Are almonds good source of protein?

August, for us at home, is like no other month. It is time for almonds’ harvest season and subsequent rituals.

Almond trees have always been among the most precious plants on my family’s farm; their value stems not from any potential sales but from the fact that they bring us together. Unlike the olive harvest, harvesting almonds does not require much manpower, and hence we as a family come together to harvest them.

The joy we used to have as kids during these times is unparalleled. Our teeth were compromised as we used to crack the hard shells on our own, but now only good memories remain.

Today, most of my recipes using almonds are reminiscent of my childhood memories. Since sharing brings joy and revives the old happy memories, in this article, I chose to talk about some of my favorite recipes and answer the question of are almonds a good source of protein once and for all.

Almonds’ nutritional value:

Though almonds are not botanically classified as nuts, they are commonly referred to as such. The general rule is that nuts are among the healthiest and most beneficial foods that one can eat; probably that’s why they are so expensive.

Almonds reign supreme on top of the list of nuts. They are packed with several nutrients. People usually ask are almonds a good source of protein. Well, they are definitely a great source of protein. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 100 grams of almonds contain 21.15 grams of protein!

For a handful of expensive drupes, this is definitely a great amount. Some might argue that almonds are calorie-dense nuts. This is true to an extent; one hundred grams contains 579 calories. Nevertheless, the extraordinary beneficial nutrients would cover this hitch.

Almonds are low-sugar food and most of its carbohydrates contents are fiber. The most important minerals and vitamins in almonds include 269 mg of calcium, 3.71 mg of iron, 270 mg of magnesium, 481 mg of phosphorous, 733 mg of potassium, and 25.63 mg of vitamin E.

Still, what’s more, important is that almonds are a source of healthy fat. They contain 49.93 grams of fat, but most of them are monounsaturated fat. Saturated fat is only 3.8 grams, while polyunsaturated fat is 12 grams and monounsaturated fat is 32g of the total fats.

Healthy fat is monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that are usually linked to good heart health and overall wellness.

Recipes to enjoy:

As a person who adores sweets and spends hours in the kitchen cooking and baking them, I must say that I prefer to use natural ingredients in my recipes. Using nuts is definitely a successful way to go. Here are a few to try at home:

Chocolate and almonds balls recipe:

Ingredients:

• 500 grams of peeled almonds
• 500 grams of plain biscuits
• Dark or/ and white chocolate
• Almond concentrated juice
• Shredded coconut

How to make the balls:

First of all, you need to roast the almonds with constant stirring for about four to five minutes on medium heat. Then grind the almonds, grind the biscuits and mix both ingredients together.

Pour some almond juice and mix the ingredients well until you get a sticky paste. Now, take a spoonful of the paste and make it into a ball with both hands. Go on until the paste is all done.

Soak half of the ball in melted dark chocolate and the other half in white chocolate. Garnish those with dark chocolate with shredded coconut, while you can leave the white ones as they are or garnish them with shredded almonds.

These are fancy delicious balls that you can serve to your guest or just enjoy with your family.

Traditional Tunisian almond recipe:

Ingredients:

• 500 grams of raw almonds
• Two to three tablespoons of powdered sugar
• Rosewater
• Almond juice

How to prepare it:

First of all, peel the almonds and then ground them well. Add the powdered sugar. Add four to five tablespoons of rose water and then add almond juice while mixing at the same time. Once you get a sticky paste, you can start framing it into the desired shape or shapes.

Note that you can control the amount of sugar; you can add more if you want. Besides, some would add shredded coconut to the recipe, but the traditional way of these sweets does not include coconut. You can also add food dyes if you want to get some colorful sweets.

If are still wondering are almonds a good source of protein or not, have some of these sweets with your morning breakfast or as a snack and notice for yourself how your energy will increase.