Hazelnuts

Key facts

Turkey is the world's largest producer of hazelnuts, mainly for commercial use. This nut is a good source of protein and fibre and has useful amounts of B vitamins, especially B6. It is sold whole, ground or made into a paste for confectionery use, although nuts are also used for livestock feed.

Here is a nut that really does grow well in Britain, though you have to keep a sharp lookout from late August or the squirrels will beat you to it.

A filbert is a large, cultivated variety of hazelnut and a cobnut is a fat, cultivated version. Confusingly the famous Kentish cobnut really is Lambert’s filbert, but such considerations should not stop you swooping on any your greengrocer is enterprising enough to find.

Related Recipes

---

 Serves 8

Cheat's Chocolate Rum Gateau

This recipe looks so impressive that your guests will think you've spent all day in the kitchen. Little do they know that this is a quick and easy recipe that you can make in advance, then just sit back and wait for the compliments!

 

 

 Serves 6

Apricot Hazelnut Meringue Cake

This lovely, cheap-to-make cakes looks really impressive and will be a huge hit with meringue fans! The ground hazelnuts add extra flavour and nuttiness. Great with a cup of tea…

 

 

 Serves 8-10

Chocolate and Hazelnut Brownie Cake

Delia describes this rich dessert as a 'chewy, chocolately, nutty mixture'. It sounds divine and just the thing to serve to chocoholics at a dinner party!

 

 

 Makes one 8 inch (20 cm) round cake

Italian Chocolate Christmas Cake

Chocolate, nuts and brandy find their way into this wonderful Italian Christmas cake from Anna del Conte - so good you could also serve it for dessert.

 

 

 Serves 6-8

Chocolate Mascarpone Cheesecake with Fruit and Nuts served with Creme Fraiche

OK, this isn't the healthiest dessert on record, but we all deserve a no-holds-barred bit of indulgence now and then. Anyone who loves chocolate will thrill to this wonderful baked cheesecake. To avoid it cracking, allow to cool in the oven.