The almond is often referred to as the king nut, although it is actually a stone fruit. There are three varieties: sweet, bitter and thin-walled almonds. Only some varieties of sweet almonds are suitable for eating raw, all other varieties are pre-processed before use. Almonds are used in food in fried or salted form, added to baking as a spice. Especially popular are almond flour, as well as shavings and petals, which are very often used in cooking to decorate confectionery.
If you could not find chopped and dried almonds on the counter, you can cook it yourself from whole seeds. There are several options for how to make almond petals at home. Some housewives recommend pouring boiling water over the kernels, waiting a couple of hours, rinsing cold water and then peel off the brown skin. This method, although fast, is not the best, because as a result, the almonds lose their whiteness and acquire a yellowish tint. In order for it to retain its natural color, it is better to soak the grains in cold water for a day - the skin will easily peel off, and the petals will remain snow-white and will become a real decoration for any dessert! Will help you cope with the task step-by-step instruction how to peel almonds from the skin, cut into thin plates and dry in a pan.
Taste Info Various Desserts
Ingredients
- almonds - 50 g;
- water - 1 l.
How to cook and cut almond flakes at home
We split the whole almonds with a hammer so as not to damage the inner white part, which is under the shell - the kernels in the brown skin. They are what we need to prepare the petals. Fill the kernels with cold water so that the liquid completely covers them. We leave it in this form for 1 day, changing the water from time to time to remove the bitterness and yellowish tint that the skin can give. 
After a day, we clean the grains with a knife - a universal knife for peeling vegetables is suitable. The peel is very easy to peel off, just pick up the edge and pull it slightly. 
We cut the peeled grains as thinly as possible - the result should be neat, almost transparent and slightly oblong petals. It is easier to cope with the task if you grind the almonds not along, but across, then the plates will be slightly smaller, but very thin. 
We send the chopped almonds to a dry and always cold frying pan (preferably with thin walls and a non-stick coating, so that it is easy to shake and turn the petals). 
We put the pan on a minimum fire and dry the petals, stirring from time to time so that excess moisture is removed from them. 
Literally immediately when heated, the petals will begin to tuck slightly and harden. Ready almonds should become dense and crispy - it will take 5-7 minutes to dry, depending on the thickness of the cut. In principle, you can also dry it in the oven at a minimum temperature and make sure that it does not burn. 
Homemade almond flakes are ready to eat. They can be added to pastries (grind into crumbs in a mortar) and used to decorate desserts. 
Don't rush to throw away the almond shell either - it can be used to flavor and improve the color of some alcoholic beverages, such as cognac or liquor. 
Do you know what almond flakes are? How to make them at home? If not, then our article will be very useful for you. We wish you success in the kitchen!
general information
Let's start with the petals. The almond kernels, peeled from the brown skin, are cut into thin plates. In appearance, they resemble petals or flakes. They can be consumed salted or fried. But most often, housewives use almond "petals" to decorate pastries and desserts (for example, ice cream, cakes, biscuits, muffins). It turns out a real culinary masterpiece.
We will need:
- 1 liter of water;
- 50 g whole almonds.
Detailed instructions:
Step number 1. Put whole almonds on the table. We split each of them with a heavy hammer. But we do it carefully to avoid damaging the inner (white) part.
Step number 2. We take out the kernels in a brown skin. It is from them that we will subsequently make almond petals. The kernels are placed in a glass bowl. Fill with cold water. The liquid should completely cover them. In this form, leave the almonds for 24 hours. Don't forget to change the water periodically. Such actions will save the kernels from bitterness and a yellowish tint.
Step number 3. After a day, we clean the grains using a universal vegetable knife. The skin is removed quickly and easily. You just need to grab the edge with a knife and pull it.
Step number 4. We shift the peeled kernels to a cutting board. With another (sharp) knife, cut them as thin as possible. If you get almost transparent and slightly oblong petals, then we did everything right. For those who want to save time, we suggest cutting almond grains not lengthwise, but across.
Step number 5. In a dry and cold frying pan with a non-stick coating, we send the “petals”. Dry them on low heat. Be sure to stir. This will get rid of excess moisture. The drying process of almond flakes will take 5-7 minutes.
Step number 6. We shift the "petals" into a plate. You can decorate them with a dessert or add them to pastries, after grinding them in a mortar. Many people throw away the shells of almonds, considering them useless. However, it can be used to give a more saturated color. alcoholic beverages(liquor, cognac and so on).
Pie "Almond Petal"
Grocery list:
Practical part
- Before cooking, lay out all the ingredients. Let them sit at room temperature for at least half an hour.
- Break the eggs into a bowl. Pour in kefir in the right amount. We pour white sugar, but not all, but 150 g. Beat these components using a powerful mixer.
- Flour should be combined with baking powder. Pour through a sieve into the egg-kefir mixture. Turn on the mixer again. Beat at low speed.
- We cover the bottom of the baking dish with special paper. Carefully pour in the dough. Be sure to level it.
- We place the form with the contents in a preheated oven (200 ° C). Pie baking time - 10 minutes.
- Let's start preparing the filling. Put a 100-gram serving of butter in a saucepan. We melt it. Next, pour out two types of sugar - white (100 g) and vanilla (bag). We also add honey with milk. We mix. Put in the almond flakes. Cook all this by setting a low fire. We are waiting for the complete dissolution of sugar crystals. We remove the saucepan from the stove.
- It's time to take our cake out of the oven. The filling prepared earlier is evenly distributed over its surface. You can immediately notice that the almond petals are covered with an oil-sugar shell. Put the cake back in the oven. This time you will have to wait 10-15 minutes. Before serving, the pastry should cool and its top crust should harden. Happy tea drinking everyone!
Afterword
almond petals not only give the dessert an excellent look, but also add calories. This should be taken into account by those who follow the figure. Calorie "petals" of almonds - 50 kcal / 100 g.
How much does almond petals cost (average price for 1 pack)?
Moscow and Moscow region
In ancient times, people revered almonds and the almond tree, because the plant was considered healing. The almond is a small shrub or tree that belongs to the genus Plum. We think the vast majority will say that almonds are a nut. This statement is not true, since almonds, by their origin, belong to stone fruits. Even in its shape and appearance, almonds resemble an apricot pit.
The homeland of the almond tree is considered to be the region of Central Asia and the Mediterranean. The inhabitants of the above territories for millennia BC began to use almonds, as well as beneficial features and the distinctive palatability of the almond fruit. They eat, and also use in cooking the kernels of sweet or cultivated almonds. The chemical composition of almonds is rich in the content of various vitamins, as well as beneficial compounds of natural origin.
As a result of the research, it was found that in chemical composition almonds contain about 60% fatty vegetable oil, in addition, 30% are natural proteins. Almonds contain B vitamins, namely thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine and folacin, as well as vitamin E or tocopherol. It is also worth supplementing the list of useful compounds contained in almonds with calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus and magnesium.
In ancient Egypt, almonds were considered food worthy only of the pharaohs. in modern times, almonds have become a common luxury. In addition to the fruit itself, derivative products are used. made from almonds, such as almond petals. In accordance with the definition adopted in the food industry, almond petals are specially cut, peeled almond kernels. Almond plates are nothing more than almonds cut into thin slices. This popular confectionery decoration is often used in the manufacture of birthday cakes or pastries.
In addition, without almond petals it is not possible to prepare some types of desserts. In America, almond petals are a must to decorate the newlyweds' wedding cake, as almonds are considered a symbol of family happiness, love, and prosperity. In Sweden, almond petals are used to decorate Christmas pastries. Almond petals can significantly improve appearance, and besides the taste of rolls, cakes, pies, biscuits and other sweet dishes.
It is noteworthy that the composition of the almond petals retains most of the beneficial compounds that were contained in the original natural material or the fruits of the almond tree. In addition, the calorie content of almond petals is also at a sufficient high level and is 650 kcal per 100 grams of product.
Calorie content of almond petals 650 kcal
Energy value of almond petals (Proportion of proteins, fats, carbohydrates - bzhu):
: 22 g. (~88 kcal)
: 58 g. (~522 kcal)
: 12 g. (~48 kcal)
Energy ratio (b|g|y): 14%|80%|7%
It is unlikely that anyone will be able to convince me that animal milk is good for humans. To be honest, this is not even a topic for discussion. But I have no complaints about nut milk - the color, the look, and the taste of real milk. At the same time - only benefit!
In my experience, of all kinds of nuts and seeds, the best milk comes from almonds.
Indecently tasty almond milk contains ten times more calcium than cow's milk, and it is much better absorbed. Plus - vitamin E, plus - no lactose and casein, plus - kids really like it. By the way, both the process and the result 🙂
What am I saying - let's go cook - you will taste it yourself and see everything!
Ingredients:
Almonds - 50 g
Honey - 0.5 tsp (or dates - 3-5 pcs.)
Salt - ¼ tsp
Pure cold water - 1 tbsp.
Cooking method:
1. Soak almonds in cold water for 8-12 hours. Best left overnight. But if you plan to peel the almonds from the skins, then you need to soak the nuts for at least a day. Water, of course, change and do not forget to rinse the nuts under running water.
However, for the preparation of the almond milk itself, the skins can be left. This will not affect the taste and color of the finished product. It makes sense to peel the almonds only if you plan to use the pulp and you need it to be white.
Another reason to peel almonds is to make homemade almond flakes.
How to make your own almond flakes
It's simple, although somewhat laborious. It is necessary to peel the soaked almonds from the skins and, using a vegetable peeler, carefully cut the petals from the nucleoli:
Dry the petals in a dehydrator, pour into a jar and use as needed.
In my experience, from one almond kernel, at best, 3 whole petals are obtained 🙂 So, you have to tinker. But it's worth it! With the help of almond petals, you can decorate dishes of live cuisine in an amazingly beautiful way.
For an example, look at this recipe for a healthy dessert:
Now back to milk.
2. Thoroughly washed nuts (and, of course, what is left of the almond petals) load into a blender, add a glass of water. Grind for 1-2 minutes:
Keep in mind - the less water, the richer the taste of milk.
3. Strain the resulting mass through 3-4 layers of gauze and squeeze the nut cake well:
By the way, this funny process, similar to milking cows, is very amusing for children 🙂
You can pour the cake again with a glass of water and repeat the procedure, but I like a richer taste, so I don’t pour the cake again.
5. In principle, almond milk is ready. The taste is amazing!
But you can enhance the impression and again grind almond milk in a blender with the addition of honey and a pinch of salt.
And if you use dates instead of honey, almond milk will get a gingerbread flavor - absolutely amazing yummy!
Registration:
Pour milk into a beautiful glass and enjoy and get the most out of it!
P.S. I've written many times before that I prefer not to store food, but they say almond milk can be refrigerated for up to 36 hours. Shake well before use.
You can cook a lot of goodies from the remaining nut cake - cheese, ice cream, cookies, bread rolls - I will definitely publish recipes, so subscribe to blog updates so as not to miss anything interesting.
And from the nut milk itself, you can make amazingly tasty and healthy drinks, for example:
Bon appetit!
almond petals are thin plates with a width of not more than 0.7 mm (see photo), obtained by grinding peeled almonds. This product has a characteristic nut taste and aroma, therefore it is widely used in the confectionery industry and not only. Otherwise, such petals are called almond flakes.
Since natural crushed almonds are an expensive product, they should be purchased responsibly so as not to purchase a stale product. It is recommended to buy walnut petals in trusted stores with a large turnover. If only packaged cereals are on sale, then be sure to study their composition. They should not contain preservatives, as well as sugar or sugar syrup. Be sure to inspect the product externally. It must be dry and clean. Impurities are not allowed.
To store almond petals, it is better to use airtight glass containers, as well as a dry and dark room. If the product is stored in dampness, it will spoil very quickly.
A container of crushed almonds can also be stored in the refrigerator and even in the freezer. Providing everything the necessary conditions, you can store cereal for a year.
How to make almond petals at home?
Despite the fact that special machines are used to produce almond petals, this delicious product is very easy to make at home. To do this, you just need to prepare two ingredients - whole almonds (50 g) and purified water (1 l). First of all, the nuts must be shelled by gently splitting them into two parts with a small hammer. Note! The almond kernels should remain intact, as they will be needed to make the petals. Without removing the brown skins, soak the almonds in cold water for twenty-four hours. It is recommended to change the liquid every three hours so that the bitterness is gone. After the specified time, the fruits should be peeled from the top layer. After soaking, the skin is removed very easily, it is enough just to pry it slightly and pull it with a special vegetable knife. After that, cut the peeled almond kernels into thin slices. It will be easier to do this along the grain than across. The next step in the preparation of the petals is drying. You can dry them in a dry non-stick frying pan with constant stirring. The whole process will take no more than seven minutes. In the oven, the product will dry in five minutes. One way or another, after drying, the flakes can immediately begin to be used for their intended purpose.
Use in cooking
In cooking, almond petals are most often used as a universal topping for various confectionery products. The following desserts can serve as them:
- pies;
- cakes;
- cakes;
- biscuit;
- puffs;
- ice cream, etc.
It is noteworthy that with the help of such almond topping, it is possible to improve not only the taste of confectionery products, but also their appearance. Any cake decorated with such flakes looks much more appetizing.
Almond petals can be added to muesli, as well as to wheat or oatmeal. They give the dish a light almond flavor, tart taste and delicate texture.
To date, there are not only sweet recipes with this product. Some cooks use it as a breading for fish, pork and poultry. Cutlets and chops are especially often breaded in such flakes.
Almond flakes are valued almost all over the world. For example, in the USA they symbolize material well-being, family happiness and eternal love. It is for this reason that in this country it is customary to decorate with such petals wedding cakes. In Sweden, this product is a mandatory component of Christmas baking.
Thanks to its rich aroma, chopped almonds can be used as a seasoning for salads, as well as for first and second courses and more.
Benefit and harm
Even after special processing, crushed almonds remain incredibly useful for humans. This product has a rich composition, which includes not only vitamins and minerals, but also fat vegetable oil and natural protein. Thanks to this, almond petals bring great benefits to the body.
- Processed almonds are effective in treating bronchitis, asthma, and also pneumonia.
- In addition, it helps to cleanse the kidneys and gallbladder from sand.
- Natural almond flakes improve the functioning of the liver and spleen.
- Thanks to the content of vitamin E, this product slows down cell aging and protects the body from the harm of free radicals.
- Even with the help of such a petal, you can normalize sleep and quickly relieve a headache.
It has been scientifically proven that when consumed regularly, almond flakes reduce the risk of myocardial infarction. In this case, it is enough to eat the product once a week in the amount of fifty grams.
Due to the fact that almonds, like any other type of nut, are a strong allergen, its excessive consumption can cause serious harm to the body. This usually manifests itself in the form of food poisoning, and sometimes this product causes severe allergies.
Due to the high calorie content, this product is not recommended for use with increased body weight. It is also dangerous in case of impaired functioning of the heart and nervous system.
Almond petals are an incredibly tasty and fragrant product with which you can work wonders in cooking!
