Add almonds for flavor, crunch

Family Features

Winter foods typically mean one thing – comfort. Regardless of climate or geographic location, we crave the root vegetables and braised meats that complement the season and keep us full and warm. Luckily, almonds in all their forms guarantee these dishes taste as indulgent and delicious as the very foods we crave.

Chef Anthony Rose of the Drake Hotel in Toronto is a pro at using seasonal foods and almonds to create comforting, delicious and unexpected dishes. Rose’s wintry creations take the best of what the season has to offer and adds the distinct crunch and flavor of almonds.

“I love the rich, buttery flavor and crunch of toasted almonds. They make the perfect addition to any dish, whether a starter, main course or even in desserts and cocktails,” Rose says.

“Braised dishes and winter salads always benefit from the unrivaled crunch almonds can provide.”

Chef Rose’s winter recipes, such as roasted beets in a tangy mustard-almond vinaigrette and braised pork shoulder with an apple-almond compote, create an entire menu that balances seasonal ingredients with zesty flavors and the crunch of almonds. But it’s his Almond-Crusted Pumpkin Fritters that lend a colorful, festive and crunchy start to any cozy gathering.

Visit www.AlmondBoard.com for more recipes by Chef Anthony Rose and the Almond Innovator team, Jenny McCoy, pastry chef of Craft in New York City, and Matthew Biancaniello, mixologist of the Library Bar in Los Angeles.