Any recipes for fresh almonds?

[bazzaboy]

In the "Feeling Fruity" section above I've requested advice for cropping a heavily laden almond tree... If I can sort that part of the problem what recipes can I do, if anything, using fresh almonds? Many thanks.... bb.

[Hilary B]

The original blancmange was an almond-flavoured milk jelly, made by crushing fresh almonds, infusing in hot milk, and then setting it with gelatine. There was a recipe in a book I used to have, but no idea where the book is now. I think it was a Fanny Craddock thing.
Personally I could eat fresh-picked almonds until I was stuffed (and very nutritious they are too) but I would imagine you've got too many for that!

[bazzaboy]

Fascinating! Thanks Hilary B. I can't wait to try them now (why are they not more popular?) BUT currently they are as hard as wood... i.e. you can't "slice" them only whittle them at the moment, it's like chewing pencil shavings! Am I too early or too late? As related to peaches (and the supermarket con "Ripen at home" which I've never managed very successfully) I'm assuming they soften, so best left to ripen on the tree or picked and left on a windowsill? I'll try both. Can I send you some?

[Hilary B]

Um, hoping we are not at cross purposes here! It is the nut kernel you eat, however fresh, not the fleshy casing.....

[rustylady]

Hi Bazza, I was curious about almonds so I did a little google search and found this for you When to Harvest Almonds | Garden Guides Sounds as if you are harvesting way too early.

[bazzaboy]

Many thanks rustylady for that reference, pretty definitive and I look forward to Shaking The Tree (whilst singing the Peter Gabriel song, one of my favourites) I'll certainly try that out when the time comes.

Yes we were at cross purposes Hilary B inasmuch as I did think you meant the furry fleshy part - wh-hey! However I've now read enough comments, recipes etc to know that the casings ARE edible (providing definitely SWEET almond and not the variant "Bitter Almond" which also has culinary purposes but not for eating raw as the bitterness is cyanide, oops!) I notice in rustylady's reference the mature casings can be used as cattle feed but long before that stage they are also regarded as a delicacy in the Middle East (evidently!) eaten raw dipped in salt (anyone for another almond crisp?) It sort of makes sense because closely related to peaches but doesn't seem to have quite caught on in the same way as yet (probably for a very good reason).

Meantime will keep a close eye on them until the time comes to Shake the Tree and will revive the thread then to tell the tale if I survive the experience! Many thanks all, bb.

[Hilary B]

If your tree has any shoots coming from low down, those MAY have bitter-type almonds on. The almond trees on our Finca are all grafted, and anything growing from below the graft is totally inedibly bitter (probably with cyanide).