Did you know that the best nuts are those not yet ripened harvested in September, when the green hull covering them is still fresh and hasn’t completely detached?
They are only this good for a few weeks, so make the most of it.
If you love walnuts, why not pick them yourself and then let them dry naturally.
You will notice that the taste is different from those already shelled in bags and have a very different taste to what we are used to when they are not yet ripe too.
Walnuts hold many attributes, and today we want to talk about the most common walnut, the ones picked in the woods and found at our trusted greengrocer.
You should know that they are rich in properties and are good for the heart because they contain good fats that fight cholesterol. All nutritionists recommend nibbling a handful of nuts every day particularly when you have a drop in sugar levels or simply need a snack as they are an excellent source of energy that help the body recharge itself, like all dried fruit.
We want to share 10 tasty, quick and easy to prepare finger food recipes with nuts.
Nut bites
Finger food that is prepared in just a few minutes, with just two ingredients. Simply take a whole shelled walnut and divide it perfectly in half, then top it with a teaspoon of mascarpone or gorgonzola. They can be eaten like sweets.
Walnut and pears
This is a delicious appetizer which can also become a dessert. Cut the pears into cubes and put on each one a piece of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and a walnut. If you want, add a drizzle of honey.
Walnuts and celery
This is a famous finger food are often found on buffet tables. Simply cut a celery stalk into small pieces and fill the inside with a mascarpone and gorgonzola cream. The final touch is the walnut.
Walnuts with truffles
These are the classic cheese balls that once you’ve eaten one you can’t stop. They are prepared by mixing 4 oz of ricotta cheese with 2 oz of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and 2 oz of goat cheese and then, once a ball is formed, roll and cover them with nut grains.
Spirals with walnuts
A lovely finger food this one. Just roll out long slices of pancarrè with a rolling pin and fill them with a cream of chopped walnuts with mascarpone cheese and complete with speck and rocket. Roll everything up, let it cool in the fridge and then cut into slices.
Stuffed figs
A typical finger food based on figs and nuts. It is prepared by cutting figs in half and filling them with sheep ricotta cheese, a drizzle of honey and a walnut. It can also become a dessert.
Walnuts and marzipan
As in the recipe for walnut and gorgonzola bites, top the walnuts with almond paste (marzipan) and then drown them in melted chocolate before letting them cool in the fridge for a few hours.
Greek yogurt mousse
The ideal small single glass portion dessert. It’s prepared by gently mixing whipped cream with the same amount of Greek yogurt, which is then added to plenty of liquid honey and decorated with walnuts, according to the best Hellenic tradition.
Quick Brownies
This is a simplified recipe for the classic American chocolate dessert. Simply mix 10 oz of hazelnut cream with two eggs and about 3 oz of sifted flour. Pour the mixture into a buttered baking dish and decorate the surface with nuts. Bake at 180° for 10-15 minutes.
Dried fruit cake
This cake is prepared with just three ingredients: dried fruit, sugar and eggs. Simply toast 9 oz of dried fruit including walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds and then chop everything coarsely. Separately whip 4 egg yolks with 6 oz of sugar and then the egg whites in another container. Mix everything very gently and cook in the oven at 180° for about 35 minutes.