Brined And Roasted Rosemary Chile Almonds Recipes

BRINED AND ROASTED ROSEMARY-CHILE ALMONDS

Steps:

• Bring kosher salt, 2 rosemary sprigs, 4 chiles, and 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve salt. Add almonds and remove from heat; cover and let sit 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Drain almonds; discard rosemary and chiles. Spread out almonds on a rimmed baking sheet; add remaining 4 chiles and drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil. Toss to coat. Roast almonds, tossing occasionally, until dried out and completely toasted through and fragrant, 45-55 minutes. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, pick leaves from remaining 6 rosemary sprigs. Heat remaining 1/2 cup oil in a small saucepan over medium. Working in batches, fry rosemary leaves until bright green and crisp, about 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Add fried rosemary to almonds, season with sea salt, and toss to combine.
• Do ahead: Almonds can be roasted 3 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.

ROASTED ALMONDS WITH GARLIC AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Note 1 - If you want to blanch the almonds do this: put in pot of water, bring to a boil. Turn off heat, but let them sit until cool. Then take each almond and slip off the skins. Spread on paper towels and let dry before continuing with the recipe. It's labor intensive, but the almonds do look pretty!
• Preheat oven to 325ºF. Grate garlic or use a press. Crumble rosemary. (Note 2 - I use a coffee grinder for herbs, and it easily turns those rosemary needles into a perfect consistency. Or even a powder!)
• In a quart measuring cup, or other bowl, mix together almonds, garlic, rosemary, olive oil and sea salt. Spread out in a single layer on a jelly roll pan (rimmed cookie sheet).
• Sprinkle garlic powder over almonds. (Sometimes the garlic clumps and some of the almonds are less garlicky than others, the powder insures even garlic flavor.)
• Heat in oven for about 1/2 hour. Stir occasionally. Don't let them turn too dark. Turn down oven to 175ºF, heat and stir occasionally for another 15-30 minutes. Turn off oven and let cool down. Cool completely before storing in air-tight container.