Food glossary

Hazlenuts

Hazelnuts

These crunchy round, brown-skinned nuts, which are also known as cobnuts or filberts, have a distinctive bitter flavour. If they are roasted the bitter flavour becomes less apparent. Hazelenut kernels and ground hazelnuts are available.

Uses: Toasted, chopped and ground hazelnuts are available in a wide range of cakes and desserts.

To store: Keep in a cool dry, place for up to 3 months, once opened store in an airtight container. Consume hazelnuts by the best before date - nuts go rancid quickly and taste very unpleasant.

To prepare: Hazelnuts are often roasted and skinned before including in recipes. Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4, spread the nuts on a baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes, shaking occasionally. Wrap the nuts in a clean tea towel for a few minutes, then rub to remove the skins - they should peel off easily.