Wet walnuts
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Discoveries | 60 comments
Years ago I used to visit Partridges, a wonderful delicatessen on Sloane Square. From now, throughout October and sometimes into November, they sold wet walnuts. I discovered this delicacy there.
Wet walnuts are fresh walnuts that have not been dried for keeping. They are crunchy with a milky, mild walnut taste and excellent with a soft cheese, in a salad or a sauce. They are also packed with omega 3, if you need an excuse for rushing out to taste them. You neededn’t point your car in the direction of Partridges if you live in the country. You probably have someone in your circle of friends who has a bountifull walnut tree. I often find walnut saplings in my garden. I don’t nurture them. A walnut tree in your garden tends to result in the squirrels trying to establish a walnut grove on your lawn. Best avoided.
We tried a walnut sauce with pheasant once – made with dried walnuts. It was far too rich. I have discovered that a sauce made with wet walnuts does not have that cloying taste. It is walnutty and fresh. Perfect with game or even pasta. I suddenly twigged that most great walnut sauces are made with wet walnuts.
Last week I was exploring the estate where I am working and spotted these small green fruit in the grass. Curious, I looked up and discovered that I was standing beneath a massive walnut tree. These were the first of the season’s bounty. I peeled off the thick green skin and opened the walnut with my penknife. Walnuts don’t need nut crackers, even dried ones. Put the point of a knife into the rounded end, twist and it should open easily. At this time of year, you will have the two halves of walnut shell filled with the crisp fresh nut resting in your palm.
Today I showed my joiner friend, Hugh, the same tree and the nuts. He has a walnut tree in his garden but the squirrels get all of his before he can even say nut. Consequently, he hadn’t tasted a wet walnut. It was good to make the introductions.
When you have finished snacking don’t discard the shells. They can be made into tiny sailing boats if you have children to amuse. They also make perfect cradles for the dolls house. If you are nifty with a mini drill bit you can make a couple of holes in each half and fashion a simple hinge out of thick button thread – then you will have a romantic receptacle for a teeny present for someone very special.
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Thank you for this reply Kevin I am fascinated by all of this information as we do not have these kinds of nut trees here (in California)! …I am envious.
Well since my last comment, I have opened a small ornamental tree nursery in PEI. It is mostly web based and has taken off in it’s second year. I still plant lots of Heartnut, black walnut and butternut. A buddy of mine named Nick (commented on this thread too)has provided me with great butternut seeds. I also have found many trees on the island. I have 3 year old butternut and hearnut…which will cross polinate and create the hybrid called buartnut (great taste and easier to crack). Let me tell you this…the heartnut grow the fastest, but butternut is just a hair behind. Slower to grow and less germination rate is the black walnut however, the wood is worth it’s weight in gold.
we have an abundance of fresh green walnuts so today I was searching for uses- love the pickling idea and must try that next year a little earlier in the season.
I have put up 3 different batches of Nocino and sold a few pounds but have lots still left.
Hi, we moved to our present house 4 years ago, it™s on a 4.3 acre site which was all market garden, until about 15 years ago when the previous owner went into pick your own strawberries for a number of years before putting the land down to grass. Looking ahead he planted 3/4 acre of trees for fire wood in two blocks one about 20 years ago and a smaller one including a Walnut about 15 years ago. This is now fruiting nicely & I’ve just collected a couple of dozen nuts.
I love trees for habitat for wildlife as well as their beauty; felling trees let the light into the nice woods he had created & nettles followed. Do Walnuts self seed as easily as Hazel if planted? If so I will plant half a dozen in the existing wood when I have sprayed the nettles & also some round the edges of another area that I want to plant up. I said the edges as I want to plant some Larch & Scots Pine as we have no conifers & noticed Kevin’s comment re them killing pine.
I don’t generally like nuts but tried the green nuts today & enjoyed them, much nicer than dried walnuts as they are moist & fresh.
Walnut trees grow wild in Maple Ridge and Eastward out towards Mission.
I saw several trees on the South side of the Lougheed Highway (1st Ave.)as I was passing through downtown Mission. The area was between Murray S. and Stave Lake St.
Nick Mankwald
hi everyone…i love fresh/wet walnut i live in surrey any tips on where to buy them, market, town or farm…online?? please.
minu
Hello Kevin
Thanks for that information. Much appreciated.
I ordered my 2 year seedlings from a small company in Ontario. They had a special on in the spring for seedlings 50 seedlings at $2 each or thereabouts. I went half with a buddy and shipping and handling was only $20 max. However, I live in canada thus it was cheaper.
Kev
Hi Kevin
I love walnut trees too. How amazing to have 7 acres of forest – it must be a very special place.
Hi Frank
What a shame that you don’t have walnut trees. I live in the UK so have not imported wet walnuts from Partidges.
Wet walnuts are delicious – crunchy and fresh tasting. Well worth seeking out a source in your country.
UNFORTUNATELY WE DO NOT HAVE WALNUT TREES HERE IN FLORIDA!HAVE YOU IMPORTED FROM PARTRIDGES? IF SO HOW MUCH DID THEY COST TO BE DELIVERED?I HEARD ABOUT WET WALNUTS FROM THE DOCTOR OZ TV SHOW AND FOUND IT TO BE QUITE INTERESTING. I HAVE ENJOYED THEM DRY FOR YEARS.AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE’S FARTHER ATE THEM WITH SPAGHETTI.SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT BE GOOD. LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY.
FRFANK