Nuts in French gastronomy: an amazing culinary exploration

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Do you know differents common types of nuts (noix) we eat in France? – Here are a few of them:

  • Les noix de cajou
  • Les pistaches
  • Les amandes
  • Les noisettes
  • Les noix de pécan

Obviously, we are not talking about nuts and bolts 🙂

There are many nuts-based recipes to do…

…if you read this article until the end you’ll IMPRESS your friends and family with your knowledge about ‘nuts in French’!

You don’t know much? Don’t worry.

Nuts (noix) are very good for your health, and you’ll be able to choose the right ones to make the recipes you want! Don’t forget to watch the 2 videos to go further in your practice.

I’m Thomas, I teach French through +100 articles I put on this blog.

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Do you have a nut allergy?
If you have a nut allergy, you can’t eat them.
Health food nut: noix de pécan, hazelnut...

Let food be thy medecine, thy medecine shall be thy food.

Hippocrates

Understanding the basics of ‘noix’ in French cuisine

The different types of nuts consumed in France

Here are the different types of nuts consumed in France:

  • Les noix de Grenble (Isère)
    • They are often used in salads, cheeses, pastries and main courses.

  • Les amandes de Provence (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur)
    • They are used in savory dishes such as tapenade, or in desserts such as chocolate and almond tart.

  • Les noisettes du Piémont (Auvergne et Rhône-Alpes)
    • They are used for confectionery, pastries and chocolates.

  • Les châtaignes d’Ardèche (Auvergne et Rhône-Alpes)
    • They are used to prepare chestnut purée, sweet and savory dishes, and marrons glacés.

  • Les avelines de la Drôme (Auvergne et Rhône-Alpes)
    • They are used for desserts, confectionery and bakery products.

  • Les noix du Périgord (Nouvelle-Aquitaine)
    • They are used in salads, pies, terrines and desserts.

  • Les pistaches de Provence (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur)
    • They are used as aperitifs, appetizers, in pastries, confectionery and savory dishes.

     Health benefits and nutritional value of nuts

    Here’s how they can positively influence health and weight management:

    Health benefits

  • Rich in unsaturated fatty acids
    • This is particularly true of omega-3s. These fatty acids promote heart health by reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

  • Antioxidants
    • They are rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin E, which protect cells against free radicals. This helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and other age-related problems.

  • Reduced inflammation
    • Certain compounds can help reduce inflammation.

  • Controlling blood pressure
    • Almonds, for example, are naturally rich in potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. Regular consumption can help maintain normal blood pressure.

    Weight management

  • Saturation and appetite control
    • They are rich in fiber, protein and healthy fats, which help to increase the feeling of satiety. This can help control appetite and reduce snacking between meals.

  • Hormonal balance
    • The healthy fats found in nuts, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, play a role in hormonal balance. This can have a positive influence on weight management, especially for women.

  • Blood sugar management
    • The combination of protein, fiber and healthy fats in nuts can help stabilize blood sugar levels, which is beneficial for weight management, especially for people with type 2 diabetes.

  • Increased metabolism
    • Certain nutrients found in nuts promote a healthy metabolism, which is beneficial for long-term weight management.

    Exercise

    Why do you eat nuts? Write it in French in the comments below.

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    Walnuts pie: une tarte faite avec les noix. Another idea is 'la tarte aux noisettes'.

    Pie makes everybody happy.

    Laurie Halse Anderson
    A reminder
    If you have a nut allergy, avoid eating them.

    Nuts in French desserts and pastries

    Iconic French treats featuring nuts

    You can add a piece of fruit or two fruits to your slice of tart, it’s very tasty.

    Here are two of the French culinary delights made with nuts:

    The recipe for walnut tart

    Ingredients for la tarte aux noix (in French words)

    • For the pastry
      • 250g of flour
      • 125g of butter (cold, cut into small pieces)
      • a pinch of salt
      • 1 tablespoon of sugar
      • 1 egg
      • 2 tablespoons of cold water
    • For the filling
      • 200g of nuts (preferably nuts from Grenoble)
      • 150g of brown sugar
      • 100g of maple syrup
      • 3 eggs
      • 100g of fresh cream
      • 1 tablespoon of flour
      • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
      • a pinch of salt

    The recipe for chocolate praline

    Ingredients for le praliné au chocolat (in French words)

    • 200g of hazelnuts
    • 150g of sugar
    • 150g of high-quality dark chocolate (chopped)
    • 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
    • A pinch of salt

    Baking with nuts: tips and techniques

    Nuts such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews and pistachios can add a special flavor and texture to your preparations. Here are some tips and techniques for making the most of these ingredients:

  • Combining nuts with a fresh fruit or several fruits
    • Usually apples, pears, bananas and strawberries.

  • Combining them with chocolate
    • For example, use chocolate chips in nut cookies, or coat almonds in dark chocolate.

  • With baked goods
    • Nuts can be incorporated into a variety of pastries, pies, cakes and cookies. For example, they can be chopped and added to pastry.

  • Put them in savoury dishes
    • Nuts can also be used in savoury dishes. Slivered almonds, for example, add a crunchy touch to salads, while cashews can be incorporated into légumes sautés dishes or curries.

    Watch the videos to find out how to make the 2 recipes in this section, at home!

    Exercise

    Write (in French) your own based-nuts recipe in the comments, or find another one which is not in the article, to share with others.

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    • Health food nut: les pistaches, hazelnut, noisettes,...

    Incorporating nuts into savory French dishes

    Nut-based sauces and condiments

    Here are a few ideas for sauces made with nuts:

  • La vinaigrette aux noix
    • A good choice for salads. To make a nut vinaigrette, simply mix nut (such as walnuts or cashews) with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. You can also add honey.

  • Les sauces crémeuses aux noix (Creamy nut sauces)
    • For creamy sauces that go very well with pasta or vegetables. Soak walnuts in water to soften them, then blend with ingredients such as garlic, lemon juice and Parmesan cheese.

  • Nut sauces for hot dishes
    • Nuts can be incorporated into hot sauces to accompany dishes such as pasta, rice or grilled vegetables. An example of a delicious sauce: a nut sauce with roasted garlic, vegetable stock and Parmesan cheese.

    Cheese and nuts: a classic French pairing

    Here are some recipes for cheese dishes with nut:

    Le fromage de chèvre aux noix caramélisées (Goat’s cheese with caramelized nut)
    • Ingredients
      • Fresh goat’s cheese, nut (almonds or walnuts), sugar and honey.
    • Preparation
      • Lightly toast the nuts in a frying pan, then add sugar to caramelize them. Place the fresh goat’s cheese on a plate and add the caramelized walnuts. Drizzle with honey.

    La tarte au bleu et aux noix (Blue cheese and walnut tart)
    • Ingredients
      • Puff pastry, blue cheese (Roquefort, Gorgonzola), crushed nut, eggs and crème fraîche.
    • Preparation
      • Place puff pastry in a tart tin, add crumbled blue cheese and chopped nut. Beat the eggs with the crème fraîche, pour the mixture over the cheese and nut, then bake until the tart is golden brown.

    La salade au fromage de chèvre et aux noix (Goat’s cheese and walnut salad)
    • Ingredients
      • Green salad, fresh goat’s cheese, walnuts (hazelnuts or cashews), mustard vinaigrette.
    • Preparation
      • Place the salad in a dish, add pieces of goat’s cheese and walnuts. Dress with mustard vinaigrette.

    Le camembert rôti aux noix et au miel (Roast Camembert with walnuts and honey)
    • Ingredients
      • Green salad, fresh goat’s cheese, walnuts (hazelnuts or cashews), mustard vinaigrette.
    • Preparation
      • Cut off the top of the Camembert, place pieces of walnut inside, and drizzle honey over them. Roast in the oven until the camembert melts. Eat with pieces of toasted bread.

    To remember
    I give you here my best choice. This is not the famous one but it’s really good and you’ll remember it for all your life. And you’ll probably want to cook it back home 🙂

    • Le camembert rôti aux noix et au miel
    Click here → Premium French Course
    Nuts and health, don't forget to eat a fruit or some fruits.

    The cultural significance of nuts in French society

    Nuts in French folklore

    Here are two aspects of the presence of walnuts in French folklore:

  • Walnuts are a symbol of wisdom and knowledge
    • The hard shell of the walnut represents the protection of inner knowledge. It is said that eating walnuts can improve memory and stimulate intelligence. This reinforces the idea that nuts nourish both body and mind.

  • Walnuts in regional tales
    • Walnuts are often used to solve problems or puzzles. Sometimes they are a magical key or mysterious object, conferring powers on the story’s protagonists.

    Contemporary consumption and trends

    Contemporary consumption of nut milks and butters (almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, almond and nut butter) has been growing significantly for a number of years.

    Here are some aspects of this growing trend:

  • Trend towards dairy alternatives
    • As an alternative to cow’s milk (these are vegan milks), they contain few calories and have a rich nutritional profile. Vegan milks are consumed by people allergic to cow’s milk, for environmental reasons and to vary their diet.

  • Variety of nut milk
    • There’s plenty of choice in nut milks, with a wide selection of flavors and nutritional content. The most widely consumed are almond and coconut milks.

  • Allergies and special diets
    • For people with lactose, soy or gluten allergies.

    Exercise

    What is the cultural significance of nuts in you country? Share with others in French, in the comment section.

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    FAQ for French nuts: hazelnut, peanut,, noisettes,...

    FAQ

    What is the French term for ‘nuts’?

    The French word for the English word ‘nuts’ is noix.

    How do you say ‘peanut’ in French?

    ‘Peanut’ in French is cacahuète.

    What is the plural form of ‘nut’ in French?

    The plural form of the English word ‘nut’ in French is noix. This is the same as the singular one.

    Well done!

    Let a comment if you want.

    Thomas 🙂

    Resources

    https://photo.cuisineactuelle.fr/sucrees-ou-salees-nos-30-recettes-coups-de-coeur-a-base-de-noix-26074#quiche-au-gorgonzola-et-aux-noix-fa470

    https://www.elle.fr/Elle-a-Table/Fiches-cuisine/Tous-les-themes/Recettes-a-la-noix