Walnut Butter Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spread nuts in one layer on a baking sheet. Toast until fragrant and lightly colored, about 10 minutes. Stir about halfway through the baking time.
• Add nuts to a food processor, discarding any dried skin and dust. Add the salt and chop the nuts finely. With the motor running, drizzle in the oil. Whirl until the nuts are ground into butter, stopping to scrape down the sides two or three times.

Steps:

• Combine 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 2 teaspoons honey and a bay leaf in a saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until syrupy, 5 minutes. Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat, then add 1/3 cup sage leaves and 1 cup chopped walnuts; cook 3 minutes. Add 1 cup pasta-cooking water and cook until reduced by half, 2 minutes. Toss with 1 pound cooked tortellini, some grated parmesan and salt. Drizzle with the balsamic syrup.

Steps:

• Soaked walnuts: This method will remove some of the tannin and bitterness from the walnut skin, and offer a more textured walnut butter. Soak walnuts overnight, drain and discard the water. Then, toast the walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet at 350°F for up to 15 minutes to dry them out (don't allow them get dark). Cool the walnuts before making them into butter.
• Toasted walnuts: To enhance the sweet, nutty flavor of walnuts, toast them before making them into butter. Walnut butter with toasted walnuts will provide a coarse textured finished product. Toast walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet at 350°F for 8 to 10, or until fragrant. Cool the walnuts before making them into butter.
• To make the butter: Put the walnuts in the bowl of a food processor and grind them until they become sticky or paste-like. Add the salt. Add the oil, a little bit at a time until the walnut butter binds together. Add the honey and/or cinnamon to taste.

Steps:

• Place walnuts, orange peel, pepper and salt in a food processor; cover and process until creamy. Spread on toast, with preserves and Brie if desired.