Chopped Nuts

Photo: flickr user j_bary

About

Chopped nuts generally refers to finely chopped (approximately 1/8") tree nuts, such as walnuts or pecans, or peanuts.

Information

Other names: Diced Nuts

Translations: Sasmalcināti rieksti, Kapotos Riešutai, Nucile tocate, Sjeckani oraščića, Xắt nhỏ Nuts, Siekanych orzechów, Gehakte noten, कटा हुआ पागल, Nozes picadas, Измельченных орехов, Ψιλοκομμένα καρύδια, المفروم والمكسرات, 다진 너트, Nasekané ořechy, Kacang cincang, Tinadtad na mani, 切碎的坚果, Nous picades, Sesekljano Nuts, Nasekané orechy, Tagliate la frutta a guscio, אגוזים קצוצים, Hackade nötter, Исецкани ораси, ナッツ, Noix hachées, Gehackte Nüsse, Hakkede nødder, Hakkede nøtter, Nueces picadas, Подрібнених горіхів, Hienonnetut pähkinät, Счукани орехи

Physical Description

Chopped nuts are typically shards of nut roughly one eighth of an inch across. They have the relatively hard texture of most nuts but the fact that they are already chopped up makes them much easier to chew.

Colors: Brown exterior with a lighter interior

Tasting Notes

Flavors: Salty, earthy, delicious

Mouthfeel: Crisp, Crunchy

Food complements: Cookies, Brown sugar, Oatmeal, Stir fry

Wine complements: Prinot gris

Beverage complements: Beer

Selecting and Buying

Seasonality: january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, opctober, november, december

Choosing: Choose the nuts that are right for your dish. Different types of cuisine call for different varieties of nuts. You can buy previously chopped nuts, but freshly chopped nuts tend to give off more hearty flavors and aromas.

Buying: Chopped nuts are available at most grocery stores. Check out your local farmer's market for fresh or unusual varieties of nuts.

Procuring: Different varieties of nuts grow all over the world. Different varieties of nuts can be foraged for in different settings. For example, peanuts are found inside tough shells located underground while macadamia nuts are found in round casings high up in trees.

Preparation and Use

Chopped nuts can be used in a wide variety of dishes. Chopped walnuts make a phenomenal addition to brownies, cookies or even oatmeal. Chopped nuts are also a crunchy addition to any stir fry.

Cleaning: If you buy prepackaged chopped nuts cleaning will not be a problem. If you shell and chop the nuts yourself make sure that the shell is kept separate from the edible part of the nut.

Conserving and Storing

Nuts will last quite some time but if kept in warm damp areas for extended periods of time can start to rot.

Social/Political

Chopped nuts are used in different cultures around the world. They are cheap to produce and provide high levels of energy and protein. Different cultures give different respect to the chopped nut but it has found its way into most cultural cuisines.

History: Humans have been eating nuts since the days of hunter gatherers. They do not ned to be refined to be consumed and provide many valuable nutrients. It is uncertain when people began chopping nuts but over the years it has integrated itself into many cultures.