14 Ways to use Sicilian Almonds

Packed with essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin E, zinc, calcium, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids almonds can do a world of good when it comes to your health.

In this moment we are all going nuts for almonds. Consumption has nearly doubled in the past six years and recent studies have shown that almond consumption may well boost memory function.

As far as vegetable foods are concerned, nuts and seeds are the richest in fibre after cereals, which could explain why almonds are thought to be good for cardiovascular health and may help contribute to lowering cholesterol. Nuts are natures way of saying that good things come in small packages.

They are not only beneficial to eat, almonds can also be a great beauty boost in the form of almond oil. Almond oil can be incorporated into your beauty regime as a homemade natural cleanser, a nourishing face pack and it can be massaged into nail cuticles to make them softer. Additionally a lot of well known beauty brands around the world use almond oil and almond milk in their products.

I myself love almonds so much that I named my Blog after them.

Beautiful almond trees adorn the Sicilian countryside and in late February and early March these trees come into blossom with delicate pinkish white flowers and the scent is overwhelming. The almond blossoming is celebrated at this time in one of Sicily's most famous festivals signifying that  Spring is awakening on the island. This festival is held in Agrigento a town in Southern Sicily well known for the famed Valley of the Temples which sets the scene for the festivities.

Almond in Italian is mandorle and in Sicilian dialect mendula. 

When we visit the street food markets in Sicily we can buy these precious almonds sold in many ways from whole, chopped, flaked and ground.

There are many ways to enjoy almonds and they are a staple ingredient in many Sicilian dishes and sweets. So with the almond blossom festival currently in full swing in Agrigento here are 14 Ways to use Sicilian Almonds.

I could not resist including some naughty but nice ones.

(Please note that this Blog post is not recommended for my followers with nut allergies).

Eat them as a Snack ..... Almonds are the perfect snack for health. A handful a day can keep your heart healthy and beat the flab. They are also beneficial for staving off diseases. The high-protein, nutrient rich nuts help suppress appetite and help keep calories in control when snacking on them between meals. Think of them as a nutritional punch.

Almond Milk ..... Almond milk is a nutritious, low calorie drink that has become very popular. With its nutty taste you can pour it in your coffee, whirl it into a smoothie or just drink it straight from the carton. It is mild in flavour which makes it easy to tolerate digestion wise. Almond milk is now a regular on supermarket shelves but it is also simple to make by combining almonds that have been soaked overnight with water in a blender at the highest speed for 2 minutes, then straining and pressing the liquid from the almond meal.

In a Salad ..... Mixing almonds into a salad adds more nutrients to your everyday lunch or side dish. Toasted sliced almonds add a crunch and nuttiness for a more delicious dish. To toast almonds simply put them in a preheated oven on a baking tray for 3 to 4 minutes or until they start to turn golden brown.

Almond Butter ..... Try using almond butter instead of peanut butter. Almonds are made into a paste and the butter can be either crunchy or smooth. Almond butter is becoming more popular in supermarkets but it also quite easy and fun to make yourself, however the temptation to not eat it straight off the spoon is quite a challenge.

Caponata ..... Caponata is a classic Sicilian dish and one of my favourites. The main ingredients include Aubergine (Eggplant), Tomatoes and Peppers, but what gives this dish its own unique taste is the addition of sugar and red wine vinegar giving it an agro dolce (sweet and sour) flavour. Almonds are added to caponata giving the dish an Arabic influence.

Pasta alla Trapanese ..... Pesto alla Trapanese is a Sicilian variation of the Genoese pesto and originates from the province of Trapani. This pesto is made using almonds and tomatoes instead of pine nuts. Best served with pasta, you will find this dish on restaurant menus across the island, especially in Palermo and the western side of the island. It is also known as Pasta alla Siciliana.

Granita ..... For breakfast in Sicily we enjoy granita. When the Arabs invaded Sicily to keep cool and refreshed they stored snow from Mount Etna in caves and used the juice of Sicilian lemons to flavour the snow. Today there are many flavours to choose from in bars and cafes and one of my most favourite granita flavours is almond.

Biscotti ..... Crunchy almond biscuits are one of my most favourite things to bake because they are so quick and simple to do and are an easy treat that anyone can make. They are a must for anyone who loves almonds. I like to bake them at home in Sicily for when friends are coming to visit and they also make a delicious gift in a decorative jar to bring along when we are invited to someone's house for lunch or dinner.

Pasta Mandorle ..... Not to be confused with biscotti or with pasta, pasta mandorle is a soft almond treat. You will spot them in every patisserie in Sicily and they are made by combining ground almonds, egg white, icing sugar and honey, creating a soft, moist and slightly sandy paste before being baked. They are most enjoyable with a coffee.

In a Cake ..... Ground almonds are a great ingredient to replace flour in cakes. One of my favourite recipes is Orange and Almond cake. The oranges, Sicilian of course, are boiled then simmered for two hours and fill my house with the most amazing aroma. Oranges and almonds pair well together to create this deliciously nutty cake.

Sugared Almonds ..... Sugared almonds are almonds that have been covered in a hard sweet coating. They are most often used for celebrations such a weddings, births, baptisms and special anniversaries. They are normally presented in little chiffon bags or in gift boxes in groups of five to represent happiness, health, longevity, wealth and fertility. The ones in this photo are covered in chocolate first before the sugar coating, think posh M & M's Sicilian style, Yum !!!

Marzipan ..... Marzipan is a confection consisting of sugar, honey and almond meal. Marzipan is used to cover Cassata, a traditional Sicilian cake, before being iced and in Sicily marzipan is made into small imitations of fruits and vegetables which are a popular souvenir for visitors to Sicily to bring home.

Bianco Mangiare ..... This sweet dessert is like a blancmange and is made with milk and almonds. This dish hails from medieval times and the name derives from the colour of its main ingredients, literally white food. Bianco mangiare is one of my favourite desserts.

Almond Wine ..... Almond wine has a long tradition in Sicily. The typically fruity hints are the basis of the wine and are enriched with the scent of the almond creating the perfect balance of taste. In my opinion no meal in Sicily is complete without it. Cheers !!!

Now hop on back to my previous Blog post "The Almond Blossom Festival of Agrigento"

and learn about this beautiful springtime festival and discover the history
and legend behind the almond tree in Sicily.

https://whitealmond-privatesicily.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-almond-blossom-festival-of-agrigento.html

If you enjoyed this Blog post then you will love these two 

from my archive:

"14 Ways to use Sicilian Lemons"
https://whitealmond-privatesicily.blogspot.com/2017/03/14-ways-to-use-sicilian-lemons.html

"14 Ways to use Sicilian Oranges"
https://whitealmond-privatesicily.blogspot.com/2018/02/14-ways-to-use-sicilian-oranges.html


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