Vegan Protein Milkshake with Chocolate Balsamic and Fresh Strawberries Recipe
Vegan Protein Milkshake with Chocolate Balsamic and Fresh Strawberries Recipe
Prep time: Less than 5 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Yields: 1 serving
Course: Breakfast or dessert
What is Dark Chocolate Dark Balsamic Vinegar?
Dark Chocolate Dark Balsamic is one of our high-quality Moderno dark balsamic vinegar blended with three different chocolates to create its deep, unmistakable flavor.
Dark balsamic is made from sugary sweet white Trebbiano grapes. Balsamic is made from the ripest grapes. The juice is pressed, allowed to oxidize, and is boiled down in a copper kettle over an open wood fire before being stored in barrels. Oxidation is what gives dark balsamic varieties their traditional color and flavor.
Balsamic vinegar is traditionally aged for a minimum of twelve years with some balsamic vinegar being aged for nearly 100.
The Traditional Solera Method
Our balsamic vinegar has been aged in the traditional Solera method. The Solera method involves stacking balsamic, wine, or whiskey in wooden barrels in vertical rows. The bottom row is called the Solera, and the rows above are called the Criaderas.
Each subsequent row of Criaderas is labeled numerically. The top row is the highest number and the balsamic from the most recent harvest, and the rows closest to the Solera being from the older harvest. The Solera itself is the oldest balsamic.
These barrels also subsequently get smaller in size and can be made from oak, acacia, mulberry, ash, chestnut, cherry, and juniper wood to impart different flavors.
Each year a maximum of one-third of balsamic is bottled from the Solera. Then the Solera is filled by the row above. The row above it then fills each subsequent row. Which then leaves the top barrels ready to hold the balsamic from the most recent harvest.
What is a Vegan Protein Milkshake?
Milkshakes are not just a childhood favorite, though the nostalgia is strong, and we almost all have those childhood memories of slurping down a milkshake on a sunny afternoon.
We wanted to take a stab at recreating the flavors of a traditional classic malted milkshake, but in a healthier way that doesn’t necessarily taste “health” and is not just blended sugar-filled ice cream with sugary milk. That’s where the protein shake comes in.
These days we all struggle to get enough protein in our diets. Luckily for us, the protein powder market has really stepped it up a notch and created versatile protein powders that actually taste good. We’ve used protein powder in our baked goods, and now it’s time to let its original purpose shine.
This shake makes it easy to get in that extra serving of protein, or in the case of the Olly Vanilla Plant-Powered Protein we used in our version, 18 grams of protein.
There are four awesome reasons we chose Olly for our recipe today:
- It is daily low carb for a protein powder, with just five net carbs per serving.
- It contains absolutely no dairy and is gluten-free as well. It is made of pea protein and flaxseed.
- It is also incredibly low in added sugar for a protein powder. Most of the sweetness comes from natural Stevia, which is rare for a protein powder.
- It actually tastes good. Sure it has a little bit of that protein shake taste, but the balsamic helps with that!
Fresh Fruit Adds Free-Radical Fighting Benefits
We used fresh strawberries in our shake just to take the flavor and antioxidant power up one more notch. You can easily skip or substitute the strawberries for a different berry you have on hand.
Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, goji berries, and acai berries are all rich in antioxidants and will add a nice fruity juxtaposition to the balsamic.
Balsamic Brings Chocolate and Health Together
We used the balsamic in this recipe to add hints of sweetness and that deep chocolate flavor that is similar to the chocolate malt milkshakes of our youth.
Did you know that vinegar does not curdle nut milks? When pairing balsamic and milks made from animals, these milks will curdle and turn to buttermilk. Buttermilk has a special place in our hearts, but it is definitely not in our milkshake.
Not only do balsamic vinegars not curdle nut milks, but they are perfect for diabetes management as dark balsamic vinegar will not spike your blood glucose levels. Studies have shown that ingesting balsamic vinegar before a meal might help those with Type 2 Diabetes manage blood sugar naturally. Just another reason why you should take a moment to enjoy this new take on a classic milkshake.
Ingredients
- 1/2 Tablespoon Dark Chocolate Dark Balsamic Vinegar from Estero Bay.
- ¼ Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract.
- 1 level scoop as per directions on vanilla protein powder.
- 2 to 3 medium-sized ripe strawberries plus one for garnish.
- 8 ounces ice cold hemp milk plus a little extra to thin out the shake to your liking.
- 1 square of 80% or higher dark chocolate broken into small crumbs.
- A muddler and a shaker or a spoon and a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- Optional: ¼ cup ice cubes.
Directions
- Take your cocktail shaker or jar with a tight-fitting lid and add your hemp milk, vegan protein powder, dark chocolate, dark balsamic vinegar, and pure vanilla extract. Put on your shaker or a tight-fitting lid and shake that milk shake up!
- Check the thickness of your shake and add a little more hemp milk until the desired consistency is achieved. Shake may thicken with time. If you’d like your shake a little colder, you can skip the extra hemp milk and add ¼ cup of crushed ice to your shaker instead, but you will want to strain the concoction into your serving glass before the next step if ice is added.
- Remove your shaker lid and add your two to three strawberries, stems removed, to the shaker and mash them with your muddler or your spoon. You can also do this in the glass after pouring your shake.
- Pour your shake into your favorite milkshake glass. Garnish with some diced strawberry, and add your small chunks of dark chocolate on top. Add a wide mouth, milkshake, or boba straw, and stir the shake with the straw.
- Enjoy this fun and healthy twist on a classic malted milkshake. Don’t forget to slurp every last delicious drop!
