Bear N Mom Recipes - Sweet and Spicy Almonds
I threw this recipe in for holiday specialties that can be made in advance and put away for the holiday table. This recipe is simple to make and holds up well through the holiday season.
These almonds were made mostly for holidays to be set around when company came. This variety of almonds added that little extra touch to the nut trays.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons peanut oil
2 cups whole blanched almonds
1/2 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
1 tablespoon sugar
How to Mix and Cook
Step 1.
Heat oil in a heavy bottomed frying pan over medium high heat. Add almonds and sprinkle the 1/2 cup sugar over them. Saute-until almonds become golden brown and the sugar carmalizes.
Step 2:
Remove almonds from the pan and toss in a bowl with the salt, cumin, pepper flakes and the remaining sugar.
Step 3:
Serve them warm or at room temperature.
Store in an air-tight container.
You can freeze them.
Spicy Almonds vs. Jordan Almonds
These almonds are sweet with the cooked sugar coating but also have a bite to them with the seasonings. I am not one who prefers these but they do go well on the holiday table for nibble food.
My taste wanders more to the candy coated almonds that are know as Jordan Almonds. These almonds are sweet to the taste. Although Jordan Almonds are better known than the Spicy ones we made today there is room on the table for both and the candy colors of the Jordan Almonds lend to making an attractive table.
While nuts are generally healthy foods, they are also some of my favorite nibble foods. Almonds have been used as a flavoring for wedding cakes and ground into the fruit and nut filling that is used between layers in traditional wedding cakes.
A tray of assorted nuts is a welcome addition to any party table.