Are you wondering, but why homemade? Homemade almond powder is a pure protein powder without any additives. It’s much superior in taste, freshness and economical. Main importantly we know what goes into it. With the comfort of store bought powders, I had never made this before having my babies. Motherhood helped me to explore this method of making almond powder for my toddlers. I realized that a lot of milk powders we use for the babies and kids are loaded with synthetic nutrients & always wondered if these are really absorbed by the body. The commercial badam milk powder from popular brands like the MTR has only 8.5 % almond powder in it with loads of starch and milk powder added to it which is visible on the ingredients list. So if you are looking for healthy store bought alternates then this is the way to go. Make your own almond powder at home! Why blanching? Almond skin though rich in fiber is said to be high in tannins which prevent the absorption of nutrients. So it is best to use them without the skin. Also according to Ayurveda, almond skin is harder to digest and can accumulate toxins in the body. But how do we get rid of the skin easily? It is only by blanching we can remove the skin easily. Related postsBaby food recipes6 Months baby food chartBaby food chart for babies above 7 months
Preparation
- Bring water to a rapid boil in a large pot.
- Add the almonds and leave them for a minute or two.
- Drain them to a colander and immediately rinse them under running water.
- Immediately drain and transfer to an absorbent cloth.
- You will see the skin loosen. Just peel off and pat them on a dry cloth.
- Add these blanched almonds to the wide heavy bottom pan. Roast lightly till they look dry & free from moisture. This is done to increase the shelf life & get a better texture. You can also do this in your oven at the lowest heat setting for 20 mins or until completely dry. Cool them completely.
How to make badam powder
- Add them to a powerful dry grinder or a spice jar. A reader has shared in the comments below that a coffee grinder works well. Pulse or grind them in intervals of 15 to 25 seconds so the almonds don’t release oil.
- If your grinder cannot do a good job, then sieve the powder. Blend the coarse nuts again. Store almond powder in an airtight jar. If you stay in a humid weather, refrigerate and use.