Yesterday started out well, with a morning run in cloudy 58-degree weather (perfect running weather). However, near the end of said run, a gnat saw me and decided my right eyeball would make a nice home. Note to Mr. Gnat: my being vegan does not stop me from hating you!! The last ten minutes of my run were miserable, and people passing by must’ve wondered about this girl running with one hand over her eye, trying to get the dead bug out. Luckily, the day got progressively better.
For snack, I resurrected an old favorite: Soy-free Banana Yogurt, a.k.a. Banana Pudding… or even Banana Whipped Cream! (How good does banana whipped cream sound?)
Homemade Banana Yogurt
(Or pudding, but I like to call this “yogurt” since it’s healthier than traditional pudding)
- 3 level teaspoons agar flakes (See below for substitution note)
- 1 and 1/3 cup milk of choice (I use Almond Breeze almond milk)
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon (or more, if you’re a cinnamonster like me)
- a tiny dash salt (1/16th tsp)
- frozen banana
- sweetener of choice
Ahead of time: Measure the milk into a pot and mix in the agar flakes. Allow to sit 5 minutes, then slowly bring to a boil. As soon as it starts to boil, lower and simmer 8-10 minutes (most of the flakes will have dissolved, but not all). Turn off the heat and fridge uncovered until cool (at least 5 hours). Then scoop the base into a blender or Magic Bullet, add all other ingredients, and blend until super-smooth!
If you don’t want to bother with the agar base, you could always just blend a banana into regular plain or vanilla yogurt. Instant banana yogurt!
For tips making any flavored healthy pudding, see: Easy Pudding Tutorial.
Oh yum! I had “Banana ice cream” this morning for breakfast… but maybe tomorrow I’ll try banana yogurt!! I even have agar!!! 🙂
Bananas and raspberries – what a great combination.
I’m organised in much the same way you are, Katie. Everything looks like a disaster, and I often have a zillion things on the go, but I know where everything is and always get things done on time.
I have tired agar a few times, but never had good results. The agar dissolves nicely but then as whatever I’m making cools, it gets all lumpy. It’s as if the agar gels up in clumps instead of sevenly throughout the pudding. I guess I’ll have to try again. Any tips?
And I completely agree that there are too may good foods to eat and never enough time. Sometimes I want stay in the kitchen all day making things so I can try little bits of each. But then I’m stuck with oodles of leftovers so I eat those when I really want to make other things too. Ahhh… I love food too much.
Do you blend it after it gels? I definitely ALWAYS blend it. Otherwise, yeah, there are lots of yucky lumps. But a Vitamix (or even a Magic Bullet) takes care of that nicely if you blend very well.
We tried blending it, but maybe not enough. I’m saving up for a Vitamix, so my agar woes will be resolved soon.
Yes, ya have to blend a LOT… and make sure you add some liquid. Liquid always helps it blend better. And don’t use *too* much agar. I’ve found that–with almond milk–anything more than three teaspoons for 1 and 1/3 cups is too much.
Sorry katie I’m rooting for my beloved yanks!!! I’m very curious about agar and might add it to my grocery list
Aw but the Yankees ALWAYS win! My poor Rangers have never won. Go for the underdog! 😉
That banana yogurt looks so good!
I can’t imagine the hard work that must go in to running a blog. I definitely lack the organizational skills for it. So I commend you for keeping on top of things and even for REMEMBERING what links to use, even if they happen to lead you on a wild goose chase. Yes, I’ve clicked on links that take a while to get where I want sometimes. But while I’m on the chase, I often end up learning/seeing even more exciting things/posts that I never even knew I was searching for ;).
never heard of agar before -need to get some!
how did i miss this recipe????? i love bananas and creamy puddings and raspberries and yogurt. basically? i’m making this asap! 🙂
mmm uno what could be so fun with this, making a dairy-free banana bread pudding with this soygurt!! hmmm layer up a pan with bread, dump on some sliced banana, pour the pudding overtop, and TADAHHH all done 😛
maybe i’ll try that, it seems like it would be soo yummy <3
Mmmmmmm like the Nilla wafer one? I used to love that pudding… darn nilla wafers aren’t vegan, though! I’d love to see your rendition.
LOL maybe you could crumble a famous Kelsey muffin into it ;).
I, too, loved that nilla wafer pudding. So I’m excited to try your veganized version. I just have to find some agar!
Katie, do you run in the dark? I have this problem; in the wintertime it’s dark when I get ready for work, and it’s almost dark when I leave – yet I cannot do without my runs and a treadmill won’t cut it. But I’ve always been a little scared to run in the dark (cracks in the sidewalk, etc). What do you do?
No, it’s light here even before 7AM. Only once did I wake up at like 5 and decide to go running. It was HARD! Oh my gosh, I had to stick to main roads, and even some of those weren’t lit up. So I definitely understand that it’s not exactly easy running in the dark. (Understatement!)
I have seen–in running magazines–running headgear that has a lamp. Have you ever seen those things? Try to google it; maybe that’d be a solution?
Totally dorky, yet just might be a GREAT solution! Thanks! 🙂
Hey, then the darkness’ll come in handy ;).
What a weirdo gnat, lol. I still have never tried agar agar. I’ll have to after I get through all the soy yogurt I bought the other day.. 😛
I feel that way with your recipes – so many I want to try! I am trying to pace myself because I can only eat so much in 1 day haha =)
And I just bought agar from whole foods so I’m super excited to give it a try!
I remember you saying a long time ago you don’t really like soy yogurt because it’s too sweet but have you ever tried Silk plain soy yogurt? I don’t think the plain is sweet at all – I eat the vanilla because I need a little sweetness in my life!
I don’t think I’ve tried that one… I’m always up for trying new things, though, so thanks for the recommendation!! 🙂
I have been looking for a soy free option — thanks! I have a bag of Kuzu (japanese arrowroot), and I am wondering if that would give the same result? Have you used it before? I bought it after reading Alicia Silverstone’s book–she uses it often to thicken things. Any thoughts?
I am feeling your pain on the bug thing–I looked like I was doing some sort of kung foo running drill the other morning, just to keep them out of my face! I’ll take the bugs for now though, cause soon it will be snow here! 🙁
I’ve used kuzu for stew (https://lett-trim.today/2009/10/04/raisins-on-steroids/%3C/a%3E%29, but never for pudding. If you try it and find a recipe that works, I would LOVE to know about it!! 🙂
Haha, I’ve DEFINITELY had that happen to me during running– if fact, once I had about 4 different bugs fly into my eyes. What can I say, I’ve “buggable” 🙂 It’s not so fun at the time though!
I love agar pudding/yogurt. Definitely made all different kinds– pumpkin, banana, Alfredo, strawberry, cinnamon….. thanks to you for the idea!
I guess it’s a compliment? The buggies love you? LOL 😕
Hehe– last week there were gnats so thick for a few days that you couldn’t walk around without sunglasses!
I like to think I am organized– and I always wish my organization could be like you see in the office magazines. You know– perfectly positioned pencil cup with a drawer with little separators? Well, when I clean my room it always looks like that for a bit, but then it gets to be organized in a functional way! A few things out– but I mostly know where everything is. At least, I think I know where everything is 😉
I have tried agar, but it didn’t work very well 🙁 the base is still sitting in the fridge! Maybe I’ll give it another go soon.
VEGirl
So, this may be a dumb question… Agar is seaweed, so does it taste fishy? I’ve been curious to try it out, but not if there’s even a hint of fish. Lol. I see you make sweet things with it so I thought I’d ask. 🙂
If Katie doesn’t mind me answering you…
I’ve tried agar too– and it doesn’t taste like much of anything. And any taste you might detect would be eliminated by the add-in flavors. Hope that helps!
VEGirl
Like VeGirl said, it’s tasteless. But it was definitely not a dumb question!! And thanks, VeGirl. It is not only ok, it’s awesome if you answer for me. More discussion in the comment section is always a good thing. That way I’m not the only one talking, taking up the entire space with all my blurbs, which I sometimes feel dumb for doing ;).
I have been looking and looking for agar to make pudding, but I can’t find it! Where do youget yours, Katie?
I’m not Katie, but most health food stores sell it in the same section as the sea vegetables (nori, arame, etc.). Otherwise, Asian supermarkets have it too, but you’ll hae to ask where it is. It comes in powder, flakes, sheets, and bars.
Have you looked at Whole Foods in the Asian aisle? It’s made by Eden Foods.
Otherwise, do you have an Asian market near you?
Thanks you two! I will definitely check those places out 😉