Recipe - Simple Homemade Almond Butter

This very simple recipe is a great way to add some healthy fats and protein to your diet. Makes a tasty  nutritionally balanced snack on whole-grain bread, or as a dip for veggies or fruit such as bananas and apples. And you'll know it only has the good stuff, since you made it yourself!

Simple Almond Butter

Almonds (Photo credit: Shelby PDX)

Ingredients:
2 cups raw almonds
2 teaspoons of olive oil (more or less for texture)

Directions:

1. Place the almonds on a baking sheet in a 350 degree oven and roast for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring them once or twice during that time.  Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature.
2. Put 1/2 cup of the almonds in your food processor and pulse to break them up. (You can save a bit of time by chopping the almonds up a little by hand before putting them in the food processor. You can do this on a cutting board with a large knife or by putting the nuts in a ziplock bag and hitting with a rolling pin or sturdy heavy-bottomed pan.)
3. Drizzle in a bit of the oil and turn processor on and let it run for a minute, stopping to scrape down the sides a few times. A ball will begin to form. Stop the processor and use a fork to break the ball apart.  Then, start the processor again.
4. Add more nuts, then more olive oil, and keep repeating the process.  Keep drizzling in oil until you get a consistency you like.  Also, the longer you process the nuts, the creamy the mixture will get.
5. Store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator - will keep for several weeks.
6. You can add salt or other flavorings if you like.

What You'll Need For This Recipe: