British Almond Soup

Almonds use to be a great feature of British cookery, where they were toasted as a garnish and flavouring for green beans, or pounded, as a thickener for sauces or to lighten cakes and puddings. This soup is served either hot or chilled.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 4  ounces  ground almonds
• 10  fluid ounces milk
• 2  tablespoons  fresh white breadcrumbs
• 1  ounce butter
• 1  ounce plain flour
• 2  pints  chicken stock
•  salt
•  cayenne pepper
•  ground mace
• 10  fluid ounces  single cream
• 3  slivered almonds
• 1  tablespoon butter

Directions

1. Put the ground almonds with the milk in a small saucepan and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Add the crumbs and simmer for 3 minutes more, then liquidise or rub to a purée with a spoon.
2. In a large pan, melt the butter, add the flour and stir it in then stir in the almond purée. Gradually add the stock and when you have a smooth soup, season with salt, cayenne pepper and ground mace.
3. Simmer slowly for 10 minutes and then remove from the heat and stir in the cream. Heat through gently.
4. Meanwhile fry the slivered almonds to a golden brown in the tablespoon of butter and scatter them on the soup just before serving.