Chocolate Pudding?!
Answers: I found some instant pudding mix that is vegan (no gelatin), but of course, you mix it with milk. Does anyone know of any alternatives? I'm not a vegan, so I don't have any tofu or soy milk and I don't plan on buying any. This isn't a huge deal, I just thought I'd ask and see if it could be done (my fiance is vegan). Could you use water? Juice? Would that just be totally gross? And if it can only be milk, why? What's in milk that makes pudding solidify (keeping in mind there's no gelatin in it)?
Fawn,
Gelatin is not necessarily what makes pudding 'pudding-like'. It's the absorption of liquid by the small particles it's made of.
If you have instant pudding, it could be several things including gelatin or corn starch. If you are making homemade pudding (the only way I make it), it is made from flour, butter (or margarine), milk, and something to sweeten and something to flavor it. (usually sugar and cocoa for me).
If you use anything besides milk for the traditionally milk based puddings, and are expecting a really tasty result similar to normal pudding, you aren't going to get it most of the time. However, it depends on the flavor. Chocolate or cream or vanilla needs milk. However - lemon pudding does not. It's thickened by corn starch. If you don't know how to make a corn starch thickener, you'd need to google that. It's simple but it's detailed online in a zillion places so there's no need to type it all right here.
Corn starch or flour can always be used as a thickener, but your fluids are going to totally depend on the type of pudding you are making. I wouldn't waste any time trying to make a non-dairy chocolate pudding though. It's going to turn out like a grilled tofu steak. (in other words - just plain nasty).
- Kevin
Well milk is used to give it a creamy texture i assume. Soy milk is the next best choice, if not go with water if its still runny just boil the pudding with the water and some cornstarch to make it thick.
Pudding never has gelatin in it. Some has powdered milk. You mix it with (soy)milk to make it creamy. Water won't work.
Buy some soy milk. Its really not that hard to get, its not expensive and tastes fine. And it should work the same, trust me. You can get it in a pathmark, and other supermarkets probably even a walmart.
Try soy milk. Milk gives the pudding a smooth creamy texture. But soy milk can often be used in equal measure as cows' milk, so try it out.
That's really your best option.