Candied Spicy Walnuts Food

CANDIED SPICY WALNUTS

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil. Using a pastry brush dipped in water, wash down the sides of the pan to remove any undissolved sugar granules.
• Add walnuts, and reduce the heat to medium-high. Simmer until the syrup is reduced and thickened, about 20 minutes. The nuts will be very sticky. Use a slotted spoon to remove half of the nuts to a colander to drain, leaving the other half in the syrup. Reduce the heat to low.
• Meanwhile, fill a medium stockpot with 2 inches of oil. Heat oil to 350 degrees over medium heat. Carefully add the drained nuts, and fry, stirring constantly, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer nuts to a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt, and let stand until cool. Repeat with remaining nuts. Will keep, stored in an airtight container, at room temperature, for about 2 days.

SPICED CANDIED WALNUTS

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed skillet, heat about 1-inch of oil to 350 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add walnuts and blanch for 30 seconds. Drain and transfer nuts to a medium bowl. While nuts are still hot and slightly wet, add confectioners' sugar and toss to coat nuts. Stir and toss until all the sugar has melted into the nuts; if bits of un-melted sugar remain on the nuts, they will not fry properly.
• Stir the nuts again before frying. Using a large slotted spoon, transfer a few nuts to the hot oil, allowing the foam to subside before adding another spoonful. (Otherwise, the oil could foam over and burn you.) Fry in small batches until the nuts are medium brown, about 45 seconds; be careful not to overcook. Scatter on an unlined baking sheet to cool slightly.
• In a small bowl, stir together cayenne, cinnamon, a pinch of salt, and pepper.
• While the nuts are still warm, transfer them to a bowl and sprinkle evenly with about half of the spice mix. Toss well to distribute the spices and then taste a nut. Add more spice mix, to taste, and toss well after each addition. When cool, pack in an airtight jar. They will keep at room temperature for at least 2 weeks.

CANDIED SPICY WALNUTS

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups water, sugar, and cayenne in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves and occasionally brushing down sides of pan with pastry brush dipped into water. Add walnuts to pan; reduce heat to medium and cook until syrup boils and bubbles thickly and vigorously and nuts are very sticky, about 35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pour enough vegetable oil into heavy large saucepan to reach depth of 4 inches; heat vegetable oil to 350°F. Drain walnuts, discarding syrup. Working in batches and using slotted spoon, transfer walnuts to hot oil and cook until well browned, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes per batch. Using slotted spoon, transfer walnuts to rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt; cool completely. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.)

DAWN'S CANDIED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread nuts in a single layer over a baking sheet. Roast for approximately 8 to 10 minutes, or until the nuts start to turn brown and the smell of roasting nuts fills the kitchen.
• Stir together sugar, cinnamon, salt, and milk in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat for 8 minutes, or until the mixture reaches the soft ball stage of 236 degrees F (113 degrees C). Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla immediately. .
• Add walnuts to sugar syrup, and stir to coat well. Spoon nuts onto waxed paper, and immediately separate nuts with a fork. Cool, and store in airtight containers.

SPICED CANDIED WALNUTS

Steps:

• In a deep saucepan, pour oil to a depth of at least 3 inches and heat to 350 degrees F.
• While the oil is heating, bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Measure the salt, cinnamon, cayenne pepper and black pepper into a small bowl and mix well.
• Holding the nuts in a sieve, dip them briefly into the boiling water, about 1 minute for large halves.
• (Blanching removes some of the tannins and makes walnuts taste sweet).
• Transfer to a large bowl with a little water clinging to them.
• While the nuts are still hot and wet, add the sugar and toss well to evenly coat.
• The sugar will melt on contact with the hot nuts.
• Keep stirring and tossing until all the sugar has melted.
• If bits of unmelted sugar remain on the nuts, they will not fry properly.
• Stir the nuts again before frying.
• Using a large slotted spoon, transfer a few nuts to the hot oil, allowing the foam to subside before adding another spoonful.
• (Otherwise, the oil could foam over and burn you).
• Fry in small batches until the nuts are medium brown, about 1 minute.
• Be careful not to overcook.
• Scatter on an unlined baking sheet to cool slightly.
• While the nuts are still warm, transfer them to a bowl and sprinkle evenly with about half of the spice mix.
• Toss well to distribute the spices and then taste a nut.
• Add more spice mix, to taste, and toss well after each addition.
• When cool, pack in an airtight jar.
• They will keep at room temperature for at least 2 weeks.

HOT & SPICY TOASTED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350*.
• Place walnuts in a 15 1/2" x 10 1/2" jelly roll pan.
• Toast walnuts in oven 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix sugar, vegetable oil, Worcestershire sauce, ground red pepper, and salt.
• Remove walnuts from oven, drizzle spice mixture over the nuts and toss until thoroughly coated.
• Spread nuts in a single layer, cool completely in a pan on a wire rack.
• Store at room temperature in tightly covered container up to a month.
• Makes about 2 cups.