People these days are looking out for dairy alternatives. Not that it is unhealthy but people have become more responsible towards animals and it is a good thing to avoid animal products as much as possible. Even if you are on a low carbohydrate or restrictive diet, you might be looking out for dairy alternatives. Even people who are lactose intolerant can opt for dairy free swaps. Below are some easily available and smart dairy alternatives for regular recipes and for baking –
8 DAIRY ALTERNATIVES
Coconut Oil/Olive Oil Instead of Butter
Not only is butter high in saturated fatty acids but it also can cause internal inflammation. You can instead use coconut oil or just regular cooking olive oil as an alternative to butter. I totally agree that coconut or olive oil cannot give the same buttery flavor but it is definitely a better option and works perfectly fine in baking as well.
Nut Milk Instead of Dairy Milk
I always prefer a nut milk over dairy milk not because it is low in carbohydrates but because it also tastes better and has a rich flavor. You can opt for almond milk, cashew nut milk or just any other milk like oat milk, soy milk, banana milk etc. Here I have listed some more vegan milk substitutes for you >>>
Tofu Instead of Paneer
Tofu is one of the best substitute to cottage cheese or paneer because it has quite similar taste and texture. It is nothing but coagulated soy milk that is further set to form blocks. You can cook tofu just as regular paneer and use it in your gravies and sandwiches.
Coconut Cream Instead of Coffee Creamer
Now, if you are a coffee lover and love a good coffee creamer, you do not have to suffer in silence anymore. You can make your own coffee cream by using coconut cream. You can add a sweetener of your choice, I prefer stevia and whip it with coconut cream. Add in some nut milk if you want a thinner consistency. Use this as a regular coffee creamer.
Sorbet Instead of Ice Cream
If you love your chilled ice cream, you can substitute it with sorbet. Sorbet is made with fresh fruit juices and can be customized as per your wish! You can also add in some nut milk or coconut cream if you want a more milky ice-cream-like taste.
Coconut Yogurt Instead of Yogurt
Yogurt is super healthy as it contains lactic acid producing bacteria. You can use nut milk or any milk substitute to make yogurt as well. I prefer using coconut milk to make coconut yogurt. The process is the same, you just have to use coconut milk instead of regular dairy milk. Add probiotic capsules to coconut milk and keep it on the countertop for 2 to 3 hours. Transfer it to the refrigerator and coconut yogurt is ready.
Chickpea Cream Instead of Whipped Cream
Did you know that you can use chickpea water to make whipped cream? Yes you heard me right, chickpea cream tastes and feels just like regular whipped cream. People also call it aquafaba. Simply boil chickpeas in water or put it in the pressure cooker to boil chickpeas. You can strain the water and use chickpeas in your regular food recipes. You just need the water. Add some sweetener and vanilla essence to this water and whip it until you get stiff peaks. You can keep this in the refrigerator up to 5 days.
Sweetened Cashew Cream Instead of Condensed Milk
Condensed milk is multipurpose and can be used in so many different sweet recipes. If you are lactose intolerant or don’t want to use dairy-based condensed milk, you can make your own sweetened condensed milk with cashews. Simply take full fat cashew milk and add in a sweetener of your choice. Boil it until it becomes thick and creamy. Use this in place of dairy-based condensed milk.
