A slight variation from the popular peanut butter, almond butter can be used as a substitute on your sandwiches. This ingredient is just as tasty, is very versatile in its culinary uses, and is said to be healthier too.
Well, what is wrong with peanut butter, you may ask? After all, it is the traditional nut butter. Its recipes rule the stomachs and sandwiches across the world. So, why replace it with almond butter? Maybe just for a change!
It can be used as an interesting addition to your repertoire of sandwiches and cookies! Making it is very easy and it tastes great. Moreover, almonds are really good for health, so instead of eating them raw you could make almond butter and use it as a spread!
Recipe for Making Almond Butter
Ingredients:
Almonds, (assume 2 cupfuls of almonds for 10 oz of butter)
Olive oil, (assume 1 tbsp of oil per cup of nuts)
Salt to taste
Directions:
You can use either plain raw almonds or roasted almonds. Both have their own individual qualities. Raw almonds are advocated by nutritionists as the secret of good health, while it is no secret that butter that uses roasted ones will taste so much better! Maybe you could try both roasted and raw and then decide which one you like best!
Remove the skin as it may add a bitter taste to the final product.
Once blanched, if you want to roast the almonds, oven heat them at about 350 degrees.
Make sure they don't get burned! Keep shaking the pan every 5 minutes or so.
You will know the almonds are ready once they are lightly brown.
Instructions:
Put the raw/roasted almonds in the blender.
Crank the blender up to a high speed.
At first the mixture will look dry and nutty, but about 10 minutes into the blending, the almonds will start releasing oil and slowly the paste will have a smooth and creamy texture.
Adding olive oil is optional and you can use more or less than given.
Olive oil will add not only to the creaminess, but a bit more to the overall taste.
Here's a really cool idea, add dark chocolate to the blend to give it a really unique taste.
Almond Butter Cookies
Almond butter can be added to a number of recipes to enhance their taste. The simplest way is to use it in a sandwich with jelly! But with a little creativity and your taste buds for guidance, you could use it anywhere from cakes, cookies, brownies and even in toffees.
Ingredients:
Almond Butter, (as mentioned earlier)
Sugar, 1/2cup
Egg Whites, 2
Pastry Flour, ¾ cup
Salt, to taste
Instructions:
Heat up your oven to 350 degrees.
Blend the sugar and the recently made almond butter together till it gets smooth.
Take this mixture and beat the egg whites into it.
Add pastry flour and salt and beat the dough till it is soft.
Shape the cookies from the dough and place them in an oven pan.
Place the pan in the center rack of your preheated oven for about 10-15 min.
Watch as the soft dough turns into crunchy almond butter cookies.
Tip - Add vanilla extract and rum and make it a treat for the senses! Enjoy!
Now that you have learned how to make almond butter from scratch, you can use your imagination and utilize this ingredient in a variety of dishes and wow your friends and family.