TOASTING AND PEELING HAZELNUTS

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Hazelnuts are covered with a dark brown skin that can taste quite bitter. Toasting the nuts in a 350-degree oven until fragrant (about 15 minutes) both improves the flavor of the nuts themselves and makes it easier to remove their skins. Here’s how to accomplish this task.

1. Transfer hot, toasted nuts to center of a clean kitchen towel. Fold towel around nuts to seal them inside, then rub them together in towel to scrape off as much brown skin as possible.

2. Once you open the towel, you’ll see that skins have come away from nuts. It’s fine if some small patches of skin remain.