In December, the desire for panettone, pandoro, and Christmas is strong. But underneath, actually, under the stomach , that craving for dried fruit is also felt strongly, which more than ever in this period attracts us at the moment in which, now exhausted and full, we are preparing to finish the lunch or dinner of the day.
But, you know, everything in this life is better if fried toasted. So, we are gathered here today for understand how to toast nuts in shells.
Types of dried fruit
First of all, let's start by saying that dried fruit can be consumed year-round. In fact, it should be. Yes, because it's rich in minerals, fiber, vitamins, unsaturated fats, and so many other benefits that even listing them would make you yawn.
There are two types of dried fruit, the one that interests us (with shell) and the one that doesn't interest us (pulpy). Jokes aside, the first is fatty, rich in unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (but low in sugar) and includes walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, peanuts, chestnuts, pistachios, and coconuts; the second, on the other hand, is carbohydrate-rich (so the opposite) and dehydrated. Obviously, nuts will end up in the pan and oven.
To toast nuts, you'll need a nonstick pan, parchment paper, a wooden spoon, a baking sheet, and, while you're at it, an oven. These tools aren't meant to be used all at once, but rather one or more at a time, depending on the type of fruit you're toasting.
Roasting dried fruit: a general rule
To toast dried fruit you need a non-stick pan, baking paper, a wooden spoon, of a baking tray And while we're at it, an oven. These aren't tools you can use all at once, but one or more at a time, depending on the type of fruit you want to toast.
Toast the walnuts
To toast walnuts, you can use a pan or the oven. If you're using a pan, remember to heat a nonstick pan. If you're using the oven, place them side by side on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 150°C (300°F) for five to ten minutes. Trust your instincts to determine when they're ready.
Toast the hazelnuts
In this case, using the oven is recommended. Arrange the hazelnuts in a traditional baking pan with foil, or alternatively, in a roasting pan . Make sure they don't overlap: this will ensure even heat distribution. Preheat the oven to 170°C (340°F) for ten minutes before use. Insert the baking pan and leave it there for about twenty minutes, turning the hazelnuts occasionally. After this time, turn off the oven but leave the pan in for another fifteen minutes to finish toasting. When they're lukewarm, remove them from the oven.
Toast the pistachios
Here, it's up to you to decide whether to use the oven or the pan. If using the pan, we recommend simply preheating it and turning the pistachios frequently as they cook for five to ten minutes. The oven method, however, isn't much different from those described above: use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and set the oven to 180°C on high grill.
Toast the almonds
For toasting almonds, you can read what we wrote about hazelnuts. Repeating the same instructions twice isn't good for SEO. However, keep in mind that almonds require more attention: the oven should be set to 150°C (300°F), but you'll need to stir them every five minutes. You can also consider peeling them first: boil them for three minutes, drain, dry, and peel them off. This will improve the cooking process.
Toast the pine nuts
For the pine nuts, we recommend using a nonstick pan. Heat over medium heat and use a spoon to stir and stir until they turn amber. Then, place them on a sheet of parchment paper and let them cool. If you notice any darker pine nuts, you can remove them, as they will be very bitter.
Tasty ideas on how to toast nuts in their shells
Let's be clear: this section is called that because we won't be giving you recipes, but ideas. If you want, you can send us the detailed recipes yourself: do you know where to find us on social media? We prefer Instagram And Facebook, but we are also on Pinterest.
And since we trust our readers and their cooking skills, we've created something more than just ordinary, but rather something truly delicious. Let's start with cakes: you could make various types, with toasted almonds and chocolate, or with chocolate and pink peppercorn (this one also comes in a tart version); then you could indulge in baci di dama (lady kisses), cocoa biscuits, and toasted hazelnuts. By the way, have you checked out our Christmas cookie recipe yet?
And… that's it, we've already had our fill!
