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There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 345,227 times. Almond flour and almond meal have a good role in baking recipes. Both ingredients are not only gluten free but also high in protein. Almond meal is also one of the parts to make almond paste. Baked goods get that rich nutty taste with almond meal, and many recipes that require breading may benefit from almond flour as a substitute.
Luckily, making almond flour or meal is quite fast and very easy. Take any amount of blanched almonds, preferably sprouted. Any amount of almonds will do because the ingredients start and end with almonds. Why blanched almonds for almond flour?
Blanched almonds are simply almonds without their outer skin. These make for a more uniform-colored flour and a more even taste. In order to blanch almonds, boil them for about a minute or two, uncovered. Sprouted almonds simply mean almonds that are soaked overnight. They are easier for the human body to digest, making your overall experience more pleasant.
Specifically, sprouting takes away toxic enzyme inhibitors so that the enzymes your body deploys during digestion can do their job. Once dry, place any amount of almonds inside a food processor, coffee bean grinder, Vitamix, or blender. Again, it doesn’t matter how many almonds you use. It’s probably better, however, to err on the side of fewer almonds, as almond flour has a relatively short shelf life — 3 to 6 months in the fridge and even less outside.
Pulse until you get a fine, grainy consistency. This usually takes anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute, perhaps longer depending on your pulsing apparatus. If you want finely textured almond flour, be sure to pulse the almonds a little longer. Be advised, however, that pulsing the almonds for too long can result in almond butter. Use immediately or label and store in a chilled place.