Europe, which learned about them from the
Arabs, almond milks and creams were both
luxurious ingredients and dairy substitutes for
fasting days. Today, the most common seed
milk is made from coconuts, but it can be
made from any oil-rich nut and from soybeans
(p. 494).
Argan Oil
An unusual nut known in the West almost
exclusively for its oil is argan, the seed of
a drought-tolerant tree native to Morocco
(Argania spinosa, a relative of the chicle
and miracle fruit trees). The almond-like
nuts are removed from their fruits (a
process formerly assigned to goats, which
eat the fruits and excrete the nuts), shelled
and roasted, then ground and pressed.
Argan oil has a distinctive, almost meaty
aroma.
Modern cooks can use nut milks to make
rich and delicious ices, and to enrich sauces