- Almonds - Main Page
- Almonds - Health and Nutrition
- Almond Recipes
- Almond Ingredients
- Bitter Almonds
- Green Almonds
- Almond Butter
- Almond Milk
- Almond Oil
Almond Products
Almonds have a diversified range of uses. Not only are almonds delicious eaten raw (especially when fresh - from April onwards in Australia) but also when roasted. Almonds are used in confectionary, converted to almond butter, almond milk and even The opportunities to include almonds in recipes are almost limitless. products Almonds are processed and sold in a range of forms for cooking purposes. In Australia almonds are freshest in April.
Blanched Almonds
Blanched almonds are shelled almonds that have been treated with hot water for about one minute to soften and loosen the seedcoat. The seedcoat is then pinched and removed to reveal the white embryo.
Almond Ingredients
Almonds for snacking usually have their skins on. Almonds prepared for cooking can be skinless or not. Slivered almonds are usually skinless and sliced almonds usually have their skins intact . The following are some of the many ways in which almonds are provided for cooking purposes.
| Natural (with skins on) |
Blanched (with skins off) |
| Whole Popular as a snack, raw, roasted or smoked. |
Whole Popular for cooking and in the preparation of almond butter and almond milk. |
| Sliced | Slivered |
| Diced | Diced |
| Meal | Meal |
Bitter Almonds
Bitter almond (Prunus dulcis var. amara) is processed to remove amygdalin (not present in sweet almonds) and is generally available in oil form.
For detail on chemistry issues concerning bitter almonds and the production of almond oil see the drugs.com website.
Bitter almond oil is used commercially for cooking, the production of almond essence, liquor (amaretto), the cosmetics industry, and in confectionary, particularly marzipan.
Green Almonds
Green almonds have long been popular in southern Europe and the Middleeast and are now becoming popular in the wider population.See the Green Almond page for information.
Great to use as a butter substitute or to add interest and flavour to raw carrots, celery etc.
Almond Butter RecipeAlmond butter can be made from raw blanched nuts but tastes much better if made from roasted nuts.While almond butter can be made from raw nuts, Roast the almonds by placing them on a baking sheet for 15 to 20 minutes at 300°F. Almonds can burn easily so stir two or three while roasting. The following ingredients makes approx. 1 1/4 cups of almond butter.
- 2 cups roasted almonds
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoon unrefined vegetable oil
Blend the almonds and salt in a food processor, blender and add the oil when finally ground. Blend for a further two minutes or till when the mixture reaches desired consistency. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator.
