May 1, 2008
Candy Walnuts for a Super Salad or Snack
We love doing something unexpected to a standard dish to make it rise above the norm and salads are no exception. We recently served a simple spring salad with sliced dates, a yellow heirloom tomato and goat cheese. The dressing was no more than a pear infused white balsamic (available at Whole Foods for about $3.50), salt, pepper, and a good olive oil. What elevated the salad was the final topping: candied walnuts.
Don't buy these pre-made. Make them at home to keep them fresh and tasty.
You'll need:
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 tsp of salt
1 cup of walnuts.
Put the sugar and salt into a heavy bottomed frying pan over low to low/med heat. After a few minutes, you'll see the sugar begin to melt and caramelize. Once fully melted and a nice light to medium brown, toss in the walnuts. Quickly stir until coated and then pour out on to parchment paper. Separate the nuts as well as you can with two forks (they will be extremely hot!). Once cool, you can break apart the larger pieces with your hands.
Sprinkle on your salad or snack away!
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amazing! I just had that exact dish last night...
OMG, me too! It's so good...
Nom nom nom.
I like to put a pinch of cayenne pepper in mine for a spicy kick. And maybe a touch more salt.
Nom nom nom!
PS jacy has been known to have a mini walnut-gasm over those things
EdKotch - Mmmm, candied walnuts are awesome. How'd you eat them?
The Meteorologist - Cayenne sounds fantastic. And yeah, the salt definitely adds a great flavor. I've been wanting to try a dessert with a salted caramel sauce. It sounds so good! And I laugh every time I read NOM NOM NOM.
Jacy and Amy - Dude, next time I have people over, I'm just going to candy the entire meal. Everything is better with a layer of sugar!
Which reminds me, I was supposed to send you a recipe for cold cauliflower soup, wasn't I?
lo siento
Dear Chuck,
You suck.
Rhymingly yours,
-L.
p.s. Except not really and pls to not be cannin' me.
I do the same thing with pecans... but doctor it a bit with some cayanne to get a nice sweet/spicy flavor.
I did have a walnut-gasm over them.
And Laura, yes, candy everything. Amy, candy your peach pie. (no. don't. nevermind.)
I have an old family recipe, similar to this, from a southern belle that is for pecans, butter, sugar and sherry.
I make them at during the winter holidays. You literally cannot stop eating them they are so good.
Hi, Ingrid! Sherry? Wow, that does sound good. I'm coming to your house for the holidays. :)
I swear, L.Stolpman, that if I knew where you lived, I would be like a secret santa and drop some off on your doorstep this Christmas :)
Ingrid - How about this...how about you come to the next Qu'est-ce que c'est dinner on me and then I'll hold you to owing me some of those awesome sounding pecans. :)