Nuts can be so delicious, but you have to know what to do with them. With a few simple touches, you can make nuts taste better than ever before! Keep reading to learn how to make nuts taste better.
Nuts have so many applications and flavors there is bound to be a type of nut you can like, but what if you had a way to make all nuts taste better? Unlock endless flavor possibilities with these ideas of ways to make nuts taste better.
What are Nuts?
Nuts come from plants. Technically speaking, nuts are fruits with a hard shell and kernel or seed inside. There are tons of varieties of nuts used in cooking, and they all bring a wide variety of flavors to the table. Let’s learn about a few!
Common Varieties of Nuts
Peanuts
The peanut is groundnut. The flavor of peanuts is earthy, vegetable-like, sweet, and sometimes roasted.
Cashews
The cashew is a tree nut. Earthy, rich, and nutty cashews are similar to peanuts in flavor.
Almonds
Almonds are tree nuts. They have a flavor that ranges from sweet to bitter.
Walnuts
The walnut is a tree nut. Walnuts have a slightly bitter, earthy, and nutty flavor.
Pecans
Pecans are tree nuts. The flavor of pecans is sweet, buttery, and earthy.
Pistachios
Pistachios are tree nuts. Earthy, mild, and sweet are the flavors of pistachios.
How to Toast Nuts
It is essential to toast nuts to get the best flavor out of them. Almost all of these ideas are using toasted nuts. Here is a simple way to toast nuts.
In the Oven
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then arrange the nuts in a flat layer on the sheet. Bake; baking times will vary based on the type of nuts, and whether they are whole or not, generally baking will take from 6-10 minutes, but begin checking the nuts at 5 minutes.
How to Make Nuts Taste Better
With such a wide range of flavors and textures available, you can find a way to make nuts that you will love. Here are a few ideas to get you started on your quest to make nuts taste better.
Trail Mix
A classic for a reason, trail mix is an excellent way to make nuts taste better. You can build a blend and customize your snack, so it is a truly special treat! Throw together a blend of all your favorite nuts, then add in some dried fruit, candies, chocolate chips, or whatever fun flavor boosters you like.
Trail mix is so great because there is no wrong way to make it! The most iconic trail mix of all is G.O.R.P., “good old raisins and peanuts,” which may sound simple, but it tastes great on the go! If you want to hike on the wild side of the trail, mix peanuts, cashews, golden raisins, and white chocolate chips.
Top Your Yogurt
Yogurt can be a great breakfast or snack, and it’s even better with the addition of nuts! Nuts have a natural sweetness that comes out when toasted, so adding toasted nuts to yogurt is a tip you can really go nuts for! Pulse your toasted nuts into small bits, then toss them into plain or fruit-flavored yogurt. This trick works really well with almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, and other sweeter nuts.
Nut Butter
Nut butter is amazingly versatile and totally delicious. Everyone is familiar with peanut butter, but so many other nuts can produce great spreads. Nut butter can go on everything from apples to toast to baked goods, and it always tastes great!
The best part of nut butter is how easy it is to make. Take fully roasted nuts and put them in the food processor or high-speed blender. Process until the nuts reach a smooth and creamy texture, and that is all! It is an amazingly simple process to have a delicious homemade treat!
Granola
Nuts and oats are a perfect mix. They both have earthiness and sweetness that increases when toasted, and both ingredients are hearty and satisfying. Putting nuts in your granola is a great way to make the nuts taste better!
Granola is the one exception to the toasted nut rule because you will toast the nuts with the oats. Preheat an oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, toss together oats, honey, and almonds, then pour onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 6-10 minutes or until aromatic and golden brown.
Breading
The earthy and sometimes sweet flavor of nuts can be an excellent addition to fried foods. Almonds and peanuts are great for adding to the breading for any meat products. Pulse your toasted nuts in a food processor, then toss them into panko or other breadcrumbs and bread normally.
Are Nuts Low Carb?
Yes! Nuts are wonderfully protein-rich and low in carbs, so they are a common choice as a healthy snack.
Final Thoughts
Nuts are a wonderful light snack, and the options are endless when it comes to types of nuts. Find a few nuts you like and try out these fun ideas to make nuts taste better!
