Roasted & Salted Almonds - A Favourite Spanish Tapas | Almendras con sal
Salted Almonds or Almendras con sal – Almonds in Andalucia are a big business. They may not be as big as Olives but still an important part of the local economy. They are harvested during autumn.
I love spiced nuts as a party snack and I also love Spanish tapas, so it was only a matter of time before a recipe for Spanish salted almonds showed up here.
Spiced almonds or Almendras Fritas will also be here soon.
In the meantime, serve these for a party. They are a tasty treat and take just about 5 minutes to make. You’ll realise they are delightfully addictive! They have a delicious crunchy and salty taste to them.
What is the nutritional value of Almonds?
Almonds are an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamin E and magnesium and provide 6 grams of protein and 4 grams of fibre.
Almonds are an excellent source of calcium, potassium, phosphorus and iron, too. They are naturally gluten free, and cholesterol free. They are full of that “good” unsaturated fat.
Almonds in Spain
Spain is one of the world’s largest producers of almonds. They are used as dairy and wheat alternatives and are used in almond milk, almond flour, in cooking and as healthy snacks.
Almond tree (Prunus dulcis) is relatively low-maintenance, little or no watering is needed and they thrive in the dry climates of the Mediterranean area.
The tree may take two to three years before generating nuts and it can continue generating fruits for over fifty years.
Almonds easily complement olive tree harvesting since the same tree “shaker” machines can be used on both crops. Spain has a long tradition of using almonds in cooking.
The typical Spanish almond is known for its properties appealing to the senses particularly its sweet flavour which differentiates it from almonds of other origin.
The quality of Spanish almonds is exceptional because of their higher oil content, making them juicier, smoother and more intensely flavoured.
Almonds add a decidedly nutty flavour to the Spanish soup favourite “ajo blanco” and to Spain’s Christmas-time classic turrón, an almond-honey variety of nougat.
Spain is harvested over 61,000 tonnes of almonds during the 2018- 2019 season, a 15-percent rise over the previous season.
However, Spain continues to import large quantities of almonds from California, USA which is by far the largest producer of almonds.
What are Salted Almonds?
Almonds are used extensively in Spanish cooking, both whole and ground, in sweetmeats and to thicken sauces. Roasted and salted almonds make a fine grab for that perfect snack over drinks.
The Moors found the fertile plains of Granada ideal for the cultivation of their favourite nut tree from the stock from Jordan valley. That’s how the almonds got there.
Every Feria in Spain has its own almonds salesman, every spice merchant has a store of almonds.
There is nothing like the scent of freshly roasted & salted almonds (Almendras con sal) – for that alone, it’s well worth making them yourself.
They have a lovely crunch as you bite into them. Liberally salted, almendras con sal make a fine accompaniment for a drink.
Serving Suggestions for Roasted & Salted Almonds
These salted almonds or almendras con sal recipe are very versatile. They are an easy side dish for a tapas (snack).
- They go very well with cocktails or beer.
- They make a perfect addition to an tapas platter with pickled olives, cheese, cold cuts & fresh fruits.
- Add a baguette, sliced cheese and olives with these almonds, and you’ve got a simple cheese board dinner for two.
- You can sprinkle these over cooked vegetables, such as broccoli or asparagus doused with lemon juice.
- Toss them into salads, from spinach to kale to delicate lettuces.
- Scattered them over rice or even soups like a carrot, tomato, or cream of broccoli.
Salted Almonds - How to Make Roasted & Salted Almonds Recipe | Almendras con sal
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Almonds
- 1 Teaspoon Extra-virgin olive oil
- 0.5 Teaspoon Rock Salt
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil over medium high in a large cast iron or other heavy skillet, tilting the pan so the oil coats the bottom.
- Add the almonds and spread along the bottom. Leave for 1 to 2 minutes until they start to colour and get fragrant.
- Sprinkle the salt over the nuts and stir
- Keep stirring every 30 seconds or so, until they are nicely brown and have a deeply toasted flavour.
- Once done turn off the flame & let the almonds cool in the skillet.
- Store in a jar with a lid in the refrigerator.
Notes
- An alternate approach for roasted salted almonds (almendras con sal) - For people who enjoy an egg white gloss on almonds.
- Simply dry roast the almonds in the skillet without the olive oil.
- Dip the almonds in an egg wash made with egg whites (2 eggs) & little water and dust them with salt.
- The salt will stick to the almonds & give them a salty jacket.
- The heat will also dry them and your salted almonds will be good to go.
Tools & Equipment Used For This Recipe
FInally! To Sum It Up
Almonds are used extensively in Spanish cooking, both whole and ground, in sweetmeats and to thicken sauces. Roasted and salted almonds make a fine grab for that perfect snack over drinks.
The Moors found the fertile plains of Granada ideal for the cultivation of their favourite nut tree from the stock from Jordan valley. That’s how the almonds got there.
Every Feria in Spain has its own almonds salesman, every spice merchant has a store of almonds.
There is nothing like the scent of freshly roasted & salted almonds or almendras con sal – for that alone, it’s well worth making them yourself.
They have a lovely crunch as you bite into them. Liberally salted, almonds make a fine accompaniment for a drink.
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8 comments
“As a health-conscious individual, I’m always on the lookout for natural ways to support my weight loss journey. Badam (almonds) have been a part of my diet for years, but I didn’t realize they had such a positive impact on metabolism and appetite control. I’m excited to try out some almond-based smoothie recipes as a meal replacement option. This blog has given me the motivation to take my weight loss efforts up a notch. Cheers!”
Thanks for sharing this recipe it’s really nice.
Thank you Simon. I hope you enjoyed it. Do keep visiting and finding more recipes you like.
These are simple and fast to prepare and everyone enjoyed them!
Almonds are our snack of choice and these are perfect! Just the right amount of salt!
Why did I not think to roast almonds myself? So much better homemade. A great TV night snack.
I learned a LOT from this post ! Thank you. Can’t wait to make my own roasted salted almonds now.
This is pretty much my favourite snack. A must on any tapas plate too.