Toast almonds in a pan on the stove for quick flavor enhancement.
Toasting almonds is somewhat of an art form. You can toast almonds while they are whole, sliced, cut into pieces or crushed. There is a fine line between delicious toasted almonds and almonds that are burned to a crisp. Toasting almonds takes full concentration to avoid overcooking the almonds in this way. You can cook almonds on the stove, in the oven or even in the microwave, but the best way to pan toast the almonds is on the store. You can use slivered almonds, chopped almonds or whole almonds while using this toasting method.
Instructions
1. Place the almonds in a pan on the stove. Just cover the bottom of the pan with the nuts.
2. Add a very small amount of vegetable oil to the nuts. The oil should just coat the nuts and not pool in the bottom of the pan.
3. Turn the pan on to a heat between medium and medium-low. If you smell a strong smoky smell or burning smell, then the heat and too high and you should turn it down.
4. Heat the almonds on the stove for about two or three minutes. Stir the nuts every 30 seconds or so to prevent them from burning or cooking too long on one side but not the other. Remove the nuts from the pan when they start to turn golden brown.
5. Place the nuts on a plate covered with a paper towel to absorb the excess oil. Add salt to the almonds if desired. When the nuts cool you can cut them into pieces or slices, or cut them up in a food processor.
Tags: almonds stove, almonds while, into pieces, Toasting almonds
