Simple Pumpkin Milk
If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious vegan milk, Pumpkin Milk is absolutely a perfect choice for you and your family. Its warm and comforting flavor helps us ward off the chill when autumn arrives. I always like to drink a cup of warm pumpkin milk to start an autumn Day.
I happened to make pumpkin milk 3 years ago, when autumn came, and pumpkin was discounted at a supermarket nearby my apartment in Italy. I bought too many pumpkins and didn’t know how to eat them all in a short time. I tried pumpkin flan, baked pumpkin, pumpkin soup, and one day when I tried to mix a bit of pumpkin purée with soy milk, it tasted so good! Pumpkin milk became one of my favorite vegan milk since then, together with mung bean milk.
Let’s do it!
Ingredients
Pumpkin
To make pumpkin milk, you’ll need pumpkin puree. It’s rich in vitamin, fiber content, antioxidants and low in calories. All make it an excellent component to your daily drink. Below are some benefits of pumpkin:
- Rich in Vitamins: Pumpkin is teeming with essential vitamins, particularly vitamin A. This nutrient supports healthy vision, skin, and a robust immune system.
- Fiber Content: Pumpkin puree is a reliable source of dietary fiber. This aids in digestion, promotes a feeling of fullness, and is beneficial for maintaining a healthy weight.
- Antioxidants: Abundant in antioxidants like beta-carotene, pumpkin puree helps combat oxidative stress, reducing the risk of chronic illnesses.
- Low in Calories: Pumpkin puree is relatively low in calories, making it an excellent addition to recipes for those conscious of their calorie intake.
In my recipe, I used 400g (2 cups) butternut squash cubes to make puree. Butternut squash has a sweet and nutty flavor and offers a slightly milder and less earthy flavor. tends to have a smoother and creamier texture compared to some pumpkin varieties. This can contribute to a silkier and more velvety texture in your final pumpkin milk.
Soy milk or Almond milk
Depend on your preference, you can opt for soy milk or almond milk. Soy milk, a creamy and dairy-free base for our pumpkin milk recipe, offers many health benefits:
- Low in Saturated Fat: Soy milk is a heart-healthy option thanks to its naturally low saturated fat content.
- Plant-Based Protein: Soy milk is a common source of plant-based protein, which is essential for muscle development and overall health. For vegetarians and vegans, it provides the vital amino acids needed for a balanced diet.
- Bone Health: Many varieties of soy milk are fortified with calcium and vitamin D, crucial nutrients for maintaining strong bones. This is particularly valuable for individuals who are lactose intolerant or have dairy allergies.
- Lactose-Free: Being naturally lactose-free, soy milk is a gentle alternative for those with lactose intolerance, ensuring they can enjoy creamy beverages without digestive discomfort.
Besides, you can also try cow milk if you like, all combine well with pumpkin purée. It’s creamy and fatty, too good to mix with sweet and fleshy pumpkin puree.
I bought a bottle of soy milk in a supermarket to make pumpkin milk. From 1L of soy milk and 2 cups of butternut squash cubes, I got more than 1.5L of pumpkin milk, enough for me in a week.
How to make pumpkin milk
This easy recipe for pumpkin milk will take you only 15-20 minutes to do. You cannot fail it, I promise.
Step 1. Preparation
Cut pumpkin into cubes: small cubes of pumpkin help to reduce cooking time. When you prepare the pumpkin, you don’t have to cut them perfectly into even cubes. Just transform big pumpkin into smaller pieces, ready for boiling.
Step 2. Cook pumpkin purée
From pumpkin cubes you have cut, we need to boil and crush them to make a smooth pumpkin purée. Add the cubes into water and heat them up on stove. Once the water starts to boil, keep it boiling in the next 10 minutes. Then, turn the heat off and remove pumpkin cubes from water.
If you have a blender, add all cooked pumpkin cubes in and blend until you get a smooth pumpkin purée.
In case you don’t have a blender, or you make only a small amount of purée, you can crush the cubes with a strainer and a spatula. Transfer the cubes to a strainer and set it over a bowl. Use a spatula to press them on the strainer. They will be crushed easily as they are very soft. Finally, you’ll get a soft, smooth, and juicy purée in the bowl.
Step 3. Make pumpkin milk
When your purée is done, start to cook the milk to dissolve the ingredients together.
Mix the milk, sugar and pumpkin purée in a pot. The amount of sugar belongs to your taste, or you can even skip it. I skipped sugar to reduce my daily amount intake, and also because I love the natural sweetness of soy milk and pumpkin.
Stir them well over low heat until the mixture begins to boil. Turn off the heat, it’s done.
Serve pumpkin milk
Pumpkin milk can be served either warm or chilled, depending on your preference and the season. In cooler weather, warm pumpkin milk can be comforting, while chilled pumpkin milk is refreshing in warmer months.
To serve, pour your freshly made pumpkin milk into mugs or clear glasses to showcase its vibrant, warm color. Garnish some spice on top is very interesting, such as ground cinnamon, to enhance the cozy taste of the drink. Besides, you can also add a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce for sweeter flavor and cooler look.
How to store pumpkin milk
If you store it in fridge, let it down first before transferring to glass containers.
Because it contains cooked pumpkin, you should keep it in the fridge in a sealed bottle or airtight container. Try to drink it within 5 to 7 days. Don’t wait longer because the milk might not taste as good and could even go bad.
If you want to keep it fresh for a longer time, freezing it is a good idea. Just make sure to write the date you put it in the freezer, and don’t keep it frozen for more than 3 months. To thaw the milk, you can either let it sit out at room temperature or gently warm it in the microwave.
Simple Pumpkin Milk
If you are looking for a healthy and nutritious vegan milk, Pumpkin Milk is absolutely a perfect choice for you and your family.
Ingredients
- 400g (2 cups) butternut squash
- 1 liter (33.8 oz) soy milk or almond milk
- (Optional) 300g sugar
Instructions
Step 1. Preparation
- Cut pumpkin into cubes: small cubes of pumpkin help to reduce cooking time. When you prepare the pumpkin, you don’t have to cut them perfectly into even cubes. Just transform big pumpkin into smaller pieces, ready for boiling.
Step 2. Cook pumpkin purée
- Add the cubes into water and heat them up on stove. Once the water starts to boil, keep it boiling in the next 10-15 minutes. Then, turn the heat off and remove pumpkin cubes from water.
- If you have a blender, add all cooked pumpkin cubes in and blend until you get a smooth pumpkin purée.
- In case you don’t have a blender, or you make only a small amount of purée, you can crush the cubes with a strainer and a spatula. Transfer the cubes to a strainer and set it over a bowl. Use a spatula to press them on the strainer. They will be crushed easily as they are very soft. Finally, you’ll get a soft, smooth, and juicy purée in the bowl.
Step 3. Make pumpkin milk
- When your purée is done, start to cook the milk to dissolve the ingredients together.
- Mix the milk, sugar and pumpkin purée in a pot. The amount of sugar belongs to your taste, or you can even skip it.
- Stir them well over low heat until the mixture begins to boil. Taste the last time to adjust the sweetness if desired. Turn off the heat, it’s done.
Notes
To serve, pour your freshly made pumpkin milk into mugs or clear glasses to showcase its vibrant, warm color. Garnish some spice on top is very interesting, such as ground cinnamon, to enhance the cozy taste of the drink. Besides, you can also add a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce for sweeter flavor and cooler look.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 7 Serving Size: 200ml (1 cup)Amount Per Serving: Calories: 150