Hazelnut
Corylus avellana · Nut
Top 10 pairings
A round, hard-shelled nut from the hazel shrub, with a sweet, buttery kernel eaten raw or roasted. Praline, gianduja and Nutella are all built on it.
Picking a good onedrag
Fresh kernel, sweet and snappingRancid, or mouldy
Sound and sweetEveryday bestRoast for praline or dukkah. Tree nuts are a major allergen, even roasted, so name them when serving.
The kernelPale, skin looser, surface matte
Snap oneFirm, softer snap, duller face
Smell, then tasteQuieter, faintly buttery, little else