The Ultimate Guide to Delicious Paleo Recipes with Almond Flour
If you've done much Paleo cooking, you'll have noticed lots of recipes call for almond flour or almond meal. With flour a no-no, almond flour is a great alternative.
What's the difference between almond meal and almond flour?
Simple – almond meal is darker in colour because it is made with almonds with their skins on. Almond flour, on the other hand, is made with blanched almonds.
I prefer cooking with a more finely ground almond flour or meal as I find it a lot lighter. Another thing to bear in mind is that if you're substituting conventional flour for almond flour, you'll need to watch the temperatures – you'll probably need them a lot lower.
Make your own
You can make your own almond flour by blanching almonds and grinding them – but be careful not to over grind, or you'll end up with
almond butter.
To get really good results (like shop-bought almond flour), you'll need a grain/nut mill,
like this. If that's too much like hard work, you can buy your almond flour or meal ready to use.
Remember – buy in bulk to save money – the small packs are really expensive.
Substituting flour for almond flour
Unfortunately, it's not as simple as substituting one cup of white or wholemeal flour for one cup of almond flour. Almond flours lack the starch and gluten found in regular flour, which may mean you need to consider adding some sort of binding ingredient like eggs. You may also find that a 1:1 substitution makes your recipe turn out too dense.
Storing almond flour
As this is an oil-based flour, you need to make sure it doesn't turn rancid (if it does, throw it away). I store mine in the freezer, but if you keep yours in a cool, dark place it should be fine for several months. Another reason to buy in bulk.
Here are some of my paleo recipes to try, which use almond flour:
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Homemade Cajun Spice Marinade (Paleo)
There's nothing like a simple marinade to spice up an otherwise simple steak or fish dinner. Try my Cajun Spice Marinade recipe!
This is a really easy marinade to put together; make it up in advance and store in in a jar in the fridge so it's ready to use. You can make it in advance and store it in a jar in the fridge, so it's ready to use whenever you need it.
Recipe: Cajun Spice Marinade
Equipment
- Pestle and mortar
- Mixing bowl
- Storage Jar
Ingredients
- 2 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 2 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Oregano
- 3 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Ground black pepper
- 1 Garlic clove minced
- Sea salt I use pink Himalayan
Instructions
- Mix the Ingredients: Combine all the spices in a mixing bowl. Use a pestle and mortar to pound the ingredients until they become powdery and evenly distributed.
- Prepare the Marinade: Rub the mixture generously over your chosen meat or fish.
- Marinate: Allow the meat or fish to marinate for 2-3 hours if you can, but if you're in a hurry, 30 minutes will just about do it.
- Cook and Enjoy: Cook your marinated meat or fish as desired and enjoy the bold flavours of this Cajun spice marinade.
This Cajun Spice Marinade is a fantastic way to add a burst of flavour to your meals. Additionally, it’s simple to make and incredibly versatile. Make a batch and keep it in the fridge so you're always ready to elevate your dishes with a spicy kick.
Do you have a favourite marinade recipe? Share your thoughts and variations in the comments below! Moreover, don't forget to subscribe for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Enjoy spicing up your meals!
