Once reserved only for royalties and people from the higher class, it is not a surprise that the walnut – amazingly delicious and packed full of goodies seed, is one of the best known and loved nuts in the world today.
It is not certain where the walnut originated from. Archeologists assume it might have come from Ancient Persia, though signs of people using walnuts have been spotted as far as the Himalayas and into Turkey, Italy, and Switzerland. The botanical name of the walnut tree is Juglans Regia and it comes from the ancient Romans, meaning “The royal acorn of Jupiter” – very fancy, wouldn’t you say?! In Afghanistan, it is called Charmarghz (four brains) since walnuts resemble a human brain.
The most common types of walnuts around the world are the English walnut (that comes from ancient Persia, but was made known around the world by English merchants, hens the name) and the black walnut – indigenous to North America.
Nutritional value
In a 100g of serving there is 654 kcal. Walnuts contain a rich variety of healthy goods like antioxidants, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. They are also an amazing source of monounsaturated fatty acid, phosphorus, Vitamin B, and manganese. The walnut oil is particularly interesting because it is largely composed of polyunsaturated fatty acid that can be beneficial in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Around the world
Walnuts are extremely versatile with their culinary uses as they can be eaten raw, roasted, with salty or sweet dishes and even pickled. For example, in Iran, they use walnuts to prepare a dish called Khoresh-e Fesenjān – a stew made with pomegranate syrup and grounded walnuts. In Turkey, walnuts are added to a lot of sweet desserts, including Halva and Baklava. They are also an irreplaceable ingredient in the famous Mediterranean diet. In France, they like to cover roasted walnut in cocoa butter and cocoa for a delicious and delicate sweet snack. In Syria, a dish called Muhammara is prepared with Aleppo peppers, grounded walnuts, olive oil, and breadcrumbs. It is an amazingly tasty spread for all the spicy food lovers. Walnuts are a must-have on Bulgarian tables during New Year. It is an old tradition to break a walnut in order to see what the upcoming year would look like.