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Walnuts

By FamilyTable Contributors | March 28, 2023

Walnuts are the superfoods of the nut community. With higher antioxidant and omega-3 levels than any other nut, they help promote heart health and brain health, and help protect our bodies from cancer. They also provide a truckload of vitamins and minerals, including copper, folic acid, magnesium, vitamin B and E, and phosphorus.

It’s easy to add these little gems to your daily food intake; sprinkle them in granola, mix them into brownies, top your salad with a toasted bunch, or snack on them straight from the bag. And, of course, enjoy them in these super-satisfying Pesach recipes.

In a Nutshell

Keeping It Cool

It’s best to store walnuts in an airtight container in your fridge or freezer instead of in your dry food cabinet.

Smashing Success

Smashing as many walnuts as possible using the elbow is actually a competitive sport in some parts of the world!

Food for Thought

The raw form of a full walnut in a shell looks eerily similar to a human brain encased by a skull. Studies have shown that a diet high in walnuts can decrease motor decline.

Rainbow Salad with Sweet Lemon Dressing

Recipe by Faigy Grossman

Serve this enticing salad as a beautiful appetizer for your Yom Tov seudah as is, or add a small piece of simple grilled salmon or chicken on top.

SERVES 8

1 8-oz (225-g) pkg shredded lettuce
1 small candy cane beet, very thinly sliced (see note)
1 green apple, halved and very thinly sliced
1 large carrot, peeled
chopped walnuts, for garnish

Dressing

¼ cup + 1 Tbsp lemon juice
¼ cup oil
¼ cup honey
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp white wine
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper

Divide lettuce among plates. Arrange the beet and apple slices on top. Using a peeler, peel the carrot into long ribbons. Divide carrot ribbons among plates.

In a small bowl, mix dressing ingredients together until combined. Drizzle dressing over salad and sprinkle chopped walnuts over the top.

Note: Candy cane beets are beautifully striped beets that taste sharper than a red beet, almost like a radish. If you can’t find one, you can substitute with a watermelon radish or a regular radish.

Walnut-Crusted Salmon with Garlic Aioli

Recipe by Estee Kafra

Simple and tasty, this is a twist on salmon your family will love.

SERVES 6

6 salmon fillets, cut into cubes
lemon juice, for drizzling
mayonnaise, for smearing
2 cups ground walnuts
½ cup matzah meal
1 Tbsp rosemary
salt and pepper, to taste
oil, for frying

Garlic Aioli

½ cup mayonnaise
2 cloves garlic, minced, or 2 cubes frozen garlic
1 Tbsp lemon juice
½ tsp imitation mustard
salt, to taste

Pour lemon juice over salmon cubes. Set up a breading station with mayonnaise in one bowl and walnuts and matzah meal seasoned with rosemary, salt, and pepper in the other. Coat the salmon cubes first in mayonnaise, then in walnut mixture.

Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the breaded salmon over medium heat for 2–3 minutes per side, or until cooked through.

For the garlic aioli: In a bowl, whisk together all ingredients. The aioli can be refrigerated for up to two days.

Note: You can sub ¹⁄₂ cup ground almonds for the matzah meal if you don’t use matzah meal on Pesach.