how to make vegan protein fluff

protein fluff is a favourite among fitness buffs. while nicecream is divine, it can be quite heavy and not have the ideal macros for some people. protein fluff is usually made from frozen fruit, milk (animal or plant) and whey protein. the casein in the whey is what makes it fluffy and light. however, casein is a protein that is actually addictive which is why people struggle so much going vegan - ever wonder why you just can't seem to give up cheese? i discovered a vegan recipe by anarchist kitchen, which used xanthan gum - a corn-based, gluten-free thickener. i've been testing it (aka am obsessed with it and have been eating it every day for the last week) intending to try different flavour combinations and see what different proteins do. thus far i've tried 3 flavours and 2 different proteins. i'm a creature of habit.

however, i do think i've got a pretty good idea of what makes good vegan protein fluff. a few things to note: if you aren't using an unsweetened protein (it's just cheaper if you get an unbranded protein from a bulk food store, like, $40 per kilo cheaper) omit the sweetener and experiment with the xanthan as some protein powders have thickeners in them already. just be sure to use a good quality protein that doesn't have added sugar or fillers and is within your budget. if you aren't using a flavoured/sweetened protein, use a natural sweetener such as stevia (my perferance) , ethytriol, xylitol, monkfruit or coconut sugar.

now, what flavour? like nicecream, protein fluff is very versatile and takes on flavour well. some ideas are:

• creamsicle: use orange juice and coconut milk, frozen bananas and top with coconut chips

• chocolate mint: add 3 tbsp cacao powder and peppermint extract or peppermint stevia drops

• salted caramel: add 2 tsp mesquite or lucama and a pinch of salt or use this protein

• blueberry pie: use frozen blueberries and add a pinch of cinnamon

• peaches & cream: use cashew milk, frozen peaches, and add some vegan yoghurt

• mocha: swap some almond milk for brewed coffee and add 2-3 tbsp cacao powder

or keep it as is - it's delicious.

a quick note on nutrition. macro wise, the biggest variant is the fruit, though even if using more caloric-dense fruits like banana and mango, it will still be low in calories. i prefer low-sugar fruits like berries, though you could even sub some with frozen zucchini. the whole thing (which is filling AF) will be between 250-350 calories, and that's more like 3-4 cups of volume. try getting a fortified plant milk with minimal ingredients, and again the type of protein powder will affect the nutritional value. hemp protein is incredibly nutritious (perfect omega 3:6 ratio for humans) but more expensive, so i tend to stick with rice and pea or a blend. adding cacao or berry powder will add more micronutrients and antioxidants. this won't really take on leafy greens but try it with some green powder if you want. whatever you decide to do, i hope you enjoy your bowl of cloud. cheers.