Homemade Soy Milk (Cook First Method)

Directions

1. Pour soybeans into a medium bowl and cover with a few inches of water. Let sit for at least 8 hours, or overnight, at room temperature. (You will notice that the beans will almost triple in volume, to about 1 cup plus 6 tablespoons.)
2. Pour the beans into a colander positioned in the sink, then rinse and drain.
3. Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a medium saucepot. Once the water is boiling, insert a steamer basket into the pot. Pour beans into the insert, cover, and steam over medium-low heat until slightly tender, about 1 hour (you might need to add more water to the pot during this process).
4. Add beans to a high-speed blender with about 3 cups water. Cover and blend until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.
5. Position a nut milk bag over a large bowl. Pour the bean mixture into the bag and close the bag. Wait for the mixture to cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes (to avoid burning your hands). Squeeze the nut milk bag repeatedly, wringing out the soymilk. [Editors' note: We used doubled-up cheesecloth instead of a nut milk bag and, while we endured some splatters, the process worked beautifully regardless, though we were left with perhaps more soybean solids—okara—than had we used a bag. We also waited for the beans to cool *before* blending them with the water. That worked, too!]
6. If desired, flavor it with about 1/8 teaspoon of salt and, for sweetness, 4 teaspoons agave nectar, honey, or maple syrup per 8-ounce serving.