Nuts

As the hedgerows begin to fill with Hazlenuts, it's worth having a look to see if there are any lurking in the bushes as aside from a tasty snack they can add a lot of flavour to traditional dishes at this time of year.

Cobnuts are a form of cultivated hazlenut that tend to be eaten fresh rather than dried, and as such are only available whilst in season between August and October, particularly in the Kent region. Cobnuts have a crunchy, milky flavour that develops as the season progresses and they turn from green to golden brown. Some suppliers will offer them by colour, but again they will only be available for a short period unless dried.

Tips

• Add some cobnuts to a casserol for the last few minutes to add flavour
• Try roasting gently in an oven and serving covered in melted butter as a snack
• Add nuts to soups and stuffing for a flavour that compliments meat and game
• Hazlenuts go wonderfully well with chocolate...

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