Description:
It generally refers to the seeds contained within the stones of the fruits of the almond tree. The almond fruit is oval, green and velvety to touch enclosing a thick-shelled nut containing one or two seeds. These seeds are used whole, flaked (slivered), blanched, ground or made into a paste or a cream.
How to select:
Available blanched, unblanched, whole, sliced, chopped, candied, smoked, in paste form, and many flavours.
Use:
While the almond is most often eaten on its own, raw or toasted, it is used in some dishes. It, along with other nuts, is often sprinkled over desserts, particularly sundaes and other ice cream based dishes. It is also used in Baklava. There is also almond butter, a spread similar to peanut butter, popular with peanut allergy sufferers and for its less salty taste.
How to store:
Store in cool dry place in an air-tight container upto 8 months. .
.
Health benefits:
Sometimes the consumption of almonds was portrayed as a key therapeutic agent, used to improve the complexion, improve eliminations through the colon, and even to prevent cancer
Almond Paste / Marzipan :
It is a thick paste made with ground almonds and sugar or sugar syrup. It is used in making cakes and pastries, especially as a base for icing on a wedding or Christmas cake. It can be coloured and flavoured and also used in confectionery for making marzipan sweetmeats.
Almond oil
It is made by extracting the oil from almond seeds. It has a very high medicinal value. .
Almond Powder:
Whole almonds seeds are lightly roasted and ground to a fine powder. .
|
