Look Beyond Desserts To Discover The Real Taste Of Hazelnuts

This buttery, sweet nut is a perfect combination of taste, texture and health

Mohini Mehrotra Updated: Jun 16, 2020 10:47:30 IST
2020-06-15T20:06:20+05:30
2020-06-16T10:47:30+05:30
Look Beyond Desserts To Discover The Real Taste Of Hazelnuts  Photo: Shutterstock

They add a nutty bite to your favourite chocolates, spreads, coffee, desserts and confectionery but do you know that hazelnuts are super-healthy and super-nutritious too? Here’s everything you need to know about this nut in a nutshell:

1. Hazelnuts are the third most commonly-grown nut in the world, after almonds and walnuts. Some say hazelnuts have been consumed since the Mesolithic era. While Italian hazelnuts are considered the finest, those from Turkey, the US and Azerbaijan are much sought-after too.

2. While the world is acknowledging the many health benefits of nuts now, hazelnuts particularly stand out for their high monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) content, the good kind you find in olive oil. As per a paper published by the journal Nutrients, “Hazelnuts are the second-richest source of monounsaturated fatty acids among nuts and are rich in vitamin E, phytosterols, L-arginine, polyphenols, folate and fibre.”

3. Rich in dietary fibre, hazelnuts make for a great wholesome snack. They are also packed with antioxidants and can play a role in reducing bad cholesterol.

4. Hazelnuts are a rich source of protein and Vitamin E as well as minerals like copper, magnesium and manganese.

5. If you haven’t experimented with this nut in your kitchen, then it’s high time you so do. Other than adding a wonderful nutty flavour to your desserts, hazelnuts make for a fabulous addition to savoury dishes too, like salads. So yes, go ahead and make that hazelnut spread you’ve been meaning to or drop some chopped nuts in your favourite cake. But don’t stop at that. Make the most of this versatile nut—add some toasted hazelnuts in salads and pastas, make a healthy hazelnut pesto, use them to crust your favourite grilled meat or simple enjoy them in their natural form as a mid-meal snack.

 

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