Soaked almonds, also known as activated almonds have been enjoyed by most Middle Eastern people since ancient times. Soaking almonds is a healthy snack filled with natural protein that you can enjoy any time of the day.
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What Are Soaked Almonds?
Soaked almonds are almonds that have been submerged in water for a certain period, usually overnight.
This soaking process helps to soften the almonds, making them easier to chew and digest.
Soaked almonds are commonly consumed as a healthy snack or used in various recipes such as meghli, a Lebanese spiced pudding.
Soaking almonds is second nature to me, I’ve been eating them since childhood. But a word of warning - they are addictive!
If you ever visit a Middle Eastern restaurant or club, more than likely this will be served to you as part of an appetizer or snack.
Sometimes soaked almonds feature as part of a mezze.
Anytime I have served my non-Arab guests activated almonds, the question always raised is “How do you make your almonds like this?” So it’s time for me to share.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- They are soft & easy to eat and digest
- A super healthy and nutritious cold snack that is naturally filled with protein
- Ridiculously simple to prepare
- Stores well in the fridge
- Naturally vegan and gluten free
Ingredients You’ll Need
Notes on some of the ingredients, the full list of ingredients and their measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Almonds - only use natural whole almonds. Do not use pre-cooked or flavored almonds.
Try and seek out the freshest natural and organic almonds (affiliate link) to yield the best result.
Why go organic vs conventional? To avoid pesticides, added nasties and other chemicals.
Water - use filtered room temperature water.
How to Soak Almonds
Step 1 - Add almonds (affiliate link) to a soaking container.
Step 2 - Add water, ensure all almonds are completely covered in at least double the amount of water. Seal well and store in the refrigerator overnight at a minimum, any less than this the almonds will not be soft.
Step 3 - Scoop out desired portion and drain of water. Serve cold. These can be stored for up to 7 days, see tips below for how to keep them fresh.
Pro Tips
Change water daily, as it will turn murky due to the almond skins. Daily water changes keep the almonds fresh.
If you forget to change the water one day, simply drain the water, rinse the almonds and top up with fresh water.
Ensure the almond-to-water ratio is 2:1, as the almonds will swell when soaked and need to be fully submerged.
The skin of soaked almonds will easily come off. Activated almond skins can be eaten too.
How Long Can You Keep Soaked Almonds in The Fridge?
Store the almonds soaked in water covered in the fridge for up to 7 days, if they last that long!
Covering the soaking almonds is important as it stops the water from absorbing unwanted odors that may be present in the fridge along with preserving their natural flavors.
Additionally, covering food prevents cross-contamination. It helps to safeguard against the spread of bacteria and other microorganisms from one food to another.
Use either a snap-lock container or a glass bowl sealed with cling wrap.
Do Soaked Almonds Go Bad?
Yes, soaked almonds can go bad.
Fresh soaked almonds are firm yet soft to eat and they hold their shape well.
At the 5-7 day mark of the almonds being submerged in water, they will start to become soggy and the water will turn murkier quickly.
Soggy almonds have a mushy exterior and will fall apart easily. At this point, it is best to discard them.
Soaked Almond Benefits
Whilst there is conflicting information about soaked almond benefits, here are a couple of benefits with a link to the source.
Soaking almonds are much easier to digest, helping the digestive system absorb all its essential nutrients.
A study published in the Journal of Food Science (1), found that eating raw, soaked almonds helped empty the stomach faster and also made digesting proteins easier.
Eating almonds this way deactivates the enzyme inhibiting compound (found on the skin of the almond) and initiates the release of an essential lipase, that helps in the proper breakdown of fat; improving digestion and absorption of nutrients.
This is why they are called activated almonds. Sampath, P., 2021. 6 reasons eating soaked almonds are great for your health | TheHealthSite.com. [online] Thehealthsite.com. Available at: <https://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/health-benefits-of-soaked-almonds-187740/6/> [Accessed 11 May 2021].
How To Eat Soaked Almonds?
Soaked almonds can be enjoyed plain, almonds are naturally mildly sweet.
Add a splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice for a citrus flavor - I love this!
A sprinkle of salt if desired - though we Lebanese do not usually do this
More Healthy Snack Recipes
If you like this recipe, you will also love my soaked lupini beans, another snack I grew up on that I love.
Looking for more vegan almond recipes? Try my healthy crunchy nuts clusters, they are so addictive!
Or another healthy snack is roasted pumpkin seeds without oil.
Did you make this? I'd love to know! Leave me a comment below with a ★★★★★ rating or tag @plantbasedfolk on social media.
Soaked Almonds (Activated Almonds)
Instructions
- Add almonds in the soaking container.1 cup Natural almonds
- Add water, ensure all almonds are completely covered. Seal well and store in the refrigerator overnight at minimum.2 cups Water
- Scoop out desired portion and drain of water. Serve cold. See notes for how long these can keep in the fridge.
Video
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
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Sylvia
We heard about soaking almonds, but were not sure how to do it so this site was an excellent help.
Janelle Hama
Glad to be of help! It's great to hear I was able to assist you. Enjoy your delicious, soaked almonds! 🙂
Angel
added these to the meghli recipe of yours and snacking on these too. please keep sharing your recipes, I'm glad I found your food. Thanks alot