Macadamia nuts are known for two things: being the world’s finest nuts, and for being the toughest nut to crack! But trust me, they are well worth the effort. This is because the macadamia nuts have a distinct sweet and buttery taste that makes them delicious over deserts or even stuffing’s in meat. They belong to the family called Proteaceae, of the genus Macadamia, and they are the same size and shape of a chickpea. Originating in Australia, and thus, gaining the name Australia nut, these nuts have been sold worldwide due to their wide scale use. They are harvested in Hawaii all year round and the country is the largest producer of these nuts in the world now. Some other names for the macadamia nuts include Queensland nut and bush nut. They are grown across South Africa, California, Florida and Brazil as well. Although these nuts are used for enhancing flavors in various dishes, you can enjoy them as a small snack by toasting them and eating them with a drink.
Every nut tastes delicious when drawn out of their shells, but they become more scrumptious when slightly cooked. This is due to the fact that the natural oils in the nuts draw out upon toasting them, and this intensifies the rich nutty flavor and essence, making the nut deeper in color and crunchier on chewing. This is why toasting any nut can be much more scrumptious for the appetite!
Roasting macadamia nuts can transform a meal with its rich flavors. Roasted macadamia nuts are available in stores, but can be made preservative-free at home quite easily. Here is the right way on how to roast Macadamia nuts and enjoy them by the handful:
Ingredients
- 100 grams macadamia nuts (or the quantity you like)
- Parchment paper or aluminum foil (optional)
- Salt mixed in water (optional) – made by mixing 1/2 cup water, 2 teaspoon salt, and a teaspoon of unsalted butter
Method
- Preheat the oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spread the parchment paper or foil on the oven tray. To make them salty and enjoyable to eat as a snack, sprits some salt water over the macadamia nuts before setting the tray in the oven.
- Toast the nuts in the oven for 10-12 minutes, or till they turn golden brown and are giving out a delicious salty aroma.
Tips:
- Examine every nut before setting them to toast. Any shriveled or moldy macadamia nut should be removed as they will give a rancid and bitter taste when consumed.
- You can toast the nuts in a frying pan as well. Set them on a medium heat and do not grease the pan, but sprinkle with salt water. Remove from the heat when they change color.
- Halfway through the toasting, stir the macadamia nuts in the oven or pan. This will keep the nuts from cooking too much on one side than the other.
- Always allow the toasted macadamia nuts to cool down well before chopping or grinding so as to prevent them from becoming pasty or oil in texture.
- Always use fresh macadamia nuts for toasting or roasting to enjoy their rich flavor well.
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