Hazelnuts For Good Food And Good Health

Hazelnuts are a great food for health, and are also known as filberts.  Like other nuts, they are full of protein.  They also contain a lot of fiber.  To add to their healthy food status, hazelnuts are full of nutrients like folate (a B vitamin), vitamin E and various antioxidants.  All these things are good for your health.

Try Adding Hazelnuts To Your Diet

It’s not hard to add hazelnuts to your diet.  One easy was is to use them as a snack, and eat them whole or cracked.  They have a rich flavor most people really enjoy.

Whole, sliced or diced hazelnuts can also be used in such things as:

• bakery
• confectionary
• garnishes
• artesian breads
• entrees
• salads
• soups
• to encrust foods
• cereals
• bars
• dairy products
• decorating cakes
• cookies
• pastries
• candies
• mixed in yogurt.

They can be used any way you would use most nuts, and impart a wonderful flavor to foods.

More Ways To Use Hazelnuts

To make a butter similar to natural peanut butter, hazelnuts can be ground.  For instance, hazelnuts are also one of the main ingredients in Nutella spread.  Hazelnut butter is unsweetened. However, hazelnut paste has sugar added and is used in bakery icings and fillings, candies and dairy products.

A free flowing meal is made of finely ground hazelnuts that can be used as a flour replacer, flavoring and binding agent.  Adding a special flavor, it works well in baked goods.  Add to that, hazelnut meal can replace the carbs and help make baked goods for a low carb diet.

Ideas On How To Select And Store Hazelnuts

Pick nuts that are heavy and full when buying them in the shell.  Whole nuts have the longest shelf life.  The more processed the nuts are, the shorter the shelf life they will have.

Roasting, chopping, slicing, or grinding the nuts just before use will keep them fresh for a longer time.  However, to have processed hazelnuts handy for addition to a huge variety of dishes, then simply roast the kernels, dice and freeze in an airtight container away from foods with strong odors. They will keep for over a year in the freezer and you can remove the amount you need, bring them to room temperature and use immediately.

Try Hazelnuts Today!

Boost your diet with some healthy hazelnuts.  Not only do you get a food that tastes good, but it’s good for you!  It’s a situation that is win-win, and that makes everyone happy!