When living a healthy diet and lifestyle, incorporating various wholesome foods into your diet is very important. We’re here to help. By starting with something small like almonds in the kitchen and slowly working them into your meals, you will transform your menu to a more flavorful one.
Why Eat Almonds?
Almonds taste great, but are they good for you? Absolutely!
Almonds are packed with protein, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats, all of which are essential to a healthy diet. These nutrients work together to assure a healthy digestive system, to give the feeling of satiation, to reduce inflammation levels, and to increase the muscle health. And, if this isn’t enough, they’re also low in carbs, making them suitable for diets.
What to Make with Almonds
Ready to begin eating almonds? Their light flavor makes them easy to add to almost any cuisine. Here are a few unique ways to enjoy almonds in the kitchen.
Almond Milk
The almond milk is an excellent plant-based milk option. Making it involves the process of soaking almonds and blending them into a creamy liquid. Later, it can be used to replace conventional milk in almost any recipe.
Enjoy it with your morning bowl of cereal, use it to create brownies, or simply replace the milk you usually use.
If you are searching for a breakfast that you can grab as you walk out the door on busy mornings, try the overnight oats prepared with almond milk. This type of milk adds a sweet, nutty flavor and it makes it a lot better.
Cheese
Almonds can also be used to make cheese that tastes extremely similar to dairy-based cheese. And the texture is the same too. When made from almonds, the nut-based cheeses like mozzarella and gouda can be enjoyed by everyone, even for the ones who are dairy-free, vegan and lactose intolerant. For all these, the almond cheese is the go-to recipe for individuals with dietary restrictions.
Smoothies
What about adding almonds to something that you already have? We are talking about smoothies. Your favorite morning smoothie can quickly be turned into a better one if you add it some almonds. They’ll also give a nutty flavor that works well with sweet flavors. And you can also slice the almonds into thin slivers and add them to the top of your smoothie.
Snack
Almonds are a very good snack themselves. A handful of almonds straight from the bag is not only a tasty snack, but also an incredibly nutritious one.
Besides, if you’re looking to add a bit of spice to the almonds, you don’t have to look far. Consider the ingredients you have on hand and decide which one to pair with them. Honey, chocolate or even yogurt taste great when drizzled on almonds. Moreover, you can choose to mix almonds with other nuts and make a homemade, healthy trail mix.
Sauce or Spread
A small number of almonds can go a long way. If you want to add an almonds touch to your meals, then the almonds sauce or to spread then is a great choice. Both whole and ground almonds can easily be turned into a paste texture with a bit of blending. Combine this almond paste with savory ingredients and you will have a sauce that works great when added to Asian cuisine for example. Or, blend some whole almonds until they turn into almond butter that you can pair with apples or spread on a toast.
Bars
For a quick and filling snack on the go, use the almonds to make some energy bars. Almond meal, almond flour, whole almonds or crushed almonds can all be used in different ways to make a snack bar recipe that can keep you full and focused between meals.
When making your first snack bar recipe, we recommend starting with something simple that requires just a handful of ingredients. Later on, you can begin adding in your own unique twists and flavors.
Oatmeal
Although the base ingredients may change when talking about oatmeal, one thing that almost always remains the same is the almond topping. Crushed or sliced, almonds are an excellent oatmeal topping with an added boost of nutrition and crunch. Aside from the whole almonds, the almond meal and the almond butter are also delicious oatmeal ingredients. You can taste each and decide which is your favorite.
Dessert
Almonds are an important ingredient in many dessert recipes. Because of their sweet and mild flavor, you can use them in almost everything from brownies to ice cream. Chopped almonds, slivered almonds, almond milk or the almond sauce are just a few ways when talking about adding them to your dessert. Not to mention that they are a nutritious snack, so you can enjoy them guilt free!
Time to savor the prepared almonds
Review these exclusive ways to use almonds in the kitchen next time you want to change something in the menu. From sweet desserts to some healthy breakfast dishes, almonds always add a one-of-a-kind flavor and texture to food.
Do you know some other unique ways to use almonds in the kitchen?
We’d love to hear about the fantastic recipes you’re cooking up. Feel free to share your favorite almond-inspired meals with us in the comments below!
