We are heading towards our second drink made from bananas. Maybe this time, I’ll be able to impress you even more with this new recipe. It’s easier to make than a banana smoothie, and looks stunning. This drink is not very well-known in my surroundings, so it could be considered more trendy.
Banana smoothies and milkshakes are common drinks, but few people are familiar with banana milk, which is a popular Korean beverage known as banana uyu. Although it can be purchased at stores, it is very easy to make at home and is much more delicious, healthier, and less expensive. The banana-flavored milk found in stores is usually made with dairy milk, banana juice, and/or artificial flavors.
Feel free to experiment with various flavors that you enjoy. You may be surprised to find how many different flavors can complement banana milk. If you want to achieve an artificial taste, try adding vanilla extract and banana liqueur. Store-bought milk often has a candy-like taste, a thin consistency, and a lot of flavor.
The thickness varies based on the proportions of liquid and solid ingredients. To achieve a more drinkable consistency, water is often added to the mixture. This helps the drink to feel more refreshing.
You likely have all the needed ingredients at home. Simply blend bananas, water, and milk. Add crushed ice for a stunning summer drink. Add honey for a cozy winter treat.
You can use it to enhance your breakfast bowl with granola or oatmeal, as a milk substitute, or for dipping cookies and baking.
Try different fruits, such as strawberries or peaches. Experiment with mixing different fruits for a bit of sweet drama. Go wild, get creative, and add vegetables to the milk.
What are your thoughts on using banana milk as an alternative? It is delicious and a great competitor to other types of milk. It is creamy, natural, cheap, and light. I think it has it all. Just bananas and water, and you have healthy milk. Why not give it a try?
Are you planning to make this milky drink in the summer?
BASIC
- To enhance the flavor, increase the amount of bananas and decrease the amount of liquids.
- Adding more milk creates a less watery and creamier drink. To achieve the perfect consistency, add a small amount of water or ice or use light, cold milk.
- Omit the water, add more bananas, and use all the milk if you want to make a creamy banana smoothie.
- You can add sweetened condensed milk or coffee cream for an extra-creamy texture.
Freezing tips
- Slice bananas and freeze them before blending to prevent heating. Add crushed ice or chill the milk in the fridge.
- To freeze bananas, simply peel and chop them into chunks before freezing.
- Freeze ripe bananas to use as a natural sweetener for beverages.
- Frozen fruit will create a thicker, creamier, and extra-velvety texture, but it can be more challenging to blend. Ice will result in a more watery texture.
PRO TIPS
- Adding a pinch of salt will help balance the natural sweetness of the bananas.
- Maple syrup boasts a woodsy flavor, while honey adds a sweet, floral note. I believe that adding maple syrup to the drink enhances its aroma more than honey does.
- Ripe bananas blend more easily and result in a smoother, creamier, and softer texture.
- Bananas with dark brown spots are the most flavorful.
- To speed up the ripening of bananas, place them in a paper bag in a warm spot.
- If you prefer a less sweet drink, store bananas in a plastic bag in a cool place to keep them fresh for longer (use under-ripe bananas for a neutral flavor).
- Use any type of milk you prefer, whether dairy (whole or skim) or dairy-free (coconut, almond, oat, soy, cashew, pea, rice, quinoa).
- You can also use nuts to make milk. Blend the nuts with coconut milk or water and your desired flavors until smooth.
- Lightly roast bananas to elevate the flavor to the next level.
TOP PRO TIPS
- Make a healthier version of homemade frozen popsicles by pouring banana milk into popsicle molds.
- Use a whisk for whipping, and your milk will have a consistency and appearance similar to that of an Italian cappuccino.
- Always pour drinks over ice because the ice will blend with the liquid. First, add ice to the glasses and then pour the milk over it. If you do it the opposite way, the drink will be watery, and the mixture won’t be homogeneous.
- If you don’t have a high-powered appliance to break the ice, wrap ice cubes in a cloth and smash them. Don’t blame me for repressed feelings when smashing.
MILK VARIATIONS
- Feel free to use a variety of fruits and vegetables.
- You can use dairy milk, dairy-free milk, or just water.
- Add nutritious ingredients like peanut butter, almond butter, or ground seeds for a creamy consistency. Add more liquid for a thinner consistency.
- Spice it up with some ginger, cinnamon, or turmeric.
- You can enhance the flavor with caramel, cocoa powder, or matcha for a soft and earthy taste.
- Add dates or dried fruits instead of sugar. Be cautious not to add too many as it may alter the color.
- For a winter treat, try adding cinnamon and nutmeg to banana milk.
CHIC DECORATION
- As a beverage, it can be served in glasses or recycled glass packaging, such as appropriate jars, to achieve a unique look.
- Chill the glasses in the freezer until they develop a beautiful frost.
- Drizzle the chocolate or caramel syrup along the sides of the glass.
- Fancy straws.
STORAGE
- Store it in the fridge for up to 1-2 days. Fill the container to the top and seal it with a cap. Add a few drops of fresh lemon juice to help reduce natural browning when exposed to air. The acid in the lemon juice will help prevent browning. Add small amounts so it won’t affect the taste of the banana milk. Shake before serving.
- Spoiled banana milk will have a dark brown color and an acidic taste and smell.
- You can use it as a liquid for smoothie bowls, over cereals, oatmeal, or granola, and as a topping with chunks of fresh fruit. Well-ripened bananas are sweeter. If you don’t know what to do with the mushiest bananas, this is a solution for a zero-waste kitchen. But I must admit that I like the taste of green bananas.
Freezing tips
- For example, you can freeze it in ice cube trays and store it for up to 2 months.
- You can preserve leftover bananas by freezing them, they can be used later for making smoothies, pancakes, or banana bread.
RECIPE
2 bananas (well-ripened, sliced, or broken into pieces)
250ml ice-cold regular milk or plant-based milk
250ml water
1 cup ice
1 Tbsp honey or maple syrup
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp peanut butter (optional, add more liquid if necessary)
I never measure ingredients and add liquids based on a feeling. Use any milk you prefer. You are in control over the level of sweetness you add. Consider the flavor and consistency of different types of milk
*1 Tbsp = 15 ml, 250 ml = 1 Cup, ½ tsp = 2.5ml
BASIC DIRECTIONS
Mix all ingredients using a hand blender until the texture is smooth and without banana bits. Serve and take a picture immediately if you don’t have lemon juice.
For best results, slice the bananas and freeze them before blending. Use a high-powered blender that can handle frozen bananas and ice. Serve the milk with ice or chill it in the fridge. It’s best to drink it right away and enjoy it while it’s chilled.
Different add-ins such as honey, vanilla, peanut butter, spices, and dried fruit will enhance the aroma and sweetness, but it will still be tasty without any add-ons. Feel free to get creative with these combinations, but all you need is a banana and milk. That’s all it takes.
So now you have no more excuses. Make this banana drink often as it’s easy, healthy, and special. No hard work is needed for this sweet treat.