Walnut

Noix

What it is

Romans called it Jovis glans — “Jupiter’s acorn”, food fit for a god. Because its kernel looks like a brain, medieval doctors prescribed it for head ailments; the doctrine was nonsense, but the walnut forgave them and fed them anyway.

In the kitchen

Buy them in the shell — shelled kernels go rancid fast. Ten seconds in a hot pan and they taste twice as much of themselves.

Goes with

Blue cheese Pear Fig Beetroot Honey Coffee Grape Celery

Same species

Fresh walnut Green walnut Grenoble walnut Périgord walnut Pickled walnut Walnut oil

Also used with

Abondance Acacia honey Ajvar Asiago d'allevo Banon Banyuls

In season alongside

Largueta almond Piedmont hazelnut Acorn Antep pistachio Artichoke Avola almond

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