How to Roast Wild Hazelnuts

Wild hazelnuts often fall prey to squirrels.

Wild hazelnuts are ripe when they fall to the ground. The hazelnut tree surrounds the nut with a husk, which is left behind on the tree when the nut ripens. Harvest your wild hazelnuts from the ground and bring them home for roasting. After roasting, chop or grind them in a food processor and incorporate them in your baking recipes or use them as a garnish for salads.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towel
• Baking sheet
• Towel

Instructions

1. Rinse the wild hazelnuts with running water to remove any dirt and debris. Drain them and blot the excess water with a paper towel.

2. Preheat the oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange the wild hazelnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet.

3. Bake the hazelnuts for about 15 minutes, or until the skins turn crisp and begin to crack.

4. Spread a clean hand towel on your kitchen counter and pour the wild hazelnuts on it. Wrap them in the towel and let steam for about five minutes.

5. Grasp the corners of the towel and rub the hazelnuts with it until most of the skins come off. You do not need to remove every piece of hazelnut skin.

References

• "Otago Daily Times"; How to... Roast and Skin Hazelnuts; Daniel Pfyl; Dec. 2008
• "Oregon State University"; Oregon Hazelnuts and Caneberries; Lesly Egan; Jan. 2000
• British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture: Hazelnuts

Resources

• Ochef: How to Skin Hazelnuts