Walnut recipes

[frenchfancy]

Autumn is here and the walnuts from our tree are littering the garden. I collect them every year then don't get around to using them. Anyone got any good recipes?

Waldorf salad.

Coffee and walnut cake

Where do you live that has a walnut tree?

We have a walnut tree too and have managed to have a squirrelless year so far.... there's obviously a tastier walnut tree somewhere nearby which they've all disappeared off to!
My family loves this walnut tart www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2601647/walnut-caramel-tart

I put walnuts (toasted) in pasta dishes.
Tuna, lemon juice, zest and sprinkle over crushed walnuts as you would Parmesan cheese.
Or Gorgonzola and cream cheese (mascarpone) mixed to a coating consistency with a few spoons of the pasta cooking water with walnuts stirred through. This one’s on the menu for Sunday lunch.

Walnut caramel tart sounds lovely. Do you do anything to the walnuts before you put them in the tart or do you just shell them?

@bluetrampolines We and in the Vendee, France. Walnut trees grow like weeds here.

I have never seen a squirrel in our garden, I think because we are surrounded by farm land. The dog likes to eat them though.

It sounds so very exotic.

Or make your own Sugo alle Noci to use just like pesto (yum). A lot of shop bought versions are made with margarine so this might be an epiphany.
www.allrecipes.com/recipe/223028/salsa-di-noci/

Oh yes - that is what I made last year! I forgot all about it because the kids didn't like it - but I did :)

I love walnuts, they are really under-rated.
My favourite ways to use them:
In granola/on cereal
Sprinkled on greek yogurt with honey drizzled over
Nut roast /nut burgers
Leek or mushroom risotto with walnuts sprinkled over
Blue cheese, spinach and walnut pasta
As a snack with some raisins or dried figs
Baked aubergines stuffed with walnuts and cheese
Chicken, apple, celery and walnut salad
Choc chip and walnut cookies

What about making sodabread with walnuts? Served warm with local cheese (goat’s cheese in the Vendée?) would be amazing.
I’m on a low carb diet so this thread is doing me no good at all!

We have a place that makes goats cheese in our village. The fresh one is delish . Anyone have a recipe for soda bread with walnuts?

@sealsong do you toast the walnuts first or just put them straight on the granola/yoghurt?

Pesto made with toasted walnuts and spinach instead of pine nuts and basil is really tasty and can be frozen.
Toast walnuts and mix into a fifty fifty mix of 85% dark choc and milk choc melted and then dollop teaspoons onto a baking sheet and set in the fridge for delicious chocolate snack.

I love walnuts. Delia’s banana and walnut loaf. Walnut pastry wrapped around goat’s cheese. Pasta with blue cheese, broccoli and toasted walnuts. Waldorf salad. Toasted on salads, or on roast butternut squash pizzetta with fried sage leaves. Mmmmm.

www.biggerbolderbaking.com/irish-soda-bread/
No walnuts in this one but it’s a good tutorial with a link to DIY buttermilk at the bottom of the page.
I’d add a cupful of toasted walnuts to the amount she made. Minimal kneading is key and the slightly sour taste of the sodabread would go well with the walnuts IMO.
I’m off, or this talk of bread will kill me!

I make coffee walnut shortbread.

4oz butter
2oz sugar (I use a mixture of caster and soft brown sugar)
6oz plain flour.
Espresso powder (approx 1tbsp - add to taste)
Chopped walnuts

Cream the sugar and butter until soft, then mix in the plain flour, espresso powder and chopped walnuts. Gently knead into a ball, pat out into a circle, mark into segments with a knife, prick with a fork, sprinkle on some caster sugar, and bake at 180 until golden brown (20 minutes, or so).

Try to wait until they are cooled, then eat all in one go!

Disaster has struck. I can't find the nut cracker!!

I blitz up walnuts to add to my crumble mix. Yum. Much , much nicer than adding oats.

Italian walnut shells are much more fragile than Californian ones. You can just crack them against each other in your fist (and I’m no Hercules). I don’t know if French ones are the same.

We have a walnut tree in our communal garden and a retired neighbour voluntarily picks them, spreads them out in the sun to dry and brushes off the fruit to reveal what most people recognise as a walnut. Then they’re left for anybody who’s interested. Trouble is,I can’t justify taking more than my share (1/24th)!

It’s a lot of work and roadside sellers are offering walnuts in their shells at €5 a kilo. Probably works out at about three times that for the bare kernels. I just buy the bags at Lidl to satisfy my walnut needs...

Walnuts on the tree.
When DS was little I told him to “Go to the almond tree” and he came back empty-handed. “But that’s an apricot tree!” Awww...

Crushed walnut shells in pincushions supposedly keep your needles sharp. Maybe start a cottage industry, OP!

I found the nut cracker!

Coffee and walnut biscuits are delicious - but next time I will try instant coffee as the expresso I used wasn't strong enough.

Glad you liked them. I like my coffee flavour strong, so I just keep adding the espresso powder, and tasting the mix, and hope I don’t run out of the raw dough, before I get it right!

Why is it that raw shortbread/cake mix is so more-ish?

Try Fesenjoon! It's a Persian recipe for chicken in a walnut and pomegranate sauce. Doesn't look too appetising but it tastes divine! Loads of recipes on Pinterest.

Our usual go to though is Muhammara - a walnut and red pepper dip/spread that knocks the socks off houmous We add a good lot of red chilli/flakes and once made it gets better every day and will easily last a week in the fridge.

Enjoy! I'm very jealous of your walnut tree!!

How have I never heard of Muhammara!!? I love red Peppers and I happen to have a jar of pomegranate molasses on the shelf! @Balloondog you are my new best friend :)

@frenchfancy If you like red peppers and walnuts you'll definitely love it. I don't always add bread to mine - depends on whether I'm being a little piggy myself or having to stretch it for a number of people. Sadly for my waistline I could easily eat a bowlful all by myself (occasionally just with a spoon not even with bread to dip )

I went to Georgia and they use shedloads of walnuts in everything! I now make a lot with walnuts inspired by what I ate there.

Spinach with walnuts and pomegranate seeds: www.washingtonpost.com/recipes/georgian-spinach-dip-walnuts-and-cilantro-ispanakhis-pkhali/14550/?utm_term=.ee036696d40a

Roast chicken stuffed with walnuts, feta, sour cherries: dianahenry.co.uk/recipes/cherry-goats-cheese-stuffed-chicken/

Roast chicken with creamy walnut sauce: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/164606/roasted-chicken-with-creamy-walnut-sauce

Tomato-cucumber salad with walnuts: www.georgianjournal.ge/georgian-cuisine/30532-tomato-cucumber-salad-with-walnuts-perfect-georgian-appetizer.html

Aubergine rolls stuffed with walnuts: happykitchen.rocks/georgian-eggplant-rolls-with-walnuts/