Almond flour

Premise

Queen of dried fruit, almond is also used for the preparation of flours, widely used in the "confectionery industry. In fact" it is true that almond flour is the basic ingredient for the preparation of many traditional and innovative sweets (marzipan).

Almonds: botanical analysis

Almond is the seed of Prunus communis (Fam. Rosaceae), an arboreal plant with a height of 12 meters. The almond is not the fruit of the homonymous plant: the fruits are green, oval and not very fleshy drupes containing the seeds (almonds, in fact), edible. In this regard, a distinction must be made. : only sweet almonds are edible, because the bitter variety contains poisonous cyanogenic compounds [taken from Reasoned dictionary of herbal medicine and phytotherapy by A. Bruni, M. Nicoletti].

Types of almond flour

On the market, there are two types of almond flour:

1. Flour obtained from shelled almonds
2. Flour obtained from shelled and peeled almonds

In order to reduce the costs on the final product, the flour is generally obtained from broken - or in any case not perfect - almonds during the selection of the whole ones, destined for direct consumption.
The value of almond flours also lies in the origin of the raw materials: flours obtained from Italian almonds certainly boast greater value than foreign ones.

Nutrients and properties

Being an oil seed, it is understandable how the caloric power of culinary specialties based on almond flour is particularly high: 100 grams of almonds (or almond flour) provide 603 Kcal, corresponding to 2,523 Kjoules. Dried almonds are rich in fat (55.3 g / 100 g of product), protein (22 g / 100 g of product), and low in water (only 5.1 g per 100 g of almonds).
For these reasons, almonds represent a very energetic food; moreover, the seeds, whole and ground, are a source of mineral salts (remineralizing properties), especially calcium, useful in both bone calcification and cardiac activity regularization processes. In addition, almonds boast antiseptic, laxative and emollient properties; also mild antidepressant properties.

Almond flour: uses

Despite the many beneficial properties boasted by almonds, it is good to remember that the flour obtained is not used to exploit its peculiar "therapeutic" qualities. Most of the time, the use of almond powder is reserved only for culinary uses, to enrich sweets or as a basic element for baked goods. Almond flour, mixed with refined sugar, constitutes the well-known almond paste, ductile and malleable, used to decorate or cover cakes.
Still, almond flour is useful for making soft macaroons and sweet creams.



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Marzipan

Almond flour can also be obtained by hand, by finely chopping or crushing the almonds. Before grinding them, it is good to remove the almonds from the skin that surrounds them: in this regard, it is recommended to dip the almonds in boiling water, dry them with a cloth and toast them in a hot oven. Then, we proceed by pounding the almonds with a mortar together with a little "d" water, in order to obtain a homogeneous paste.

The marzipan is prepared with almond flour and sugar: therefore, the almond powder must be added to the sugar, after having dissolved it in a pan. The mixture is worked with a pestle and, once it has reached a fairly solid consistency, we proceed to knead With the hands.

Marzipan: ingredients

• 250g of shelled almonds (or almond flour)
• 500 g of sugar
• ½ glass of water

Summary

Almond flour: to fix concepts

almond flour Basic ingredient for the preparation of many traditional and innovative sweets (marzipan) Almonds: general botanical aspects Almond: seed of Prunus communis
Family: Rosaceae
Description of the plant: tree plant with a height of 12 meters
Almond fruits: green, oval and not very fleshy drupes containing seeds (almonds) Types of almond flour

3. Flour obtained from shelled almonds
4. Flour obtained from shelled and peeled almonds

Almond flour: nutritional characteristics 100g of almonds provide:

• 603 Kcal (2,523 Kjoules)
• 55.3 g of fat
• 22 g of protein
• 5.1 g of water

Almonds are rich in mineral salts, especially calcium Almonds and almond flour: properties

• Energy
• Remineralizers
• Laxative
• Antidepressants

Almonds are also exploited for their antidepressant and emollient properties (in general, the consumption of almond flour is not aimed at these purposes) Almond flour: uses Purely culinary uses: almond flour is used to enrich desserts, as a basic element for baked goods, soft amaretti and sweet creams
Marzipan: to decorate or cover cakes
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