Toasted Spice Rub Almonds
- 1 pound shelled almonds, preferably unsalted
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons sea salt, preferably gray salt
- 3 tablespoons Toasted Spice Rub, recipe follows
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Blanch the almonds in boiling water, until the skins peel off.
- Melt the butter in a large ovenproof skillet over moderate heat and cook until it turns light brown and smells nutty.
- Add the almonds and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, over moderate heat until the almonds begin to color, about 5 minutes, coat and toss in the spice mix thoroughly.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the almonds are medium-brown, about 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, taste for flavor, add more spice mix or salt, if necessary.
- Return to the oven for another 5 minutes.
- Transfer the nuts to a sheet pan; they will crisp as they cool.
- Store the cooled almonds in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Notes: Chop these nuts and add them to a turkey stuffing or a rice pilaf.
- Toasted Spice Rub:
- 1/4 cup fennel seeds
- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 1 1/2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup (1-ounce) pure California chili powder
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- Toast the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a small, heavy pan over medium heat.
- When the fennel turns light brown, work quickly.
- Turn on the exhaust fan, add the red pepper flakes, and toss, toss, toss, always under the fan.
- Immediately turn the spice mixture out onto a plate to cool.
- Put in a blender with the chili powder, salt, and cinnamon and blend until the spices are evenly ground.
- If you have a small spice mill or a coffee grinder dedicated to grinding spices, grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes.
- Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients.
- Toasting freshens spices, releases their oils, and makes them more fragrant, as well as adding a new dimension of flavor.
- Keep the spice mix in a glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.
- Taste your chili powder and, if too spicy and hot, cut back the amount.
- California chiles are almost sweet, not hot.
almonds, unsalted butter, salt, toasted spice rub
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/toasted-spice-rub-almonds-recipe.html (may not work)