How to Blanch Almonds
Learn what blanched almonds are and how to blanch almonds right at home. This method is quick, easy and much cheaper than buying them at the store.
Are Almonds Expensive
I would say that the only bad thing about almonds is their high price — specially if you buy them blanched, slivered, or sliced!
But did you know that whole almonds both in their shell and shelled are cheaper than the other kinds? This is very much the case also with almonds that still have their skin.
For those of us that follow either vegan or vegetarian diets, almonds are an important ingredient to have in our pantries. Of course we want to make sure not to break our budgets and so buy whole, unpeeled almonds.
What is a Blanched Almond
A blanched almond is an almond that has had it’s skin removed.
It’s that simple.
But keep reading to learn what exactly “blanched” means and how to do it.
What Does Blanching Mean
Blanching food simply means to submerge quickly in a hot liquid then submerging in ice cold water immediately after.
The ice cold cold serves to not only cool down the food but to stop the cooking process.
This typically is done to fruits, vegetables and some nuts.
How to Blanch Almonds
Blanching almonds is incredibly easy to do. Anyone can do it, you just need to be careful when handling the hot water.
The method I like to use for almonds is to heat the water then pour it over them.
Other people like to heat the water on the stove then pour in the almonds.
I like the first method because I feel that the almonds don’t soften or cook if placed over the radiating heat of the stove and inside the hot pot.
What Are They Used For
Blanched almonds are used for making so many delicious foods. For example…
- almond Vegan Crema
- almond Cheese
- almond Butter
- almond flour
- macaroons
- cakes
- pie crusts
- almond milk
- cookies
How to Blanch Almonds
Ingredients
- ¼ cup almond with their skin on and unsalted
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 cup ice cold water
Instructions
- Heat up the water either on the stove or in the microwave — be very careful not to burn yourself. Place the almonds in a heat safe container then pour the boiling water over them. Allow to sit for 2 minutes, just long enough to be able to peel away their skin.
- Drain the almonds and pour ice cold water over them. Begin sliding off the skin from the almonds. It would come off quite easily. If your almonds are a bit older they may require longer sitting with the hot water. Test after two minutes and if the skin isn't loosened then let sit another minute or two. But be careful that they will start to soften, it can be a problem for some recipes but not all.
- Ready to use as desired. Do check out my Vegan Crema, Almond Cheese and Almond Milk recipes.
Nutrition
Compost the Peels
If you compost save the almond peels for your compost bin or pile!
Thanks amigos for stopping by today! I hope you have a beautiful day filled with delicious food. There’s a new recipe coming in a couple of days so until then.
Nancy Lopez is a food blogger and author of the cookbook Mexican Tamales Made Meatless. Born in Mexico, raised in the US, and currently living in Southern Mexico, she has followed a meatless diet for almost 10 years. It is her passion and mission to share all she has learned about vegan Mexican cooking and vegetarian Mexican recipes. Mexican Made Meatless is a blog dedicated to preserving the authentic flavors of Mexican cuisine just without the meat. It’s a place to celebrate Mexican culture and all it’s delightfully delicious traditional foods. Read more…
I had no idea it was so very easy to blanch almonds. I may stop buying them pre-blanched and save myself some money… 🙂
It’s crazy how easy it is, isn’t Frank?! Yeah save yourself some money — also I don’t know but I’ve often found that the pre-blanched almonds just don’t taste as fresh. Thank you!