What is almond meal and how is it different than almond flour? It can be a bit confusing when you see the number of options relating to almond flour: almond flour, almond powder, blanched almond flour, almond meal, natural almond flour, and so on, which all seem to beg the question even more, what is almond meal. First off, almond flour or meal of any kind fits into two main categories: blanched almond flour and almond meal.
Blanched Almond Flour is made from almonds where the skin has been removed before being ground into a fine flour or powder. Not all almond flour includes "blanched" in the title, but it is generally accepted that almond flour uses the blanching process. We prefer to call our's "Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies.
So, what is Almond Meal? Well, almond meal, sometimes called "Natural Almond Flour" is ground into a meal with the skin of the almonds still intact. Like cornmeal or other "meals," almond meal is more course than almond flour. While it can still be used in baked goods like cookies or gluten-free bread, the yield is denser than an almond flour, and has a more textured feel.
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| Almond Meal |
When to use Almond Meal
Almond meal can be substituted in a 1:1 ratio with almond flour, just keep in mind that the resulting texture will be a bit different than recipes that use a blanched almond flour.
However, almond meal really shines when it is used in breading for chicken or fish. The larger granules of the meal provide a great texture for breading. Almond meal is also great with fruit crumbles, candied and glazed for a delicious crunch in a salad, or in homemade gluten-free crackers.
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| Blanched Almond Flour |
More about the Meal
Beyond the question of what is almond meal there are two other often asked questions: (1) how many carbs are in almond meal and (2) is almond meal gluten-free.
How many carbs are in almond meal? Almonds are naturally low carb so they make a great low carb flour and meal. In a 1/4 cup (28 grams) serving size of almond meal, there are only 6 grams of carbohydrates. To put that in perspective, all-purpose wheat flour has 4 times the amount of carbs with 24 grams of carbs in a 1/4 cup (28 grams). So almond flour and almond meal are a great option for those looking to follow a lower carb diet while still enjoying some delicious baked goods.
As for the question, is almond meal gluten-free, the simple answer is, yes! Almonds are gluten-free, so their byproducts, almond flour and almond meal, are also gluten-free. That said, it is still always best to check the ingredient listing for any additives. As for our almond meal and almond flour, they are 100% from California almonds without any additives of any kind.
To wrap up the question, what is almond meal, it is a delicious high-protein, high-fat, and low-carb flour great for gluten-free and low-carb diets. A great way to introduce yourself to almond meal is to use it in breading for chicken or as a candied glazed topping for a crunch in a summer salad. Whatever you try, it's hard to go wrong!