Make the most of the must-have kitchen gadget with a selection of delicious and wholesome recipes featuring California Walnuts. With tasty ideas for every meal, these new recipes showcase the versatility of the super-(wal)nut and can all be cooked up in an air fryer.
With eight new recipes, four of which are heart healthy, they each use the flavours and textures of California Walnuts there is a fresh twist for every mealtime. Choose from tasty savoury options including Breakfast Bagels, Flatbreads, California Walnut, Squash and Chickpea Burgers or for something sweet, an irresistible Lemon & California Walnut Drizzle Cake.
California Walnuts offer multiple nutrition benefits from being the only tree nut to be a rich source of the plant-based omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), 2.7g/ 30g*, 4.4g of protein and 1.4g of fibre. They are packed with antioxidants, have an approved health claim relating to CVD and have the heart healthy seal of approval from Heart UK.
The Recipes:
For a delicious start to the day, the Breakfast Ham & California Walnut Bagels are easy to whip up before work or to share with friends and family over brunch. A sprinkling of California Walnuts brings a healthy twist to the cheesy topping.
Lunchtimes just got tastier! Choose from two heart-healthy recipes – the Mediterranean Vegetables and California Walnut Flatbreads are low in sat fats and bursting with goodness, whilst the California Walnut Tabbouleh Stuffed Peppers are a colourful alternative to sandwiches with less than 350 calories.
Bring a nutty spin to chicken dinner with Parmesan & California Walnut Chicken with Sweet Potato Chips. Whilst the heart healthy California Walnut & Herb Salmon with Potato Crisps makes a sophisticated fish supper that is low in saturated fat. For those looking for a vegetarian option, the Squash, California Walnut and Chickpea Burgers are simple to make and a healthy alternative to classic beef burgers if you’re looking to cut down on your meat intake.
For something sweet, the zesty Lemon and California Walnut Drizzle Cake makes the perfect afternoon pick me up. Or the Plum & California Walnut Galettes make a stunning dessert that can be made with peaches or plums.
Breakfast Ham & California Walnut Bagels
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 8-10 minutes
Serves 2
2 bagels, halved
2 slices honey roast ham
50g mature Cheddar, grated
2 medium eggs
25g California Walnuts, roughly chopped
Chopped parsley to serve
Line an air fryer tray with baking parchment.
Fill the bagels with ham then the Cheddar. Crack the egg into the hole in the centre of the top of the bagel, you might not need all the egg white. Sprinkle with the Walnuts and place in the tray.
Bake in the air fryer at 180oC for 8-10 minutes until the egg white has just set, cover with foil towards the end if looking a little dark. Sprinkle with parsley to serve.
Cooks tip
Try other cooked meats instead of ham, or Emmental instead of Cheddar.
Mediterranean Vegetable & California Walnut Flatbreads
HEART HEALTHY
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Serves 4
2 yellow peppers, diced into 2cm pieces
1 small courgette, diced into 2cm pieces
1 small aubergine, diced into 2cm pieces
1 red onion, diced into 2cm pieces
75g California Walnuts, roughly chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp sumac
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 flatbreads
200g tub reduced fat red pepper houmous
4 tbsp fat free natural yogurt
Mix all the vegetables in a large bowl with the Walnuts, oregano, sumac, vinegar and oil, season well. Spread out onto the tray of an air fryer and air fry at 200oC for 20-25 minutes, stirring once half way until golden and softened. Remove and set aside.
Add the flatbreads to the air fryer tray and air fry at 160oC for 3 minutes to warm up.
Spread the flatbreads with the houmous and top with the vegetables, serve topped with a spoonful of yogurt.
Cooks tip
Swap the sumac for pul biber to add extra spice. Or try topping with a poached egg for a more main meal.
California Walnut Tabbouleh Stuffed Peppers
HEART HEALTHY
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 25-30 minutes
Serves 4
100g giant wholewheat couscous
½ vegetable stock cube
2 tomatoes, finely chopped
Juice 1 lemon
25g pack flat leaf parsley, chopped
100g California Walnuts, chopped
2 red and 2 yellow peppers
1 tsp pul biber
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil + 1 tbsp
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
Salad to serve
Cook the couscous with the stock cube according to pack instructions, drain and cool. Stir in the tomatoes, lemon juice, parsley and half the Walnuts. Season well.
Cut the tops of the peppers, scoop out the seeds and discard. Spoon the tabbouleh into the peppers and place them, standing upright, in the tray of an air fryer. Add 3 tbsp water to the base of the tray.
Mix together the remaining Walnuts, pul biber and 1 tsp oil and sprinkle over the peppers.
Bake in the air fryer at 200oC for 10-15 minutes or until the peppers are tender, covering with foil towards the end if they look a little dark. Whisk together the 1 tbsp oil and vinegar, season and drizzle over the peppers.
Serve with a fresh salad.
Cooks tip
Use different colours of pepper to add colour.
Parmesan & California Walnut Chicken with Sweet Potato Chips
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30-35 minutes
Serves 2
2 chicken breast fillets
25g Parmigiano Reggiano, finely grated
25g California Walnuts, finely chopped + 1 tbsp
1 medium egg, beaten
227g can chopped tomatoes
6 mini mozzarella balls
1 medium sweet potato, skin on and cut into 1cm chips
1 tbsp olive oil
Basil leaves to garnish
Salad to serve
Beat the chicken breasts between 2 sheets baking parchment to give an even 1cm thickness.
Mix together the Parmesan and 25g finely chopped Walnuts on a plate. Dip the chicken in the egg then coat in the Walnut mixture. Line the tray of an air fryer with baking parchment and add the chicken. Air fry at 200oC for 15-20 minutes until golden and cooked through.
Meanwhile, cook the chopped tomatoes in a small saucepan for 4-5 minutes, stirring until thickened and reduced, season.
Spoon the tomato sauce over the chicken and top with mozzarella balls. Roughly chop the remaining Walnuts and sprinkle over the chicken. Air fry for 5-8 minutes until golden.
Toss the sweet potato chips with oil, season and place in the air fryer tray. Air fry for 10-15 minutes until golden and tender, turning halfway through. Serve with the Parmesan chicken scattered with basil leaves and some salad.
Cooks tip
Shop bought pasta sauce work well instead of the chopped tomatoes and try using frozen sweet potato chips. Cook the chips at the same time as the chicken if the air fryer has 2 trays.
California Walnut & Herb Salmon with Potato Crisps
HEART HEALTHY
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30-35 minutes
Serves 2
275g Maris Piper potatoes, thinly sliced
2 tsp oil
25g California Walnuts, finely chopped
Pinch chilli flakes
1 tsp harissa paste
½ tsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp chopped parsley
2 spring onions, finely chopped
2 salmon fillets
300g tenderstem broccoli
Rinse the potatoes in cold water until the water runs clear. Dry on a clean tea towel. Toss with the oil and season well. Transfer the potatoes to the tray of an air fryer and air fry at 200oC for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through until golden and crispy. Remove and set aside.
Mix together the Walnuts, chilli flakes, harissa, smoked paprika, parsley and spring onions and spoon on top of the salmon fillets. Line the air fryer tray with baking parchment and add the salmon. Air fry at 200oC for 8-10 minutes until golden and the salmon is just cooked through, covering loosely with foil towards the end if they look a little dark.
Meanwhile, steam the broccoli for 3-4 minutes or until just tender.
Serve salmon with the potato crisps and broccoli.
Cooks tip
Replace the chilli flakes and harissa with sun dried tomato paste for a less spicy version. Cook the salmon and crisps at the same time if your air fryer has 2 trays.
Squash, California Walnut & Chickpea Burgers
HEART HEALTHY
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Serves 2
150g peeled butternut squash, diced
½ x 400g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
50g California Walnuts, chopped
1 tbsp plain flour
1 tbsp chopped parsley
2 wholemeal pittas
Salad and fat free Greek yogurt to serve
Cook the squash in boiling water for about 10 minutes or until tender, drain and allow to cool.
Place the chickpeas in a large bowl and add the squash, crush with a potato masher or fork then stir in the Walnuts, flour and parsley, season and mix well. Divide into 4 small burgers.
Line the air fryer tray with baking parchment and add the burgers. Air fry for 15 minutes at 180oC until golden. Remove and add the pittas. Air fry for 2-3 minutes to toast.
Split the pittas open, fill with some salad and top with the burgers and a dollop of yogurt to serve.
Cooks tip
Try adding a pinch of chilli flakes to add some spice.
Lemon & California Walnut Drizzle Cake
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 35-40 minutes
Serves 9
175g butter, softened
1 lemon, zest and juice
175g caster sugar
3 large eggs
175g self-raising flour
50g California Walnuts, finely chopped + 25g roughly chopped
50g icing sugar, sifted
Grease and line the base and sides of an air fryer tray with baking parchment.
Whisk together the butter, lemon zest and caster sugar until pale and fluffy. Whisk in the eggs, 1 at a time. Stir the flour and 50g chopped Walnuts into the cake mixture with the juice of ½ lemon. Spoon into the prepared tray, level the surface and bake in the air fryer at 180oC for 35-40 minutes until a skewer comes out clean, cover with foil towards the end if it looks a little dark. Allow to cool.
Blend the icing sugar with 1-2 tsp lemon juice to give a smooth and thick, but pipeable consistency and drizzle, or pipe over the cake and sprinkle with remaining Walnuts. Cut into 9 to serve.
Cooks tip
Try adding a little ground cinnamon to the flour for extra flavour.
Plum & California Walnut Galettes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 14-15 minutes
Serves 2
3 ripe plums, halved and stoned
1 tbsp clear honey
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
200g shortcrust pastry
50g California Walnuts
1 medium egg, beaten
Whipped cream to serve
Line an air fryer tray with foil. Slice 2 plums and add to the tray, drizzle with honey and sprinkle over the cinnamon. Roast in the air fryer at 200oC for 8-10 minutes until softened. Allow to cool slightly.
Meanwhile, half the pastry into 2 balls and roll each ball to an 18cm circle on a lightly floured surface. Place 25g Walnuts in a food processor or blender and blitz until ground. Sprinkle the ground Walnuts over the pastry centre, leaving a 2cm border round the edges. Place the cooked plums over the Walnuts.
Slice the remaining plum and place 1 half in the centre of each circle, fanning it out slightly. Fold the pastry edges over the fruit to encase it. Brush the pastry with a little egg and sprinkle the remaining chopped Walnuts over the pastry and fruit. Line the air fryer tray with foil and add the galettes, bake in the air fryer at 200oC for 14-15 minutes until golden, cover with foil towards the end if looking a little dark.
Serve with lightly whipped cream.
Cooks tip
Try using peaches or pears instead of plums.