How to Roast Almonds

There are a few culinary treats that simply taste better when cooked, which is why you need to learn how to roast almonds in order to coax out their nuanced flavors and bring a nutty, aromatic crunch to salads, cookies, crumbles, or just about any recipe that calls for almonds.

You might be wondering just how difficult it is to roast an almond. While it certainly isn't difficult to roast an almond, there are a few different methods for roasting almonds. Each of them takes a little extra time and attention from the cook to achieve optimum results.

Before you learn how to toast the mighty almond, here are a few fun facts about these nuts from the California Almond Board.

• Those who traveled the Silk Road between Asia and the Mediterranean brought the almond tree to the Mediterranean region where they now grow prolifically in Spain, Italy, Morocco, Greece and Israel
• Romans considered almonds as a fertility charm and would shower newlyweds with almonds during nuptial ceremonies.
• The Spanish brought almond trees to California in the mid-1700s by the Franciscan monks.

The two primary ways to roast almonds is by using either a dry roasting method or employing an oil to brown the nuts. You can also dry pan roast or toast almonds with a shallow frying pan.

To dry roast almonds:

1. Heat your oven to 350 degrees F
2. Spread almonds on an ungreased cookie sheet
3. Bake for approximately 10 minutes or until they are golden brown and fragrant. Note that because of their high oil content, the almonds will continue to roast after you remove them from the oven
4. Check to make sure that a test almond has the proper crunch when bitten into. It should taste toasted, not bitter or burnt

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Cover an entire cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spread almonds on baking pan
3. With a brush spread canola oil over almonds
4. Bake for eight to 10 minutes, remove pan from oven and sprinkle with kosher salt or |sea salt

To toast almonds you will need a shallow skillet, preferably not nonstick.

1. Add only enough almonds to the skillet so they lie in a single layer
2. Turn heat on to medium and toast, stirring every once in awhile until the almond skins begin to slightly crackle and the nuts are fragrant
3. Remove from heat and cool

Now that you have learned how to roast almonds, it is time to venture out a bit in your skills and try a more advanced recipe.

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole almonds
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons canola oil

1. Spread almonds on an ungreased cookie sheet and place in oven. Set oven to 350 degrees.
2. Bake, stirring occasionally until the nuts are browned, about 12 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
3. Mix the sugar and salt in a medium-sized bowl. In a medium sauce pan stir together the honey, water and oil and bring to a boil over medium heat.
4. Stir in the almonds and cook until all of the liquid has been absorbed by the nuts, approximately 5 minutes.
5. Transfer nuts to a bowl and sprinkle sugar and salt mixture over. Toss together to combine, and spread on wax paper to cool.

Roasted almonds can be used in just about any kind of dish.

• Chop roughly and add to green salads for extra protein and crunch.
• Mix with a crumble topping for a lovely, fragrant flavor to your apple or peach crumble.
• Top your oatmeal with roasted almonds in the morning to add more essential vitamins to your morning meal.
• Crush the almonds, mix with fresh herbs and coat chicken breasts in the mixture. Bake at 350 degrees F until cooked through.
• Stir honey and roasted almonds into Greek yoghurt as a healthy and tasty dessert.

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