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The streets of New York City are peppered with Nuts 4 Nuts vendors selling freshly candied nuts that you can smell a block away. For a buck or two you get your choice of warm, sugar-coated almonds, peanuts, or cashews wrapped up in a little paper bag with the corners twisted closed. The nuts are candied right there on the carts in a large metal bowl over a heating element. When the nuts are added to sugar and water they are stirred vigorously until the water evaporates and the sugar crystallizes into a crunchy coating, without burning. They're easy to make on the street, which means they're even easier to clone at home. All you need for your own quick version of this addictive street snack is 1 1/2 cups of your favorite raw nuts, some sugar, a little water, and a hot saucepan, and you're about 4 minutes away from an authentic New York City treat. The recipe works best in a pan that isn't nonstick, and the nuts must be raw. The oil added to roasted nuts prevents the sugar from properly crystallizing. Use this recipe with pecans or walnuts, and then sprinkle them over fresh spinach or baby greens, along with a little goat cheese or Gorgonzola and some diced apple or pear for an easy gourmet side salad.
Source: "Top Secret Recipes Unlocked" by Todd Wilbur.
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1. Bring the water and 1/4 cup sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
2. When the sugar has dissolved, add the nuts. Stir occasionally to coat the nuts. At about the 2-minute mark, stir vigorously. In about a minute, the water will evaporate and the sugar will crystallize on the nuts. Turn off the heat immediately when all of the sugar has crystallized on the nuts, but keep stirring. The sugar should begin to caramelize and turn light brown on the nuts. Pour the nuts onto a plate to cool.
Makes 1 1/2 cups.
Tidbits: You can add other ingredients for flavor variations. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon to the pan for cinnamon-flavored nuts. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the pan for vanilla nuts.
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