Hemp milk is not as widely available as some other dairy-free milk alternatives, given that it must be grown outside the United States for legal reasons. But it's worth investigating. It is higher in protein than rice milk and milder tasting than soy. The hemp milk I recommend is fortified with some vitamins that are often lacking in American diets, like D and several B vitamins. It's worth noting that hemp milk contains no THC (the active compound in marijuana). I served this as the centerpiece dessert at a birthday party, and no one could believe it wasn't made with milk. Be sure to leave time for it to chill.
- 3 c Living Harvest Vanilla Hemp Milk
- 1/4 cup small-grain instant tapioca
- pinch of salt
- 1/4 tsp orange or banana extract (optional)
- toppings: sliced bananas, whole berries, fresh mint leaves, or jam (optional)
- Over low heat, simmer the hemp milk in a medium saucepan until it starts to bubble. Add the tapioca, salt, and extract (if using).
- Stirring frequently, simmer the pudding for about 15 minutes, until the tapioca grains are translucent. (Tapioca doesn't take constant stirring, but you don't want to leave it alone for more than a minute or two. Otherwise, the grains will stick together and not cook.)
- Pour pudding into a large bowl and chill for several hours or overnight.
To serve: Dish into individual serving bowls with your choice of garnish (if using). Serves 6 to 10.
Ingredient note: If you can't find hemp milk or prefer to use a different non-dairy milk, you can substitute some or all of the hemp milk. You can substitute one can of coconut milk for about 1 1/2 cups of hemp milk, or you can use soy milk or nut milk at a 1-to-1 ratio. You can also substitute rice milk at a 1-to-1 ratio. But because rice milk is lower in protein, you will need to add a small amount of protein in the form of another milk, an egg, egg replacer, or protein powder.
