Almonds and Walnuts and Pine Nuts, Oh My! Nutty Facts and a Recipe

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🎜 Follow the healthy fats road/ Follow the healthy fats road/ A healthy nut is the one because/ Because, because, because, because, because/ Because of the wonderful things it does! 🎝 

Ah, almonds. Walnuts, not so much, because they make my tongue prickle. Pine nuts I've only ever had in pesto. But, you know. Nuts. They're good. With news articles almost everyday about the benefits of healthy fats in one's diet, combined with the fact that they are downright delicious, nuts have become a staple in my family household. Need a quick snack while doing your homework? Run down to the pantry for a handful of pecans. My dad works from home, and whenever he takes a break, it is always for a snack of peanuts or cashews (peanuts aren't actually true nuts - but we'll get to that later). My two favorite nuts by far would have to be macadamia nuts and coconuts; the latter is a nut, a fruit, and a seed! Classifications are overwhelming sometimes.

Today, I thought we would explore some fun facts about those snacks that we love. Who knows? You might find something interesting!


  • According to the Wikipedia article "Peanut," "The botanical definition of a "nut" is a fruit whose ovary wall becomes very hard at maturity. Using this criterion, the peanut is not a true nut, but rather a legume. However, for culinary purposes and in common English language usage, peanuts are usually referred to as nuts." I don't know about you, but I think it would be a little disconcerting to find a peanut in three-bean salad. This fact kind of reminds me of a Miles Kington quote: "Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in fruit salad."
  • Did you know that almonds require bee pollination to grow? There are no if's, and's, or but's here. It's a requirement ("10 Fun Facts About Almonds"). This information just added a reason to my list as to why humans should be protecting honey bees. USA Today tells us that over the last couple years, about 1/3 of American bee colonies have been lost! "Honeybees are in trouble. Here's how you can help" gives an idea as to how you can help: plant pollinator-friendly plants! One, you'll get out of the house and have a blast gardening. Two, you'll contribute to the well-being of honey bees. Three, you'll help to ensure the production of one of our favorite nuts: the almond!
  • Have you ever had a Brazil Nut? They are GIANT, and can fill you up really fast. Originating "from Brazil nut trees in Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil," just six of these nuts clock in at about 1.5 net carbs and 19 grams of fat ("Brazil Nut Nutrition Facts")! Author Malia Frey elaborates that "they provide healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat. Brazil nuts also provide diet-friendly fiber and protein to help promote satiety. And Brazil nuts are a good source of selenium, magnesium, phosphorus and thiamin." But watch out! These babies can be expensive. According to the Sprouts website, Organic Brazil Nuts are $24.99 a pound!
  • The article "Interesting Facts About Pistachios" has several points that might surprise you. First of all, did you know that the pistachio is a member of the"Anacardiaceae family," which includes poison ivy? We can also discover on this site that the pistachio, like the peanut, is only a culinary nut. Unlike the peanut, which you'll recall is a legume, the pistachio is a seed. The history of the pistachio goes back a long way: "Along with almonds, pistachios were frequently carried by travelers across the ancient Silk Road that connected China with the West." Finally, did you know that "Legend has it that the Queen of Sheba decreed pistachios an exclusively royal food, going so far as to forbid commoners from growing the nut for personal use"? Next time you dine on pistachios, truly appreciate the seed that has been a steady food in human history since 6750 BCE; it's come a long way.
  • This September 4th, make sure you celebrate National Macadamia Nut Day! All my life, I thought macadamia nuts were native to Hawaii, but... nope! Apparently, they are indigenous to Australia. Furthermore, these are "Tough nut[s] to crack: it takes 300 lbs. per square inch to break the macadamia nut shell, hardest of all nut shells" ("Macadamia Nut Fun Facts"). Vetstreet.com tells us that Yorkshire terriers should weight about seven pounds. That means that it would take approximately 43 Yorkies to crack open one of these delicacies! Imagine all of the barking that would be for one single nut. Why did I choose a Yorkshire terrier? Because mine is being extra cute today. And her nickname (I kid you not) just happen to be 'Nut.'
Now, for today's recipe! We have a Muhammara Dip, also known as a walnut pepper dip, from Chef Rana at www.zeytoondenver.com. Remember that Vegetarian Dinner Party I posted a few weeks back? Our family friends, Mrs. Andrea and Mr. Nass, happen to be related to Chef Rana - she is Mr. Nass' mother! They gladly shared the recipe with us, and trust me, you all are in for a real treat. According to Wikipedia, "Muhammara or mhammara is a hot pepper dip originally from Aleppo, Syria, found in Levantine and Turkish cuisines." Sure, walnuts make my tongue prickle, but this dip is so worth it. I suggest pairing it with freshly chopped vegetables or Whisps. If you aren't Primal, pita bread should be good, too.





Chef Rana's Muhammara Dip Recipe

Ingredients
  • 2 cups walnuts
  • 1 small onion (preferably shallot), raw
  • 1 bulb of garlic, peeled, raw
  • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 cube of vegetable bouillon 
  • Red pepper (Capiscum) paste, to taste - you can make your own!
  • Cumin, pepper, and salt to taste
Execution
Put all of the ingredients in a food processor. Add olive oil to taste. Blend until smooth and serve. Enjoy your garlic breath!

I hope you found today's information both fun and interesting! And trust me, the dip is PHENOMENAL! Capiscum paste can be hard to find, but you can also make your own by following a recipe online. Thanks again, Mrs. Andrea, Mr. Nass, and Chef Rana. Have a nice day, everyone.

Good luck on the healthy nut road. Don't be kidnapped by the Wicked Witch of the West!
- Maya 

Photo by Radu Marcusu on Unsplash, Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash,
Photo by Derek Story on Unsplash, 





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