Are you on the prowl for a keto-friendly, gluten-free flour substitute? Look no additional. The common-or-garden almond can remodel into a superb base for beaucoup baked items. It additionally makes a ten/10 addition to tons of savory dishes.
However you is perhaps questioning, what’s the distinction between almond flour and almond meal? Listed below are the deets on easy methods to use every ingredient. We even have the inside track on easy methods to make do-it-yourself almond flour and meal at dwelling.
In principle, almond meal and almond flour are tremendous comparable. They’re each fabricated from floor almonds and have very comparable dietary advantages. Whereas you need to use them interchangeably in most recipes, there are some minor variations to bear in mind.
- Almond meal is produced from almonds that also have their skins. It has a rough texture and barely bitter style. It’s very versatile, however tends to style finest in savory dishes.
- Almond flour is produced from almonds which have been peeled (aka blanched). It’s sweeter and finer than almond meal. It has a mildly candy, nutty taste, which makes it nice for baking.
BTW, almond flour and almond meal are each very straightforward to make from scratch at dwelling. (Extra on that in a minute.)
Regardless that almond flour and almond meal have so much in widespread, there are some minor dietary variations. Right here’s a chart to point out you what’s in a 100-gram (g) serving of every.
As you possibly can see, the blanching course of prices you a little bit of fiber and iron. That pores and skin can also be a solid source of antioxidants like tannins, polyphenols, and flavonoids. These antioxidants help your physique cut back free radicals and would possibly enhance your total well being.
Simply needless to say the dietary variations are fairly insignificant. So, selecting one over the opposite prob gained’t make a significant distinction.
Almond meal and almond flour are each low carb, gluten-free, and paleo-friendly. Their versatility and similarities imply you possibly can confidently swap them in for any recipe that requires flour. Right here’s how one can add every ingredient to your fave meals.
Easy methods to prepare dinner with almond meal
Almond meal’s thicker texture works nicely in hearty baked items like:
You may as well use it in lieu of breadcrumbs when coating meats. Oh, and it tastes nice as a topping on soups, salads, and casseroles.
Easy methods to prepare dinner with almond flour
Almond flour is nice for lighter baked treats similar to:
Almond meal and flour are comparable sufficient you can typically use one rather than the opposite in a pinch. However there are some conditions the place one will work so much higher than the opposite.
The one time you possibly can’t simply swap flour and meal is when texture performs an enormous position. Meal is coarser and heartier, which is why it makes a dope breadcrumb substitute. Alternatively, flour is manner higher in lighter, fluffier recipes like angel food cake or macaroons.
Since almond meal comprises the pores and skin, it has a barely bitter style. That’s why almond flour is perhaps higher in sweeter recipes.
FYI: The phrases “meal” and “flour” are typically used interchangeably on product packaging. Test the label to see what you’re really getting. If the pores and skin is off and it’s finely floor, it’s flour. Pores and skin-on with a rough grind means it’s meal.
Making almond meal or almond flour from scratch might sound a bit sophisticated. However IRL, it’s straightforward AF. You simply want uncooked, unsalted almonds and a meals processor.
Right here’s a step-by-step information:
- Add 1 cup of almonds to a food processor. For almond meal use skin-on nuts and for almond flour use blanched nuts.
- Pulse on excessive in 1-second increments.
- After 30 seconds, scrape the edges of the bowl.
- Proceed to pulse each second for an additional 30 seconds.
- That’s it!
This recipe ought to yield a few cup of flour or meal. You may retailer it in an air-tight container within the fridge for as much as 3 months.
P.S. You should buy pre-peeled almonds on the retailer. However right here’s a hack if you wish to blanch them at dwelling:
- Carry a pot of water to a boil.
- Add the almonds to the boiling water for 1 minute.
- Drain the almonds and allow them to air dry on a clear towel.
- Pinch every almond to simply take away the pores and skin.
Almond meal and almond flour each make thrilling additions to a number of baked treats and attractive meals. You need to use them interchangeably. However almond meal tends to be higher in heartier dishes, because it’s barely bitter and has a rough consistency. Almond flour is sweeter and has a lighter, fluffier texture.
You may simply make almond meal and almond flour at dwelling. All you want are some nuts and a meals processor. From there you possibly can go nuts and elevate tons of snacks, meals, and desserts with these versatile substances.