Smoked Almonds

I smoke almonds quite a bit and have had success with this recipe:

4 lbs Almond
6 TB Worcestershire sauce
2 TB granulated garlic
2 tsp salt or sea salt

In a large bowl and using a large serving spoon, mix the almonds with the sauce until completely coated. Add garlic, mix till evenly covered. Add salt, mix till evenly coated. Lay almonds in a single layer on cookie sheets. Once layered on the cookie sheets, I sprinkle on some more garlic (only if you like it heavier) and a little more salt.

My cookie sheets fit into the Elite's slots or set on grills. Smoke at 225* for 3-4 hrs depending on how toasted you would like the almonds. I turn the almonds half way through the smoke. I go longer on the smoke to get them real toasty.

I found the almonds fall through the grills so you're going to have to use the cookie sheets.

I'm smoking the garlic almonds quite often. Never out of stock on them. They have great health benefits, and I snack on them a lot. Most of the time I tend to go lighter on the salt. I've sent batches to family in Chicago and have given them to friends. They love them, and I'm always getting requests.

If you prefer another taste, you could substitute ground dried chipotle powder, barbecue powder, celery salt or anything you can think of for the garlic.

Hope you enjoy.

Pags.... Do you use raw almonds? When my coworker asked about smoking them, I never thought about this.

I get bulk raw almonds from WinCo.

Paggs,

Is it because they are "raw" almonds that you can smoke them for 3-4 hours?

I guess so. At least you're not roasting roasted almonds. Besides the thought of another smoker's product in my Cookshack sends shivers up my spine.

I've seen recipes with much shorter smokes, maybe that's because they're already roasted. Mine turn out crispy, not burnt.
People seem to like them. Start with 2 hrs and take a sample. You can always smoke longer. I also figured the raw almonds would be cheaper than roasted.

I'm eating some as we speak, er write.

Frogmats or the Cookshack seafood grill work great for things like this.

quote:

Smoke at 225* for 3-4 hrs depending on how toasted you would like the almonds. I turn the almonds half way through the smoke.

I have to try this recipe.

Please forgive me for sounding like a complete dolt, but what exactly do you do when you "turn" the almonds? I can't get this picture out of my head of the world's smallest spatula.

Just flip them so all sides get smoke.

Hi Pags,

How much wood do you use and what kind do you use? Do they taste similar to the Blue Diamond Smokehouse brand of smoke almonds?

Thanks,

Brett

I use 5 oz. of hickory. They're similar to Blue Diamond. It's been awhile since I've had theirs. Mine turn out a little more toastier.

I pay between $2.88-3.48/lb. buying the almonds in bulk. That means, if you smoke them yourself, you'll get them for less than half the price Blue Diamond charges. I haven't checked our local flea market produce section. They're probably even cheaper from our local farmers.

Well I've smoked about 12 pounds of almonds so far. Half have been seasoned with granulated garlic and the other half with Cookshack Chicken Rub. It has all turned out great. I have found that they get better after sitting in a zip lock bag for a day or so. You have to watch though, they are very addictive. I know have freinds bugging me to smoke for them!

Way to go Dr. Dan. I, too, have noticed the almonds seem to pick up more smoke flavor if they sit in a container for a day or two. Go figure. But that's OK with me. They're great.

I've got friends making the same request. They'll supply the almonds if I smoke the almonds for them. What with the other ingredients and the prep time I think I should charge them a lb. or two.

Hi Guys!! I have not been around for awhile. I just saw this, ran to the store and bought 4 lbs and loaded my smoker...I am using the seafood grill and will do a couple of loads....I hope you are all well and I will keep you posted...


SG

Great snacks. Healthy too.

Where do you guys find raw almonds?

Any health food store should carry them. You can also shop online. I like to use Nuts online. Very friendly staff and they guarantee your satisfaction.

Good luck!

You can buy them in bulk by the lb at WinCo, Whole Foods, farmer's markets, produce section at flea markets, and roadside produce stands. The last three may be a California phenomenon. I'm sure other grocery stores carry them in bulk also.

quote:

Originally posted by Doug552:
Where do you guys find raw almonds?

Sams Club....3lb bag for just under $10.00

Thank's everybody, I'll have to see if I can find some, they sound good.

quote:

Originally posted by Pags:
You can buy them in bulk by the lb at WinCo, Whole Foods, farmer's markets, produce section at flea markets, and roadside produce stands. The last three may be a California phenomenon. I'm sure other grocery stores carry them in bulk also.

Our roadside stands have roasted peanuts, raw peanuts, and boiled peanuts. Which one of these is the same thing as almonds?

Halved Pag's recipe above. This was my first attempt at smoked almonds. Used 2 lb raw almonds from Costco (3 lb / ~$10)

Thought I would use my seafood grill but this didn't work - too many almonds went through the small holes. Put a sheet of aluminum foil on the rack and poked holes in it with a large meat fork. This worked OK, but I forgot to spray the foil with Pam and the Almonds stuck.

Put them in a pre-heated 225F oven, sliding the wood box in at the same time with 3 oz hickory. After 40 minutes I noticed that I didn't get any smoke. Bumped the temp up to 250 and she started billowing thick clouds for me. Cooked them 3 hours total turning them halfway until I had to shut it down as we were going out for the evening. Came out tasty, but could have used more smoke and longer roasting time.

Next time I will put them in a cold smoker with the wood box and cook them at 250F for maybe 3 1/2 hours.

Thanks Pags. This is a good recipe. I just need to fine-tune it for my setup.

Glad you liked them. I smoke them at 225* for at least 4 hrs.

quote:

I just need to fine-tune it for my setup.

Sorry Pags. I guess I don't need to fine-tune it so much as follow your directions....

Hey. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

Just tried my first batch of smoked almonds. Found 3lb. bags at Costco. I could't tell if they were raw or not from the package. I followed Pags recipe, I just added 1 tsp. of Chipotle powder. They turned out great. Thanks guys. Doug

Did you add the chipotle on top of the garlic or instead of the garlic?

Pags, I added it along with the garlic. By the way would you know how I could tell if the almonds I'm buying are raw or toasted, because the package didn't say one way or the other?

Mine always state raw or roasted, but I would imagine if it's not stated, it's probably raw. Raw won't be as crisp, but that won't help you until you've made a comparison between the two.

Go to WinCo or Whole Foods and buy their raw almonds in bulk. WinCo is cheaper. I believe the 3 lb bag at Costco is raw, but I'm not positive.

I was thinking the same as you, if it didn't say they were probably raw. Plus after smoking for four hours they didn't seem over done, they were nice and crispy. We don't have WinCo or Whole Foods. The ones at Costco were less than $10.

Thanks Pags!!

I smoked 2 lbs. raw almonds using your basic recipe but added a couple of drops of Crystal Hot Sauce and a sprinkle of my dry rub. Smoked them with about 5 oz. of hickory and 1 oz of cherry for 4 hours and now have them in a zip lock! Smoked them in a large stainless steel seafood/vegetable dish.

Sounds great. They will be even more flavorful tomorrow.

quote:

Originally posted by Dan-Q:

Thought I would use my seafood grill but this didn't work - too many almonds went through the small holes. Put a sheet of aluminum foil on the rack and poked holes in it with a large meat fork. This worked OK, but I forgot to spray the foil with Pam and the Almonds stuck.

Found my seafood grills for my 009 - the holes are much smaller than the ones I bought for my AQ so the nuts don't fall through. Also the 009 ones don't stick to the nuts if you forget the Pam spray (again)

Made another batch of almonds. Started with hot oven from a previous smoke. Left them in about 4 hrs and 15 minutes - came out semi-burnt tasting. Will have to throw them out. 4 hours @225 is good but only when starting with a cold smoker.

Smoked some walnuts and pecan halves - 2 hours in hickory @ 225. made pralines with the pecans and candied the walnuts. Unusual taste. I love 'em. Wife not so much. Co-workers are either "Unbelievable" or taste confusion.

I think you're making things too complicated.

I've always just used a pyrex baking pan. Pour the almonds in, add spice, add a little butter to make everything stick, and smoke for an hour or two. Stir maybe once or twice.

I don't think you need to worry about the smoke penetrating (the use of grills or foil with holes) They'll pick up plenty of smoke, especially if you stir once or twice.

I got it simple now. just mix, pour in a single layer on the fish racks (since I already have them) and open up when they're done. No need to open and stir.

Smoke won't penetrate the nuts, but it does need to see the surface.

My last batch was waaayyy too smokey. I thought that it took the smoke a little too well. Next time I will use less garlic, less smoke, and add a little kick.

Tried the smoked almonds this afternoon. They are excellent.

Used the worcestershire as suggested in a mixing bowl. Did two batches, one with garlic salt and another one with garlic salt and heavy red pepper for some kick.

Placed them on two racks I bought at a restaurant supply store, they are a heavy stainless mesh rack and they fit well on top of the CS racks. Allow smoke to flow thru great.

3 hours at 225 with hickory.

Both are very good. Plan to try another batch when we finish these off, but plan to smoke them with no spice and then finish them off with a coat of butter and brown sugar in the oven for a sweet taste, might add a little red pepper for the sweet/spicy taste.

After that, plan to try this with pecans around Christmas time.

quote:

Originally posted by Qnorth:
I've always just used a pyrex baking pan. Pour the almonds in, add spice, add a little butter to make everything stick, and smoke for an hour or two. Stir maybe once or twice.

Interesting, in your pan, do you have them all on top of each other (as you would cook a macaroni in the oven), or just in one layer ?

I have a metallic wok (with holes) for the gaz grill, I was wondering if I could just pour the two pounds of almond in it and throw it in the 008 as is insteat of using cooking sheet with layered almonds... ?

You want the almonds exposed to the smoke, so if they are stacked on top of each other, you'll want to turn them a few times to expose all of them to the smoke. For single layers, like on a cookie sheet, I turn them to get all sides exposed to the smoke.