Hazelnuts are a versatile and delicious nut that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. Whether you’re a fan of Swiss or Italian chocolates, or you simply love the rich, buttery taste of hazelnuts, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this nut.
In this article, we’ll explore some creative and tasty ways to use fresh hazelnuts in your cooking and baking. From candied hazelnuts to hazelnut miso sauce, we’ve got you covered.
So grab a handful of fresh hazelnuts and let’s get started!
What To Do With Fresh Hazelnuts
1. Roast Them: One of the simplest and most delicious ways to enjoy fresh hazelnuts is by roasting them. Simply spread the nuts out on a baking sheet and roast them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. Once they’re done, let them cool completely before enjoying them as a snack or using them in your favorite recipes.
2. Make Candied Hazelnuts: Candied hazelnuts are a great way to add some sweetness and crunch to your baked goods or salads. To make them, roast your hazelnuts as described above, then cook them on the stovetop with brown sugar and cinnamon until they’re coated in a sweet candy coating.
3. Use Them in Pesto: Hazelnuts make a great substitute for pine nuts or walnuts in pesto. Simply blend fresh basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and roasted hazelnuts in a food processor until smooth. Use this delicious pesto as a sauce for pasta, as a spread on sandwiches, or as a dip for veggies.
4. Add Them to Baked Goods: Hazelnuts add a delicious nutty flavor and crunch to baked goods like cookies, cakes, and tarts. Try adding chopped hazelnuts to your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe or using them as a topping for your favorite fruit tart.
5. Make Hazelnut Butter: Just like peanut butter, hazelnut butter is a delicious spread that can be used on toast, in sandwiches, or as a dip for fruit and veggies. To make it, simply blend roasted hazelnuts in a food processor until they’re smooth and creamy.
6. Create Hazelnut Miso Sauce: This unique sauce is perfect for grilled meats or seafood. Simply blend roasted hazelnuts with miso paste, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and sesame oil until smooth. Use this flavorful sauce to dress up your favorite grilled dishes.
Roasting Hazelnuts For Snacking
Roasting hazelnuts is a great way to enhance their flavor and make them even more delicious for snacking. To roast hazelnuts for snacking, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spread the nuts out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast them for about 15 minutes, or until they are fragrant and lightly browned.
Once the hazelnuts are roasted, let them cool completely on the baking sheet before enjoying them as a snack. You can also add some flavor to the hazelnuts by mixing them with your favorite spices or a bit of butter or oil before roasting.
To remove the outer skin of the hazelnuts, you can use your hands to gently but firmly rub the nuts or wrap them in a dish towel and rub them together. This will help to remove any remaining skin and give the nuts a smoother texture.
Roasted hazelnuts make a great snack on their own, but you can also use them as a topping for yogurt, pancakes, ice cream, or even chocolate and vanilla cakes. They are also a great addition to trail mix or granola for an extra boost of flavor and nutrition.
To store roasted hazelnuts, place them in a medium-sized jar with a tight lid and store them in the freezer. They will stay fresh and delicious for several months, making them the perfect snack to have on hand whenever you need a quick and healthy pick-me-up.
Hazelnut Butter And Nutella
Hazelnut butter and Nutella are two delicious spreads that can be made using fresh hazelnuts. Hazelnut butter is a creamy and rich spread that can be enjoyed on toast, in oatmeals, or as part of a dessert recipe. It is super easy to make in a food processor and can be a great alternative to store-bought nut butter that often contains palm oil.
If you’re a fan of Nutella, you can make your own homemade version using roasted hazelnuts and real chocolate for the best flavor. Homemade chocolate hazelnut spread makes a great little gift idea! This is a great way to make chocolate hazelnut nut butter without palm oil. You can adjust the sweetness level to your liking and use it on toast, in baking, or as a topping for ice cream.
Making hazelnut butter at home is easy and requires just one simple ingredient: hazelnuts. Roast the hazelnuts in the oven for about 15 minutes, then blend them in a food processor until they become smooth and creamy. You can add a pinch of salt or sweetener if you prefer.
Hazelnut butter can be used in baking as a substitute for almond butter or oil in cookies or cakes. It has a runnier consistency than almond or cashew butter, so you may need to adjust the amount you use in your recipes. Roasted hazelnut butter will seriously bring your toast game to next level status!
Hazelnut-Crusted Fish Or Chicken
One delicious way to use fresh hazelnuts is to create a flavorful crust for your fish or chicken. The hazelnut crust adds a nutty flavor and a satisfying crunch to your dish. To make the crust, combine finely chopped blanched hazelnuts with fresh bread crumbs, garlic, parsley, lemon zest, and mayonnaise in a food processor. Pulse until the hazelnuts are finely chopped and similar in size to the bread crumbs.
Prepare your station by setting up three medium bowls: one with the hazelnut-bread crumb mixture, another with beaten egg and water, and the last with flour. Season your fish or chicken with salt and pepper, then coat each piece in flour until fully coated. Shake off excess flour, then dip into the egg mixture and coat in the hazelnut-bread crumb mixture.
Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add your coated fish or chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides. Serve the hazelnut-crusted fish or chicken with your favorite sides, such as zucchini noodles or sautéed potatoes. This dish is sure to impress your dinner guests with its unique flavor and texture.
Hazelnut-Crusted Goat Cheese Salad
If you’re looking for a unique and delicious salad recipe that incorporates fresh hazelnuts, try making a Hazelnut-Crusted Goat Cheese Salad. This salad combines the creaminess of goat cheese with the crunch of roasted hazelnuts for a perfect balance of flavors and textures.
To make this salad, start by roasting your hazelnuts in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. Once they’re done, let them cool and roughly chop them. Next, coat rounds of fresh goat cheese in flour, dip them in beaten eggs, and then coat them in a mixture of breadcrumbs and ground hazelnuts. Place the coated cheese rounds on a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
While the cheese is chilling, prepare your salad greens. Toss watercress and endive in a large bowl with a homemade vinaigrette made from vinegar, orange peel, orange juice concentrate, oil, salt, and pepper. Once the cheese is chilled, bake it in the oven until heated through and the coating is browned.
To assemble the salad, divide the dressed greens among four plates and top each plate with warm hazelnut-crusted goat cheese. This salad is perfect for a fancy dinner party or as a special lunchtime treat.
Candied Hazelnuts For Topping Desserts
Candied hazelnuts are a perfect addition to any dessert. They add a sweet and crunchy texture that complements the creaminess of ice cream or the richness of chocolate. To make candied hazelnuts for topping desserts, start by roasting your hazelnuts in the oven as described above. Once they’re roasted, cook them on the stovetop with brown sugar and cinnamon until they’re coated in a sweet candy coating.
To use candied hazelnuts as a dessert topping, simply chop them into small pieces and sprinkle them over your favorite desserts. They’re perfect for topping ice cream sundaes, cheesecakes, or even fruit pies. You can also use them as a garnish for cupcakes or brownies.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also try making caramelized hazelnuts for an even more decadent dessert topping. To make caramelized hazelnuts, cook your hazelnuts with sugar and water until the sugar turns into a caramel sauce. Then, spread the hazelnuts out on a baking sheet to cool and harden. Once they’re cooled, chop them into small pieces and use them to top your favorite desserts.
No matter how you choose to use them, candied hazelnuts are a delicious and versatile ingredient that will add a special touch to any dessert.
Hazelnut Miso Sauce For Savory Dishes
If you’re looking for a savory and flavorful way to use fresh hazelnuts, try making a hazelnut miso sauce. This sauce is perfect for dressing up grilled meats or seafood and adding a unique twist to your favorite dishes.
To make the sauce, start by roasting your hazelnuts in the oven as described above. Once they’re cooled, blend them in a food processor with miso paste, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and sesame oil until smooth. The result is a rich and nutty sauce with a hint of sweetness and umami flavor from the miso paste.
This hazelnut miso sauce pairs perfectly with grilled chicken or fish, or you can use it as a dipping sauce for vegetables or tofu. It’s also a great way to add some depth of flavor to stir-fries or noodle dishes.
Overall, hazelnut miso sauce is a delicious and creative way to use fresh hazelnuts in your cooking. Give it a try and see how it can elevate your favorite dishes to the next level.