Moroccan Almond Milkshake with Orange Flower Water

Almond milkshakes are very popular in Morocco, especially during Ramadan, when we are likely to serve them during the break from fasting. A little orange blossom water gives this almond smoothie its classic flavor. I like to serve it frozen.

The recipe calls for whole blanched almonds or almond flour. If you only have whole raw almonds on hand, plan to blanch and peel them ahead of time. This is actually a good thing, as the fresher the blanched almonds are, the more flavor they will add to your almond milkshake.

Blanch and peel the almonds

Blanching and peeling almonds is easy and won't take long for the small amount needed for the almond smoothie. You can do this by dropping the almonds into boiling water for a minute or two, draining them, then pinching the hot almonds between your thumb and first two fingers to squeeze out the skin.

Remove the skin from the peeled almonds while they are still hot. Photo: Christine Benlafquih | Flavor of Morocco

That's all! The peeled almonds are ready to be used in the almond smoothie. If you don't need them right away, be sure to let them dry completely before covering and storing them in the refrigerator.

Prepare the Almond Milkshake

The actual mixing of the almond milkshake takes only a few minutes and is best done just before serving. This is because the chopped almonds will settle to the bottom of the glass over time. If this happens, simply mix with a spoon at the table or quickly blend it again in the blender.

I include almond extract or flavoring as an optional ingredient. I don't personally use it because Morocco's native almonds have a lot of flavor, but if you feel like your smoothie is missing something, a drop or two of extract will probably give your almond milkshake the boost it needs.

I've seen recipes for Moroccan almond milkshakes that call for a little chopped mastic. It's not something I'm inclined to include myself, but you could try it.

Moroccan almond milkshake recipe

Christine Benlafquih | Flavor of Morocco

This easy and healthy almond smoothie is a Moroccan favorite during Ramadan. A little orange blossom water gives it the traditional flavor.

Preparation time 10 minutes min

Time to cook 0 minutes min

Total time 10 minutes min

Course Drinks

Kitchen Moroccan

Product 2 portions

Calories 319 kcal

Cooking modePrevents the screen from going dark

Optional

• 1 drip almond extract or flavouring
• 3 drops mastic gum – crushed into powder with 1/4 teaspoon sugar

• If you use whole blanched almonds: Place the peeled almonds in a blender and blend them until they become a fine powder. If you use almond flour: Simply add the meal to the blender and move on to the next step.

• Add milk, sugar (or honey) to taste and orange blossom water. Fold on high speed to mix well.

• If desired, add ice cubes while the blender is running to cool the drink even further. Continue processing until the ice has been completely incorporated into the milkshake.

• Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

• Mastic is optional but is a traditional ingredient in some recipes. Use the back of a spoon to powder the kernels with 1/4 teaspoon sugar before adding them to the milk.
• Ground almonds tend to settle to the bottom of the glass if the drink sits too long. If this happens at the table, simply mix with a spoon before drinking.
• If you want to prepare the almond milkshake in advance, leave it in the blender jug ​​in the refrigerator so you can blend it again just before serving.
• Use 100% pure orange blossom water for best results. You can omit it if you don't care.
• If your almond milkshake is lacking a little flavor, add a drop of almond extract to give it a boost.
• You can vary the almond milkshake by adding some fresh avocado or dried fruit such as dates, figs or raisins. Delicious and extra healthy!

Serving: 1glassCalories: 319kcalCarbohydrates: 21GProtein: 12GFat: 22GSaturated fats: 5GCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 85mgPotassium: 448mgFiber: 3GSugar: 17GVitamin A: 296UISoccer: 281mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate obtained from online calculators. Optional ingredients may not be included in nutritional information.