So this weekend we found a NEW thing to forage – Hazelnuts!
We couldn’t believe that we have missed them for so long. Now we know what to look for, they seem abundant in the English countryside.
The ones we found were mostly green. I think to find them ripe and brown, like you see in the shops, would be quite difficult as they need to grow to full maturity and also dry out a bit. You won’t be surprised to hear the brown ones were slim pickings as the squirrels undoubtedly got there before us!
The good news is you can eat them green, straight off the tree, but I think lightly roasted is the best way for the fullest flavour.
I’m also told that you can ripen the nuts at home by leaving them in a cool dark place – I’m going to try it and see so I will let you know how it goes!
Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated :)
Useful web pages (with some recipes) for a beginner like me:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2016/10/when-to-pick-hazelnuts/
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/sep/08/features.recipes