Raw almonds are a lovely thing, with their solid crunch and creamy nutty flavour. In fact, they are pretty much the ideal snack. But lets face it, there are times when you just want something…more. Enter, roasted almonds. All the fun of a bar snack, with better credentials.
Making your own roasted almonds is not only cheaper but also gives you way greater control over the ingredients. Best of all, you know they are fresh.
Roasting almonds transforms the texture into something altogether more crisp and deepens those natural nutty tones.
How to roast almonds
Almonds are roasted in the oven, with or without oil. Using oil makes them more crisp and adds an extra dimension of flavour. You can use any oil you like; olive oil or coconut oil both work well. You will need a good solid roasting sheet and a pre-heated oven. Moving them around occasionally helps them to roast evenly, so have a spatula at the ready too. Note to self…roasted nuts get really hot so don’t go touching them with your bare hands.
How long do you roast almonds?
Nuts take about 15 minutes to roast, but you need to keep a close eye on them as they can go from 0 to 60 super quickly. Anywhere between 8 to 12 minutes is usually optimal. You will need to stir them several times for best results.
What is the best temperature to roast almonds?
Roast your nuts at 350F/180C/Gas 4.
Soaking and roasting almonds
Activated almonds, or soaked almonds, are soaked in salted water and then dried at low temperatures in a dehydrator where they become crisp yet not technically roasted. They can also be soaked and then roasted. Soaking almonds is said to be beneficial to digestion and increase the availability of nutrients in nuts, yet anti-oxidant vitamin E can be lost at the higher temperatures required for roasting. To prevent degradation of these volatile vitamins you would need to go as low as 120F/50C which is nearer to dehydration temperature than roasting. Feel free to experiment with times and temperatures but we would suggest that if nutrition is your main goal then choose soaking followed by dehydration, but when flavour is more important then stick with roasting. Either way you will benefit from the nutritional properties of almonds.
How to season roasted almonds
When it comes to roasting nuts, salt is essential. But all too often it coats unevenly, or just falls off altogether. This is where brining comes in, and it is how the commercial producers get those perfectly salted almonds. The nuts are soaked in a simple brine solution for 20 minutes, drained, and roasted. You don’t need to add any oil.
For 500g almonds (that’s roughly 4 cups), dissolve 2 tbsp sea salt in 1 cup of hot water. Soak the almonds for 20 minutes and then drain off the brine. Roast in a single layer on a baking tray at 180C for about 15 minutes, turning every 5 minutes. If you wish, you can toss the cooling almonds in a tbsp oil and add a scatter more salt.
Almonds also roast well when tossed in ground spices and oil. You can pretty much use any spices you wish, but take care as some have a tendency to burn more easily than others. Paprika for instance.
Roasted almonds recipes
Honey roasted almonds
2 cups raw Australian almonds
1 tbsp oil
2 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4
- Toss the almonds in the oil and spread on the tray
- Bake for 5 minutes.
- Tip the now warm almonds into a bowl with the honey, salt and cinnamon.
- Stir to combine.
- Return to the baking tray and bake for a further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from the oven and cool on the tray.
Coconut roasted almonds
Follow the above recipe but omit the cinnamon and stir in 1/3 cup dessicated coconut. You could add a touch of vanilla paste.
Chilli roasted almonds
2 cups raw Australian almonds
2 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground chipotle
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- Follow the instructions for the above but bake for 10 minutes at the initial stage
- Toss the nuts in the spices and return to the oven for 5 minutes.
- Leave on the tray to cool.
Cocoa roasted almonds
Add two teaspoons raw cacao powder to the honey in the first recipe.
Savoury roasted almonds
Toss almonds in soy sauce and sesame oil before roasting.
If you are looking for cost effective ways to stay healthy then you could buy almonds in bulk. Or why not do all your bulk shopping at our online store?
FAQs
How do you get seasoning to stick to roasted almonds? Coat the almonds with beaten egg whites, then sprinkle with desired seasoning and toss until evenly coated.
How long to soak almonds in salt water before roasting? ›
For 500g almonds (that's roughly 4 cups), dissolve 2 tbsp sea salt in 1 cup of hot water. Soak the almonds for 20 minutes and then drain off the brine. Roast in a single layer on a baking tray at 180C for about 15 minutes, turning every 5 minutes.
How do you add salt to unsalted roasted almonds? ›
There are four ways to salt unsalted nuts: heat them in a pan, steam them, soak them in brine, or spray and dry them in oil. Heating them in a pan is quickest, steaming is healthiest, brine is best for shelled nuts, and roasting is best for maximum crispness.
Should you use oil when roasting nuts? ›
How to roast nuts on the stove. You can toss the nuts right into a pan over medium heat, no oil necessary. Just shake the pan occasionally so they toast evenly and don't burn. When they're finished, transfer them out of the hot pan so they don't keep browning.
What happens if you over roast almonds? ›
Roasting at a temperature of 310°F (154°C) or above will lead to an exponential increase in acrylamide. Dark roasted almonds have strong roasting flavor notes that are considered desirable for some applications, but depending on the roasting temperature used, the acrylamide content may be very high (>1000 ppb).
What is the difference between dry roasted almonds and roasted almonds? ›
There are two types of roasting: dry roasting and oil roasting. Dry roasting is a type of roasting in which no oil is used, whereas oil roasting is just that - when oil is used in the cooking process.
Do I need to wash raw almonds before roasting? ›
Before toasting your almonds, you'll want to first wash them. After the almonds are thoroughly washed, it's time to prepare them. Decide if you'd like the almonds to be sliced, slivered or whole, and cut them accordingly.
What happens if you don't soak almonds? ›
Soaked almonds also help with digestion. It releases the enzyme lipase, which is beneficial for fat digestion. If eaten without soaking, they can aggravate Pitta in the blood. The best way to prepare them is to soak them overnight and peel the skin off in the morning.
Should you soak almonds in the fridge or room temperature? ›
It's best to store soaked almonds in an airtight container in your fridge. To soak almonds at home, simply cover them with water in a bowl and let sit for 8–12 hours. If you prefer a crunchier texture, you can dry them in an oven or dehydrator.
How many almonds should I eat a day? ›
23 almonds a day.
When compared ounce for ounce, almonds are the tree nut highest in protein, fiber, calcium, vitamin E, riboflavin and niacin. Just remember 1-2-3. 1 ounce of almonds, or about 23 almond nuts, is the ideal daily portion recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The bottom line
Almonds contain lots of healthy fats, fiber, protein, magnesium, and vitamin E. The health benefits of almonds include lower blood sugar levels, reduced blood pressure, and lower cholesterol levels. They can also reduce hunger and promote weight loss.
How long does it take to roast almonds in the oven? ›
Oven method:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup. Add whole, slivered, or sliced almonds in a single layer to the parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Roast whole almonds 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
How do you activate and roast almonds? ›
Cook the almonds in a 150 °F (66 °C) oven for 12 to 24 hours. If your oven's lowest temperature setting is above 150 °F (66 °C), then bake them on the lowest setting for 8 to 10 hours. The almonds are done when they taste dry, or when their centers are dry and not wet and soft.
How do you make salt stick to roasted nuts? ›
Place nuts in a strainer and rinse well with filtered water. Make sure you get all the nuts wet as it is the water that helps the salt to stick. Place rinsed nuts in a bowl and toss well with sea salt.
Can you season already roasted nuts? ›
Absolutely! You can experiment with different seasoning combinations for already roasted almonds to create unique flavors. Consider mixing sweet and savory elements or combining various spices to find your favorite blend.
How do you get seasoning to stick to walnuts? ›
To help the seasonings stick to homemade roasted nuts, here's what to do:
- Coat the nuts completely with your preferred oil (avocado or olive oil work great)
- Immediately toss the nuts with the seasoning mixture.
- Gently stir the nuts to mix when cooking and don't shake them around a lot.
Seasoning. Now it's time to season. Toss the seeds in a bit of olive oil or melted butter first to help the seasoning stick (and to add some extra flavor and keep the seeds from burning). For seasoning, you could just use salt and call it a day, nothing wrong with that!
