YOU CAN ALSO EASILY MAKE ROASTED NUTS LIKE AT THE CHRISTMAS MARKET AT HOME
A fine, sweet scent caresses your nose while you stroll through a brightly lit Christmas market. Curiously, you follow your sense of smell, which leads you to a stand with the finest roasted almonds.
Fragrant temptation
The selection of fried nuts is huge and the delicious snack can be refined with many spices and other ingredients and thus adapted to individual tastes. But even after the Christmas market, you don't have to do without roasted almonds.
With this recipe, the treat comes to your home. Only a few readily available ingredients are required to prepare this classic.
The preparation is simple. The candy can be made in a pan or in the microwave. Almonds, sugar and water are sufficient for the basic recipe. The Christmas market will be at your home in about 20 minutes.
Preparation in the pan
The following ingredients form the basis:
- 200 grams of almonds
- 100ml of water
- 125 grams of sugar
As a first small refinement of the basic recipe:
- 1 packet of vanilla sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Add the sugar, water and spices to the pan. Stirring is very important here so that the sugar does not burn immediately and the whole thing becomes inedible. When the sugar water is bubbling, it's time to add the almonds. These must be stirred well so that they are completely surrounded by the sugar water.
Now the whole thing is further cooked. Allow the liquid to evaporate over a medium to high heat for about 6-8 minutes while stirring constantly. The sugar crystallizes and forms a dry shell around the almond.
But it's not over yet! Now you have to keep the almonds on the hot stove until the caramel layer liquefies again and forms an even layer around the almonds.
When this is done, immediately place the almonds on a piece of baking paper and spread them out. For example, two forks can be used to separate the individual almonds from each other.
It is important not to heat the almonds for too long, otherwise they may burn and become bitter in taste.
You have to be careful, because the sugar is very hot, under no circumstances should you try the small snacks right away, because this can result in very unpleasant burns in the mouth.
Preparation in the microwave
It's even easier to prepare in the microwave. Simply take all the ingredients and mix well in a microwave-safe, lidded jar.
Now simply heat at 600 W for about 4 minutes. Then stir the almonds a little and put them in the microwave again for 2 minutes. Then simply cool the almonds on baking paper until they are ready to eat.
Creating diversity is easy
When it comes to preparing roasted almonds, there are hardly any limits to your imagination and you can try out a lot. Of course, cinnamon or vanilla are absolute classics that you know from every Christmas market. Also with coconut or salty roasted almonds, you can see more and more at the popular stands. But you can experiment a lot more at home.
Chili in particular is becoming increasingly popular when it comes to giving sweet dishes a new kick. Cardamom is also particularly suitable for a new recipe. Take an example from the spices of other Christmas specialties and use aniseed or orange.
If you ever get tired of almonds, there are many other nuts and kernels that can be burned. Macadamia or walnuts are an excellent specialty, but sunflower seeds, hazelnuts or peanuts are also good alternatives.
You can also experiment with sugar. White sugar is of course the standard. But you can fall back on a diverse range of brown cane sugar, which can vary greatly in taste and consistency.
Toasted almonds as a decorative element
The roasted almond cuts a good figure not only for snacking. It is also suitable as a decoration to further refine desserts and give them that certain extra. Roasted almonds are particularly suitable as a topping for ice cream or as a garnish for a cream cake. But be careful that your delicious decoration does not steal the show from the actual dessert.