Top 6 Nuts You Need to Celebrate the Festive Season

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..."

is one of the most common refrains during the traditional Christmas holidays. Times are changing but taste lives on. When it comes to nuts during the festive season there are perennial favourites. Find out more about the most popular holiday nuts.

Why do we reach for the nuts during festivities?

They are a quick and easy snack. Whether you are in the holiday mood and saving yourself for the big meals, or Christmas punch is stronger than anticipated, you can reach for the nuts. Nuts are compact as well as convenient while providing a nutritious snack. They add to the festive ambience resting in a decorative container made readily available for guests. Nuts were first used as decorations for Christmas trees, as they were supposed to bring good luck.

1. Sweet Chestnuts

The smell of chestnuts, (c. sativia) roasting brings back fond of memories of my youth in London. There were a few peanut vendors in the local park who would sell chestnuts during the holiday season.

As a teenager it seemed so easy to just buy the raw chestnuts and roast them myself. In hindsight, a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. The resulting explosion blew the oven door open and splattered chestnuts all over the place. No one told me you have to pierce them before you roast them. So I am telling you.

2. Walnuts

When we eat the seed inside the pit instead of the fruit we are eating the drupe. The walnut falls into this category.

In Victorian times it was customary to open walnut shells and extract the nut inside then to replace it with a small gift. The shell was glued back together, wrapped in gold foil, and hung on the upper branches of Christmas trees.

According to ancient medicine, as promoted in the Doctrine of Signatures, the outward appearance of a thing bears a relationship to the what that thing can do for you. Therefore, because the walnut resembled a human brain, it was thought to be beneficial in treating maladies of the brain. Modern science is now finding that there may be some truth to the effectiveness of walnuts in brain health.

3. Hazelnuts

Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana), a member of the birch family, are a firm favourite any time of the year. They are also called filberts or cobnuts. This nut blends well with many fruits and chocolate, which is why it often found in chocolate bars and used in Italian sweet spreads. The indigenous peoples in North America used to roast and eat hazelnuts. These nuts should be kept refrigerated as their freshness will not last as long because of their high fat content.

4. Almonds

Almonds are a hands down favourite. The milk from these nuts have become a popular substitute for dairy milk. During the holiday season, marzipan made from almonds is shaped into fruits, and also used as a cake layer. If you have never tried the German Stollen or Christstollen bread, this will be a good time to try, it is loaded with almonds.

5. Brazil Nuts

The Brazil nut (Lecythidaceae), originates from a tree found in the rain forest. Brazil nuts have a high selenium content and so a few nuts per day are recommended to maintain optimal balance in the body.

6. Pecans

These nuts are native to North America and often used in festive holiday deserts such as Pecan pie, and tarts. Pecans have a high fibre content so a few will go a long way. Don’t forget the candied pecans, whether you like them salty or sweet, there are many recipes to be found on the internet.

All of the above listed nuts, make great snacks, toppings for salad or desserts. For a personal touch you can even create fabulous gifts from your kitchen with candied nuts in a decorated jar.

Enjoy the season, and go nuts!

Note: Allergies to nuts can cause life threatening reactions so be safe.

Which are your favourite nuts and how do you use them? Let us know in the comments below.