Roasted Nuts Recipe - 4 Ways (2024)

FAQs

What is the best oil for roasting nuts? ›

I prefer to use avocado oil or coconut oil when roasting nuts, because they both have a much higher smoke point while cooking than olive oil does. Avocado oil is a very neutral flavor, and it's my favorite oil to use for cooking.

To get the spices to stick to the nuts, use egg whites, butter, coconut oil, olive oil or blanch the nuts in boiling water. Some recipes call for nuts to be fried in oil prior to seasoning, but this adds unnecessary fat – you can make them just a delicious without all the extra calories.

Oil roasting is a process by which nuts are submerged or covered in hot oil and fried. Roasting accomplishes many tasks, including flavor enhancement, shelf stability (1.0 to 1.5% finished moisture), and destruction of microbes, such as Salmonella.

At 325°F, most nuts will only need to stay in the oven 5 to 8 minutes. On the stovetop in a pan, toasting nuts may take a few minutes less, about 5 minutes.

How to do it: Spread nuts in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet (or in a smaller baking pan). Bake in the center of a preheated 325°F oven, stirring to redistribute nuts every 5 minutes or so. Keep your eyes peeled and your nose on alert: Nuts in the oven can quickly go from just right to burned.

Soaking your nuts beforehand will lead to better absorption of the spices and result in a crunchier, easier to chew texture. You may be tempted to turn the heat up, but don't! If you roast them at too high a temperature you'll have a dark outside and a raw inside, leading to an inconsistent flavor.

Summary: Nuts are generally roasted to improve their texture and taste. They can be roasted with or without oil.

Place rinsed nuts in a bowl and toss well with sea salt. Spread tossed nuts on parchment paper and place in oven for 8 minutes, then stir them to ensure all sides get evenly dried, and roast for another 7 minutes.

Make sure you push the mixture firmly into the tin before baking to help it stick together. Leave it to cool slightly before slicing. If you try to slice it when it is very hot it may crumble. If all else fails, cook the roast before the big day.

Do you roast nuts in pan or oven? ›

Stovetop toasting works well for small batches of nuts or seeds. With this method, the parts of the nuts or seeds touching the skillet may become darkest, unlike the oven method where they become more of an overall golden color. Toast nuts BEFORE chopping them into smaller pieces.

Soaking nuts

Simply place your nuts in a bowl, add 1 to 2 teaspoons sea salt and cover with warm or room temperature water. Leave to sit for 7 hours or overnight before draining (note: cashews shouldn't be soaked for more than 6 hours).

To oven toast, heat your oven to 400 degrees and put a rack in the upper third of the oven. Lay your nuts in an even layer in a sheet pan. Toast for 5 minutes, then check. Do not leave the kitchen, do not walk away from the oven, keep the light on and a keen eye on them.

Line a sheet tray with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, add the water. Stir in the salt (and sugar, if using) until it's completely dissolved. Pour the nuts into the water solution, ensuring all of the nuts get coated.

I can't speak to the trustworthiness of the various sites I discovered and their claims about phytic acid and neutralized enzymes, but I can tell you this: Soaking your nuts before you roast them will greatly enhance their flavor.

Roasted, for me, means you cook them in the oven, and toasted means you cook the nuts on the stove top. I see both words used interchangeably online, though. I use both methods, depending on whether I need to roast a few nuts or a lot, and how quickly I need them.

How to roast nuts on the stove. You can toss the nuts right into a pan over medium heat, no oil necessary. Just shake the pan occasionally so they toast evenly and don't burn. When they're finished, transfer them out of the hot pan so they don't keep browning.