Toasted Hazelnuts Recipes

TOASTED-HAZELNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. and grease a 9-inch springform pan.
• Rub hot toasted nuts in a kitchen towel to remove some of skins, then cool completely.
• Make cake:
• Pulse nuts, cake meal, and 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor until nuts are very finely chopped, being careful not to process to a paste.
• Beat yolks and 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until pale and very thick. Stir in zest.
• Beat whites with salt in another bowl with cleaned beaters on high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until whites just hold stiff, glossy peaks.
• In 3 batches, alternately fold nut mixture and whites into yolk mixture.
• Spoon batter into pan and smooth top.
• Bake cake in middle of oven until golden and a tester comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack 3 minutes, then loosen edge with a knife and remove side of pan. Cool completely. (Cake will sink slightly in center.)
• Glaze cake:
• Invert cake onto a rack set over a shallow baking pan. Carefully loosen bottom of pan and remove. Pour warm glaze over cake, allowing it to drip down sides, and spread to coat evenly. Chill until glaze is set, about 5 minutes.

CANDIED HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Heat sugar and water in a small saucepan over high heat, swirling, until sugar dissolves. Bring to a simmer, and cook, swirling occasionally, until medium amber, about 4 minutes. Add hazelnuts and salt, and stir for 1 minute to coat.
• Pour mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment or a nonstick baking mat, and immediately separate nuts using 2 forks so that each stands alone on sheet. (You can also hold the pan at an angle and push each hazelnut onto sheet individually. If caramel thickens as you work, return to heat briefly.) Let cool. Break apart.

HAZELNUT FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Whisk eggs, half-and-half, and hazelnut liqueur together in a shallow bowl.
• Melt 1 teaspoon butter in a large skillet, tilting the skillet to assure complete coverage.
• Dip 2 slices brioche in the egg mixture, moistening both sides.
• Cook brioche in the hot skillet until golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Repeat process until all bread is cooked.
• Cut each slice of brioche into half on a bias. Sprinkle hazelnuts over the halves and top with maple syrup.

TOASTED HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread the nuts out on a metal baking pan or a large sheet pan with ridges.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes or until they are very hot and fragrant.
• Carefully dump nuts into a dish towel which you've spread across the counter - a ridged dish towel or one with some sort of embroidery works well because it provides more friction.
• Bring the ends of the dish towel up around the still-hot hazelnuts and wrap them up like a present.
• Using your hands, rub them between the towel and the work surface so that the friction created by the rubbing loosens the skin.
• Discard the skins and enjoy the toasted hazelnuts whole or crush them for your favorite recipe.

ROASTED MUSHROOMS WITH TOASTED BUTTERY HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Heat a skillet large enough to hold the mushrooms in a single layer over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter, which should, ideally, melt quickly and turn a light brown color. Add the shallots, season with salt and pepper, and give them a quick stir. Add mushrooms, 1 more tablespoon of butter and season with a bit more salt. Cook for about 4 minutes until mushrooms begin to turn golden brown and release some of their water. To avoid a possible flame up, move pan away from the stove and carefully add the vermouth. Return pan to stove and let cook for 2 to 3 minutes to reduce the vermouth.
• While mushrooms are cooking melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small skillet over low heat. Add the hazelnuts and let them "simmer" in the butter over low heat until they turn light brown, about 4 minutes.
• Once the vermouth has reduced and been absorbed by the mushrooms sprinkle in the paprika (use a mesh strainer to evenly distribute the paprika over all the mushrooms). Add the lemon juice and hazelnuts and give it a stir. Remove from heat and let cool for 2 minutes.
• Top each slice of toasted French bread with about 2 tablespoons of the mushroom mixture, place on platter and serve.

ROASTED TROUT WITH HAZELNUT GREMOLATA

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the top third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• For the gremolata: In a small bowl, combine the parsley, hazelnuts, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest and the salt. Mix well to combine.
• In a medium bowl, toss together the mushrooms, squash, 1 tablespoon of the oil, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Spread the mixture on a rimmed baking sheet and roast for 12 minutes or until the squash is tender and beginning to brown. Remove the vegetables from the oven and preheat the broiler to high.
• Using a sharp knife, make 3 diagonal slashes on the skin side of each trout fillet. Season the fillets evenly with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and rub each one with 1/2 teaspoon of the oil.
• Place the fillets, skin side up, on top of the roasted vegetables. Broil for 8 to 9 minutes or until the skin is lightly browned and crisp and the flesh is cooked through but still moist.
• Place some of the vegetables on each serving plate and top with the fish. Serve topped with the gremolata.

BROWN-BUTTER SHRIMP WITH HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• In a 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium. Add hazelnuts and cook, stirring frequently, until the nuts smell toasty and are deep golden, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the nuts to a paper towel-lined plate. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add butter and shallot to the skillet, and cook, stirring, until shallots are golden and butter is browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic, then add shrimp. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until shrimp turn opaque and light golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and parsley.
• Transfer shrimp to a serving platter and spoon over any pan sauces. Top with the toasted hazelnuts and serve with crusty bread or over egg noodles.