How to Roast Almonds

How does one get their money's worth in terms of flavor and pricing? Well, there is a quick fix. just roast them! Find out how, in the following story.

Almonds were considered to be a fertility charm by the Romans, hence they were showered on the newly weds during the nuptial ceremonies.

Almonds are widely popular nuts that are derived from the fruit of the almond tree. The tree produces a drupe fruit that possesses a singular hard-shelled seed (pit stone) inside it. To get to the nut, the fruit has to be dried, separated from the seed, and then the seed is cracked open to reveal the nut.

There exists a wide range of the flavors and size of these almonds. They may be sweet or bitter. They can be eaten raw, or roasted. They can also be used in sweet as well as savory food items. But these nuts are not only good in terms of flavor, but are highly nutritional as well.

They are a rich source of vitamin B complex, vitamin E, and minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc. Their consumption also helps in the reduction of cholesterol in the body. Therefore, people use them not just for their taste, but also for their nutritional value.

Thankfully, almonds are available throughout the year, while the fresh ones arrive in mid-summer. Hence, it is best to buy them in the summer and store them for later use. But how does one get the maximum flavor out of almonds that aren't fresh or are of a lower quality? Do not despair, since this is situation has an easy remedy.

All you need to do is roast them. The process of roasting releases all the stored oils of the nut, causing it to develop a nuttier and richer flavor. However, be careful not to overdo it and burn them. Given below are a few ways you can go about roasting your almonds.

Requirements:

• Raw Shelled Almonds
• Cookie Sheet or Baking Pan
• Aluminum Foil
• Salt

... in the Oven

• Heat the oven to 350°F; while the oven is heating up, cover the cookie sheet or baking pan with aluminum foil.
• Arrange and spread the almonds over the foil in a single uniform layer.
• Bake the almonds for about 8 to 10 minutes at 350°F.

• When the timer rings, remove the cookie sheet from the oven, and carefully pull the corners of the foil into a pouch, place the pouch on a cool surface. This should be done to ensure that the nuts do not get burned due to heat in the pan.
• Salt the almonds as per taste, let them cool for about 15 to 20 minutes, before you store them in an airtight container.

... in the Microwave

• In a microwave pan, place about ½ a cup of almonds. Add 1 tablespoon of margarine or butter to the pan.
• Microwave on medium or medium-low for about 4 to 5 minutes. We recommend you to use medium for the first 2 minutes, and then reduce the heat to medium-low, and let the almonds roast.

• However, make sure you keep stirring them every minute, lest you end up burning the almonds.

... on the Stove

• You will need a flat-bottomed frying pan to roast the almonds on a stove. We suggest using a nonstick frying pan.
• Add almonds to the pan such that the almonds are lined in a single layer.
• Turn the heat on medium or medium-low and let the almonds roast.

• While the almonds are roasting, stir once in a while.
• Once you notice the skin of the almonds starting to crackle and the nuts releasing a fragrance, you can turn the heat off.
• Remove the almonds in a plate, and let it cool.

Now that you know how to roast almonds, would you not want to read about some almond facts? Almonds were brought to the Mediterranean region by people who traveled through the Silk Route, which ran between Asia and the Mediterranean region. Almonds are now grown in Spain, Italy, Morocco, Greece, and Israel.

Almonds made their way to the United States through the Spaniards way back in the 1700s. They are helpful in protecting the heart and are also help people suffering from diabetes. Contrary to popular belief, almonds also help in weight loss. Are you still there or have you already started roasting the almonds to make a nice crunchy snack?