Almonds are often mistakenly referred to as nuts, although they are stone fruits. In shape and size, the fruits resemble apricot pits. They are distinguished by their delicate taste and aroma.
In cooking, the bones of all types of almonds are used: bitter, fragile and sweet. But their spheres of application are quite different. For example, bitter almonds require special pretreatment. It is traditionally used as a spicy additive that can improve the taste of almost any dish; moreover, it is bitter almonds that have a special, very bright aroma. In its raw, unroasted form, it cannot be used in cooking due to the content of hydrocyanic acid in it. But even processed bitter almonds are added to food in very small quantities. Bitter almonds are used to make almond oil, which is considered a very expensive product.
Fragile and sweet types of almonds do not require preliminary heat treatment. Both types are actively used in the confectionery industry. For example, marzipan is made from them. It is a sweet doughy mass that is very easy to color. Traditionally, marzipan is used to make confectionery decorations. Almond flour is used to prepare a variety of pastries and cakes, it gives baked goods a special, delicate nutty taste. Macaroon cakes are widely known and are made from fine almond flour.
It is believed that sweet almonds are inferior in quality to bitter ones, but they are considered a wonderful addition to a variety of fish dishes. The fragile almond resembles sweet in taste, but does not have a very pronounced aroma.
In Southeast Asia, all types of almonds are added to poultry, meat and rice dishes. Roasted salted almonds are one of the most common and popular treats in the region.
Almonds and their shells are actively used to improve the taste and aromatization of various liqueurs. Almond liqueur "Amaretto" is one of the most famous drinks in the world. It has a very bright, rich taste and strong almond aroma. By the way, this liqueur is often used in the confectionery industry, soaking biscuit cakes with it and adding it to all kinds of creams.
Almonds contain a huge amount of vitamins and minerals. It is distinguished by a high content of protein, magnesium, phosphorus and vitamin E. In addition, almonds are very high in zinc, copper, manganese, iron and B vitamins. Many experts recommend that pregnant women regularly eat almonds due to its unique composition.
