Cookbook:Almond

| Nuts

The almond is a tree nut derived from the pit of a stone fruit related to the plum, cherry, peach, apricot, and nectarine.

Varieties
Currently the almond comes in two main cultivars: sweet almonds and bitter almonds. Sweet almonds are mild in flavor and safe to consume raw. Bitter almonds contain precursor compounds to the poison cyanide, and they are not safe to consume raw in even moderate quantities.

Characteristics
Whole almonds have a thick tan shell that must be removed to access the nut meat. The nut itself is teardrop-shaped and covered with a papery brown skin, with a dense texture and mild flavor.

Bitter almonds are aromatic but very bitter.

Processing
The almond fruits are first shaken from the trees, and the fruit exterior is removed. The nuts in the shells are then dried before cracking and removal of the shell. At this point, the almonds can be consumed, but they may also be processed in a variety of ways.

If destined for whole consumption as a snack, the almonds may be roasted and seasoned. The papery brown skin can be removed to yield blanched almonds, which are slightly milder and have less visual contrast. The nuts can be cut up in many ways, including sliced, slivered, and chopped. They can also be ground to make almond meal/flour. To make almond paste and marzipan, the almonds are ground with water and sugar.

Bitter almonds can be processed to make almond extract, which is used as a flavoring.

Selection and storage
Almonds should be stored in an airtight container to prevent rancidity. They have a long shelf life at room temperature but will eventually become stale.

Techniques
To blanch almonds at home, pour boiling water over top, let them soak for several minutes, then use your fingers to slip them out of the skins. If desired, you can toast almonds before using them in order to get a more complex flavor.

Uses
Almonds are widely used in patisserie and confectionery. Almond meal contributes moisture, flavor, and tenderness to cakes and doughs.

Almonds go well with cherries and chocolate.

Seasonality
Almonds have their peak in mid-summer and stay in season throughout the fall. However, since almonds (like most nuts and seeds) will easily store for a year, their growing season does not significantly impact their availability. Roasted and packaged almonds are available regardless of season, and fresh unprocessed almonds may be hard to find, even in season.