7 Holiday Spiced Nuts Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are the traditional Christmas nuts? ›

Walnuts, with their rich, buttery flavour, are a must-have. Hazelnuts, too, are popular, bringing a sweet, mellow taste that's perfect for festive recipes. Almonds add a delightful crunch to our Christmas cakes, while Brazil nuts offer a decadent treat, especially when covered in chocolate!

To get the spices to stick to the nuts, use egg whites, butter, coconut oil, olive oil or blanch the nuts in boiling water. Some recipes call for nuts to be fried in oil prior to seasoning, but this adds unnecessary fat – you can make them just a delicious without all the extra calories.

When it comes to holiday nuts, roasted almonds reign supreme, offering a timeless appeal. Their toasty aroma and delightfully crunchy texture create an irresistible combination. Whether enjoyed by themselves or used in savory dishes, these versatile nuts provide a comforting and satisfying experience.

Spiced nuts freeze well and thaw quickly, so keep some on hand for last minute gatherings. To freeze, put them on a parchment-lined baking sheet in one layer and place in the freezer. Once they harden, transfer them to an airtight container.

North American crooners sing of “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” and nuts have long been used as edible decorations on Christmas trees.

- Put the salted nuts into a fine mesh strainer or colander. This will allow water to flow through and rinse off the salt. - Rinse the nuts thoroughly under cold running water. You can use your hands to gently toss and stir the nuts to ensure that all surfaces are washed.

Common nutmeg

The spice has a distinctive pungent fragrance and a warm, slightly sweet taste; it is used to flavor many kinds of baked goods, confections, puddings, potatoes, meats, sausages, sauces, vegetables, and such beverages as eggnog.

The salt helps activate enzymes that de-activate the enzyme inhibitors. For grains, we soak in an acidic solution to get rid of phytic acid. Nuts do not contain much phytic acid but do contain high levels of enzyme inhibitors.

Brazil nuts, cashews and macadamia nuts are higher in saturated fat. Too much of this can contribute to raised cholesterol levels, so only eat them occasionally. Chestnuts are an exception – they're lower in all types of fats and higher in starchy carbohydrate than other nuts.

What is the most luxurious nut? ›

Macadamia in Demand – they're simply the best

It's one of the most sought-after nuts across the world, especially by discerning gourmands. And it can often be twice as expensive as other tree nuts, but why?

Stuffing – Add some crunch to your stuffing mix with nuts such as walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts and hazelnuts, and perhaps the sweet touch of cranberries or currants. Go Nuts with your Turkey – There are many ways to add some nuts to your turkey aside from the stuffing.

Whole raw nuts can be stored in the freezer for up to one year. Chopped nuts, ground nuts, or nut flours — all of which contain more surface area for oxidation — are quicker to spoil and should only be stored for up to six months.

“If a nut is really oxidized, I guarantee you you're not going to get it past your mouth because it just tastes so awful,” says Schaich. But if you do, for some reason, eating the occasional spoiled nut is “no big deal,” because we have enzymes in our stomachs that can essentially incinerate the oxidation byproducts.

Nuts with higher fat content, like walnuts and pecans can also go rancid after a few months if stored at too warm a temperature. If you notice that your nuts have taken on a noticeably bitter, sour flavor, they may have entered this unfortunate phase.

Pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, and pistachios are easy to crack and are plentiful this time of year. While a bit more challenging to crack, Brazil nuts provide a nutritious snack.

Rice porridge is known all around the world, but the custom of eating it over Christmas with a whole almond in it comes from Scandinavia. In Sweden and Finland, getting the almond means good luck in the following year.

In the Victorian era, Christmas trees were commonly decorated with fruits, raisins, paper chains and popcorn. But gilded, or golden, walnuts were the real star of the tree. During the holiday season, in-shell walnuts were decorated in gold foil and tied with a red ribbon and hung in the tree.