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Extra Ingredients

What are nuts?

Nuts are the hard-shelled fruits of some plants. They are typically high in fat and protein, and are often used as a source of food. Examples of nuts include almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, and hazelnuts. Some seeds, such as pumpkin and sunflower seeds, are also commonly referred to as nuts.

cooking with nuts

What are the different varieties of nut?

There are many different varieties of nuts, including:

  • Almonds: These are the edible seeds of the almond tree, and are often used in cooking and baking.
  • Walnuts: These are the edible seeds of the walnut tree, and are often used in cooking and baking, as well as in making oil.
  • Pecans: These are the edible seeds of the pecan tree, and are often used in cooking and baking, as well as in making oil.
  • Pistachios: These are the edible seeds of the pistachio tree, and are often used in cooking and baking, as well as eaten as a snack.
  • Hazelnuts: These are the edible nuts of the hazel tree, and are often used in cooking and baking, as well as in making Nutella.
  • Macadamia nuts: These are the edible seeds of the macadamia tree, and are often eaten raw or roasted as a snack.
  • Brazil nuts: These are the edible seeds of the Brazil nut tree, and are often eaten raw or roasted as a snack.
  • Cashews: These are the edible seeds of the cashew tree, and are often used in cooking and baking, or eaten raw as a snack.
  • Pine nuts: These are edible seeds of certain species of pine tree and widely used in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine, also known as Pinoli
  • Peanuts: Even though these are not actually nuts, but legumes and are often used in cooking, baking, and as a snack.

This is not an exhaustive list, as there are many other varieties of nuts from around the world, some of them are less common and harder to find.

How do you use nuts in cooking?

Nuts can be used in a variety of ways in cooking, depending on the type of nut and the dish being prepared. Some common ways to use nuts in cooking include:

  • Chopping or grinding: Nuts can be chopped or ground and added to baked goods like cakes, cookies, and breads for extra flavor and texture.
  • Toasting: Toasting can bring out the flavor of nuts and make them crispy. This is a common method for using nuts as toppings for salads, oatmeal, and other dishes.
  • As a crust: Nuts can be used to make a crust for pies, tarts, and cheesecakes by crushing them and mixing them with butter and sugar.
  • As a spread: Nut butter like peanut butter, almond butter or hazelnut butter can be used as spreads on toast, sandwiches, or crackers, as well as an ingredient in various recipes such as cakes, cookies and smoothies.
  • In sauces and dressings: Nuts can be blended into sauces and dressings to add creaminess and flavor. A classic example is Pesto sauce made with basil, pine nuts, parmesan cheese and olive oil.
  • As garnish: Whole or chopped nuts can be used as a garnish for dishes such as roasted vegetables, curries, and soups for added texture and flavor.
  • As a snack: Many types of nuts are also enjoyed simply as a snack, either on their own or combined with sweet or savory ingredients.

Overall, nuts can be a versatile ingredient in cooking and can be used in sweet or savory dishes and can add some nutritional value as well.

What are some good dishes to make with nuts?

There are many delicious dishes that can be made with nuts, here are a few examples:

  • Pesto sauce: a classic sauce made from basil, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and pine nuts. It can be served with pasta, fish, chicken or vegetables.
  • Salad with a nut topping: A salad with greens such as spinach or arugula, topped with toasted nuts such as almonds, walnuts or pecans and served with a vinaigrette.
  • Granola: A breakfast dish made of rolled oats, nuts, and honey or maple syrup, often mixed with dried fruits or seeds, and can be eaten with yogurt or milk.
  • Nutella: A spread made of hazelnuts, cocoa powder, sugar, and oil, which is popular on bread or pastries.
  • Baklava: a sweet pastry made of layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts, such as pistachios, walnuts or almonds and sweetened with honey or syrup.
  • Almond or pecan-crusted fish or chicken: Meat is coated in a mixture of ground nuts, breadcrumbs and seasoning before baking or sautéing.
  • Spicy peanut sauce noodles: rice noodles or spaghetti cooked and then mixed with a spicy and sweet peanut sauce, made with ground peanuts, chili flakes, soy sauce, brown sugar and other seasonings, and can be served with vegetables and protein.
  • Macaron: a French cookie that is often made with ground almonds, and come in a variety of flavors and colors.
  • Tarte tatin: a classic French caramelized apple tart, that can be made with a crust of nuts and butter, it can be made with almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts,

These are just a few examples of dishes that can be made with nuts, but there are many more options available, and you can always get creative and experiment with different types of nuts and preparation methods.

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