Finally the secret to perfectly salted DIY roasted almonds (not just salted on top) that are SO much better than anything you can buy!
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You may remember when I mentioned that I had discovered, by accident (because I'm cheap frugal smart with money), that DIY roasted almonds are WAY better than roasted-salted almonds from the store.
Way. Better.
As in, you may find you have trouble eating only a few. But that's where your small bowls for portion control will come in to play - we don't need to suffer through blah food in order to practice portion control, do we?
This is just fair warning that you will not want to start eating these straight from the jar!
Now, before you go all "can't we just buy anything for convenience anymore?" on me, let me explain that I don't make these DIY roasted almonds because they are any more healthier or more 'real food' than basic roasted nuts you can buy (though if you were soaking and sprouting them, they might be, but most raw almonds seem to be already steam-pasturized...).
So if you're needing convenience, buy away.
No, I make these because they save me a couple dollars (and we all eat a lot of nuts around here, so it adds up), but more importantly they taste amazing.
Really, I had no idea there would be such a difference between home-roasted almonds and store-bought!
And it's not just me - everyone I serve them to agrees, too. I've had guests be so surprised that they "had" to go back for seconds - and thirds.
Perfectly Salted Roasted Almonds Video Tutorial
How to Make DIY Roasted Almonds
I've made a lot of flavored nuts (this spicy one is great) but I've not been happy with basic roasted nuts, mainly because the salt never wanted to stick to the nuts after cooking.
So when confronted with the price difference between roasted and raw almonds, I started researching and I learned from this recipe that the secret to a salted flavor all the way through roasted nuts is to dissolve salt in hot water first, and then coat the raw nuts with this mixture and cook them.
I adapted the recipe to cook fully in an oven to be easier and to be able to make a large batch.
TIP: By the way, I LOVE using a little glass tablespoon measuring cup in recipes like this calling for more than one tablespoon - so easy!
Ingredients
- Almonds
- Fine grain sea salt (or use a pink Himalayan or other pure, non-additive salt)
- Olive oil
Equipment Needed:
- Roasting pan
- Glass tablespoon measuring cup
- Silicone baking mat or parchment paper
- Large metal or wooden spoon
Directions
Dissolve salt in water as much as possible and then pour onto raw nuts, stirring thoroughly. Spread onto a lined baking sheet.
Bake at 375 for about 15 minutes, stirring at the halfway mark.
After baking, coat the warm nuts with a bit of olive oil and a couple shakes of sea salt and let them cool. They soak up all that goodness and then look like the perfectly roasted almonds that they are.
To flavor or not?
I don't often add any flavoring because I usually want a basic nut I can then use to top salads and in my favorite granola, as well as for snacking.
Any herb can be added, though, and garlic powder or seasoned salt would probably make them even harder to stop eating as a snack - if that's possible - so flavor as you'd like.
This basic DIY roasted almonds recipe has changed our nut-eating life, though, so I just had to share with you how easy and amazing it is to roast your own almonds at home.
The one thing you have to be careful of is burning - it's literally a minute between perfect and slightly burned nuts.
And, yes, I've experienced it first hand - but you know what? Brian and I agree that even the slightly "too-browned" almonds are better than commercially roasted. Go figure.
I'd love to know what you think of these!
You may also like to try this flavor variation: Chipotle Spicy Roasted Almonds - Easy, Sugar Free, 20 Minute Recipe
Perfectly Salted DIY Roasted Almonds - seriously the BEST!
Ingredients
- 4½ cups raw, whole almonds
- 1½ tablespoons HOT water
- 1½ teaspoons sea salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375 degrees and line a large baking sheet with silicone or parchment.* Place the raw almonds in a large metal or ceramic mixing bowl (we'll be adding the hot nuts back into it, so don't use plastic).
- Stir 1½ teaspoon of salt into the hot water until mostly dissolved (it hardly ever completely dissolves for me - it's okay if it doesn't), pour over the nuts in the bowl and mix until all are coated.
- Transfer to prepared baking sheet, spreading the nuts in a single layer.
- Bake for about 8 minutes, stir well and spread back into a single layer. Bake for 6-8 minutes more, depending on how your oven cooks (Ours are usually perfect at about 15 minutes total, but your oven may vary, so may take 5-10 minutes longer). To test doneness, the nuts should be nicely browned, inside and out (you can cut one open to see if it's browned inside). Keep an eye on them, this is when they can burn quickly - but you don't want them undercooked either or they won't be crisp (once you've made them, the timing is easier).
- When they are done baking, put the hot nuts back into the large bowl and pour the olive oil over them. Toss well until all the nuts are coated, shaking on sea salt as you go. You can taste one, but they're very hot, so be careful (I usually just like to see a bit of salt on the outsides and that seems to be enough with the original salt-water coating).
- Leave the nuts to cool in the bowl, or spread out on the pan again if you need them to cool more quickly. The nuts will soak up the oil as they cool.**
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
Other healthy snack recipes you may like:
Healthy Maple Sweetened Chili Pecans
Healthy Homemade Chocolate Covered Pecans
Cashew, Cranberry and White Chocolate Granola Bites
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Carla Long says
Can you make these removing almond skins first ANF then roasting the almonds? Blanched roasted almonds!
Jami says
Haven't tried that -let me know if it works, Carla!
Brandy says
These turned out perfectly! Thank you so much!
Jami says
Great - glad to hear it!
Pat Fitzpatrick says
Which is it, 8 mi s or 15mins?
Jami says
As per the recipe card: 8 minutes, stir, cook for 6-8 minutes more, depending on how hot your oven cooks (meaning, check to see). Mine usually cook perfectly in 15 minutes (so 8 minutes, stir, then 7 minutes...).
Carolyn VanOstran says
Simply the best "Perfectly" Roasted Almonds I have had. Thank you for such a simple and delicious recipe. Trying it on Walnuts today!!
Jami says
So glad you liked it! Thanks for the rating and review!
Lyse says
The BEST Roasted Almond Recipe!!!
Thank you very much!
Jami says
I'm so glad you like this - thanks for the review!!
Paula says
I have to admit I was a bit skeptical about putting water on the almonds, but my goodness! This is the best roasted almond recipe! So many others are too salty or too oily, but these are perfect. Infinitely better than store bought! Thanks for sharing this!
Jami says
I'm glad you went for it, Paula!
Michael Carruthers says
I humbly suggest you research safest and healthiest temperature for roasting almonds. 375f reduces vitamins and creates toxins
Jami says
Thank you, I haven't heard of this - I'll look into it!
Ct says
Finally! A recipe for almonds that tastes delicious with perfect amount of salt. Thank you!
Jami says
Exactly how I felt. 🙂 Thank you for the review!
Thomas Dupuy says
I have used your perfectly salted DIY roasted almonds and it's great. However, I would like to know if you have a similar recipe for Walnuts?
Jami says
You can use this same technique with any nut!
KimS says
Thank you for this salt water technique. You’re right the raw almonds are SO much cheaper. But what really got me was when our TJ AND COSTCO stopped carrying the lower salt roasted almonds. I didn’t even put the oil on mine they seemed perfect after roasting…14 min for my oven.
Jami says
I'm so glad you like this, Kim! Yes, it's a great way to control the ingredients for our tastes. Omitting the oil makes them like "dry roasted" nuts, I think, so that works, too.
Amy says
I love TJ’s dry roasted salted almonds (both regular and less salty). They told me they are switching suppliers and will have them back on the shelves in September. In the meantime I am going to try this recipe without the oil!
Jami says
I think you will like them that way!
Rachel says
We love salted almonds but disturbingly so many are roasted with canola oil or another seed oil.
These are so much tastier and better for you. Thank you so much!!
Guilt free snacking and so easy.
Jami says
So glad you've enjoyed these nuts!
Thank you for the review 🙂
Rosmariw says
Love this recipe! Make it often.
Jami says
Wonderful - thanks for the review!
Michael Pooschke says
Worked great on blanched almonds. I avoid the skins as they are extremely high in lectins which tear up your gut lining. Thanks much!
Jami says
Good to know - thanks so much!
Alfonz says
Salt was just right, but too much olive oil for sure. I measured my ingredients and did not deviate as I'm attempted to ascertain the right ratio. Delicious all in all though.
Jami says
Glad you liked them!
Anita says
Hi Jami~!
Love your site! Have you tried with other nuts? (and if doing a mix of nuts, what considerations to keep in mind? - like Brazil nuts would get done same time as an almond...) Thanks~!
Jami says
Thank you, Anita! I've tried this with pecans and cashews which worked well. They were done in about the same time as almonds.
Brazil nuts are bigger, though, so I would probably put them on a separate tray to see how long they need.
Sarah says
These taste amazing! Mine are kind of greasy, though; I think I put in too much oil. It wasn't so smart to measure out the oil over the nuts!
Jami says
Glad you liked them, Sarah! You can totally adjust the oil, though it does soak in, too.
Linda says
This recipe is great. I always had trouble getting raw nuts salted right. This works great. I air fried macadamias in the airfryer and they turned out perfect.
Thank you.
Jami says
Wonderful - thank you for the review!
(and that air frying tip is brilliant!)
Eva Ved says
Easy to make and delicious. Thankyou
Jami says
Glad you enjoyed this - thanks for the review!