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Almonds

Nuts & seeds · Tree nuts

Almonds

Mild, sweet tree nuts sold whole, blanched, flaked or ground; used in baking, curries, desserts and snacks.

Also called: almond, badam, badem, almendras, flaked almonds

A kind of nuts

46 recipes with it

Photo: Ivar Leidus, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

What it is

Almonds are teardrop-shaped kernels with a thin brown skin; blanched almonds have the skin removed and are pale cream. They are sold whole, slivered, flaked and ground. The sweet almond is the one eaten; bitter almonds, used in tiny amounts for flavour, are toxic raw. Almond extract tastes of bitter almond, not sweet.

Prunus dulcis

How it’s used

  • Ground into korma, Mughlai sauces and romesco
  • Flaked and toasted over trout, salads and cakes
  • Baked into frangipane, macarons and amaretti
  • Soaked and blended into almond milk or eaten as snacks

Characteristics

Taste
Mildly sweet and nutty.
Texture
Crisp and dense.
When cooked
Pour boiling water over whole almonds for a minute to slip off the skins.
Sold as
whole, flakes, ground, paste
Cooking uses
Usually eaten raw, Suitable for baking, Used as a garnish, Used for thickening

Kinds in our pantry

Storage

Cool, dry and dark. Keep airtight in a cool, dark place; refrigerate or freeze for longer. Ground almonds turn rancid faster than whole.

Diet, allergens and safety

Contains Tree nuts.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Tree nuts are a major allergen; an allergy to one nut does not rule out others, and nuts are often packed on shared lines, so check 'may contain' warnings.
  • Never eat raw bitter almonds; they contain amygdalin, which releases cyanide.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
579 kcal
Protein
21.15 g
Carbohydrate
21.55 g
Fat
49.93 g
Fibre
12.5 g
Sugars
4.35 g

USDA FoodData Central: Nuts, almonds.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Cashews — In sauces and curries; creamier and sweeter.
  • Hazelnuts — In baking; stronger, sweeter flavour.

Related ingredients

Recipes with almonds

See all 46

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