in the fridge overnight? Is it to allow the solids to settle? Is is absolutely to strain it if you wanted to drink it plain? What to do with solids after?
Thanks!
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Hi Michelle,
You are correct that the reason for leaving it in the fridge overnight is to let the solids settle so then it is easier to strain. Depending on what you want to use it for, you could skip this. I don't like the texture of the sediment for some things. Usually, I pour the solids on my garden as "cold compost". But you could probably add them into a lentil loaf or bean burger recipe.
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