Nuts: Hazelnuts Toasted
by Lishka DeVoss

INGREDIENTS

1/2 lb raw hazelnuts

PREPARATION

1. In a medium saucepan with high sides (to prevent foam from spilling over), start boiling 4 cups of water.

2. In the meantime, prepare:
• a small bowl of cold water
• a large bowl of cold water
• a large sheet pan lined with parchment paper

3. When your water is finally boiling, add 3 tablespoons of baking soda and marvel at the foam for a second or two.

4. Quickly add the hazelnuts and boil them for about 3 minutes. (The water will turn black. Marvel some more.)

5. In the meantime, heat oven to 350°F.

6. After three minutes, put a test nut into the small bowl of cold water. If the skin doesn’t come off easily using your fingers, keep boiling for another minute and test another nut.

7. When the skin rubs right off, drain and rinse the nuts in a colander and put them in the large bowl of cold water. Peel quickly, placing the peeled nuts back into the colander.

8. When they’re all peeled, if needed, rinse briefly again (to get any remaining skin flecks off). Then put the hazelnuts on a clean kitchen towel (that could get stained a bit) or some paper towels — dry thoroughly — and place them on the sheet pan.

9. Toast in the oven for about 15 minutes. Allow to cool before chopping.

Updated 2020-04-28

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