Hi friends! It’s nut week I guess. Monday I talked about my love for almonds. You can check out the delicious delicious Double Chocolate Almond Muffins I made here.
I thought I would add a featured food series to my blog where I highlight the nutrition benefits of a particular food and share some ways to enjoy said food.
I have recently discovered that I am obsessed with raw hazelnuts (also known as filberts). I have always loved hazelnut things- hello Nutella anyone? And hazelnut chocolate bars always win me over, but I’ve only recently started munching on raw hazelnuts and they divine. Seriously, you’ve got to get some.
We buy a variety of nuts to make a copycat nut butter like Nuttzo that has a blend of all the yummy nuts and that is how the whole raw hazelnuts made their way into the house. I ordered from nuts.com and just think this product is supurb. Paired with dried cranberries they make the absolute perfect snack.
So what do hazelnuts have to offer?
In 1 ounce they provide 4 grams of both protein and fiber. Like all nuts, they are calorically dense, but also so satisfying. Their high fat content comes mostly from monounsaturated fat, the type that is good for your heart! According to the USDA consuming 1.5 ounces of hazelnuts a day can help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
They also have the highest amount of folate of any tree nut which is again important for heart health, as well as pregnant women in prevent neural tube defects.
Hazelnuts are high in manganese which plays an important role in metabolism, bone production and skin integrity, to name a few.
And they have the highest amounts of proanthocyanidin of any tree nut, compounds which are useful in preventing blood from clotting and urinary tract infection.
What are some ways to cook with hazelnuts?
You can use ground or chopped hazelnuts to incorporate into your baking such as cakes or muffins. You can add them chopped to salads, roasted vegetables or make a coating to bread fish or chicken.
I am embarrassed to say I don’t have one recipe with hazelnuts on the blog, but that is so going to change!
For now check out these recipes using hazelnuts!
Sweet Potato, Chocolate and Hazelnut Cake from Things I Made Today
Chocolate Hazelnut Cake with Strawberry Chia Sauce from Eggplant and Olive
Rosemary Feta Roasted Potatoes and Hazelnut Medley from the Nutritious Kitchen
Blueberry, Hazelnut and Feta Kale Salad from Dietitian Debbie
or you could combine them with a grain like this
Hazelnut and Pomegranate Quinoa Salad from the nOATbook
Fig Oatmeal with Pears and Toasted Hazelnuts from Catching Seeds
Oh Cooking Light, why aren’t your photos bigger? I want to drool over them all.
Hazelnut Crusted Chicken from Cooking Light
Cocoa Hazelnut Truffles from Cooking Light
I know I am going to be cooking with hazelnuts a lot more now. IF I can keep myself from devouring the bag first.
[Tweet “What’s Your Favorite Way to Enjoy Them?>Featured Food: Hazelnuts via @nutritiouseats #fitfluential”]
What’s your favorite way to use Hazelnuts?
How To Reduce Toxins In Your Enviroment
Blueberry Smoothie Breakfast Bowl
10 Healthy Foods You Should Be Eating This Summer
3 Reasons Why Under Eating Won’t Help You Lose Weight
I need to try baking with them as Ive TRIIIIIIIEEEED to get the child to eat ’em raw.
NOPE 🙂
carla recently posted..Lets get HORIZONTAL!
Yes, that would probably work. I need to get my hands on some hazelnut flour!
I love all things Hazelnut but rarely buy them. It seems like it’s the nut no one likes to talk about but now I am knowing its benefits. I’m thinking of the blueberry kale salad – yum!!
Angela @ happy fit mama recently posted..Stitch Fix #4
I know! I never bough them until we started making nut butter. They just aren’t as popular of a nut. not sure why….
So here’s the weird thing. I’m technically allergic to all nuts but I can have hazelnuts and I love the flavor. I haven’t had them in so long (mostly due to my paranoid brain that I’ll all of a sudden become allergic) but I love that you can use them in sweet and savory dishes.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Lean into Fear
I don’t blame you! I’d be a little hesitant too. Is your reaction pretty bad?
I always forget about hazelnuts! Never knew they wee called filberts either. Nutella is definitely my favorite way to get my hazelnut fix though! ;D
Emily @SinfulNutrition recently posted..WIAW: Day In the Life
It’s so good isn’t it?!
This just makes me want to make something with hazelnuts now!!! yummy! 🙂
athletic avocado recently posted..Gardein Review+ Vegan Mango Lime Meatballs!
Thanks! You should- I think anything would be good with this delicious nut!
I love snacking on raw hazelnuts! Such an under used nut!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted..Easy Homemade Ketchup
So true! The poor hazelnut!
I know this wasn’t the main topic but how good idea it is to combine strawberry and chia. I always use chia only with almond milk or coconut milk. It sound great <3
My blender stopped working so I can't think of making "Nutella" at home 🙁 I'm crying a little bit 😉
And of course, they are very delicious! But knowing now that nuts can do a lot more in the body is such a good news. I love nuts , yes, of any kinds, but I enjoy them raw and as toppings. Thank you Melanie! I will surely try some of the recipes in here. Healthy foods can be delicious too!
Ashley recently posted..Slenderiix Plus Xceler8
Probably a better reason to like hazelnuts even more. I am surprised they could contain so much nutrients in very tiny sizes. I need to look for more recipes with hazelnuts from now on. Thanks for this!
Dianne recently posted..How Safe Is the Water You Drink?