With the roadmap now announced, there are still many more lunches to be made at home until we return to ‘normal’, so if you are tired of the same midday meal, to help, California Walnuts have shared four tasty yet simple solutions.
The unique taste and texture of walnuts mean they can be used to add crunch, sweetness, colour and more, to sweet and savoury recipes.
California Walnuts are also the only tree nut to contain a significant amount of the plant-based omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), 2.7g/ 30g*, that the body needs but can only get from food.
So, on your next at-home lunch break, why not try adding a handful of California Walnuts to salads, trying them as a topping on toast, or blending into soups?
Lunchtime Recipe Ideas – Chicken, California Walnut & Grape Salad
Prep: 10 minutes. Cook: 10 minutes. Serves 2
- ½ ciabatta, torn into bite sized pieces
- 100g California Walnut Halves
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 100g low fat natural yogurt
- 1 tbsp chopped chives
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 100g rocket
- 200g roast chicken breast, shredded
- 150g red seedless grapes, halved
Preheat the oven to 200oC, gas mark 6.
Place the bread and walnuts on a baking tray and toss in the oil to coat, season and bake for 10 minutes until golden.
Mix together the yogurt, chives and vinegar, season. Place the rocket on 2 plates, drizzle with a little dressing, top with the croutons and walnuts then scatter over the chicken and grapes, then drizzle the remaining dressing over the salad to serve.
Cooks tip
A great way to use up any day-old bread and any leftover roast chicken or turkey. Try white grapes or a mixture of the two.
Lunchtime Recipe Ideas – Paprika & California Walnut Scrambled Egg Bagel
Prep: 5 minutes. Cook: 2-3 minutes. Serves 1
- 1 bagel, halved
- 75g baby spinach
- ½ tbsp oil
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- 25g California Walnut Pieces, chopped
- 2 medium eggs, beaten
- 1 tbsp milk
- Sprinkle of chopped chives to serve
Toast the bagel and set on a plate.
Meanwhile, place the spinach in a microwaveable bowl, cover with cling film and microwave on high for 1 minute or until just wilted.
Heat the oil, paprika and walnuts in a small saucepan until it just starts to sizzle, remove and set aside. Beat the eggs and milk together and season. Add the eggs to the pan and stir gently to scramble.
Place the spinach on top of the bagel and top with the eggs. Serve sprinkled with the reserved walnuts and chives.
Cooks tip
For a spicy version, try using hot smoked paprika. Simply use to top your favourite toast or serve with pan fried leeks instead of the spinach.
Lunchtime Recipe Ideas – California Walnut & Date Yoghurt Toasts
Prep: 5 minutes. Cook: 2-3 minutes. Serves 2
- 4 tbsp Greek yoghurt
- 3 dates roughly chopped
- 8 California walnut halves roughly chopped
- Half a clove of garlic minced
- 1 tbsp walnut oil
- A pinch of salt and pepper
- 2 large slices of bread toasted
- 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds
- A handful of rocket
Stir the yoghurt and place in a mixing bowl. Add the dates, walnuts, minced garlic and walnut oil and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Top the toasted bread with the date mixture, then sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and rocket to serve.
Lunchtime Recipe Ideas – Creamy California Walnut & Tomato Soup
Serves: 4 Prep: 10 minutes. Cook: 40-45 minutes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- 450ml vegetable stock
- 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste
- 1/2 tsp caster sugar
- 400g can chopped tomatoes
- Pepper to taste
- 100g California Walnuts
- 3 tbsp basil, shredded
- California Walnut Parmesan (see recipe below)
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes.
Add vegetable stock, salt, sugar and tomatoes, cover and cook over low heat for 35-40 minutes. Season with pepper.
Meanwhile make walnut cream by placing the walnuts and 125ml water in a blender and blitz until smooth and creamy, set aside.
Add basil to the tomato soup and puree with stick blender until very smooth.
Stir in walnut cream and garnish with additional basil and Shaved Walnut Parmesan.
Lunchtime Recipe Ideas – California Walnut Parmesan (for the recipe above)
Serves: 6 Prep: 35 minutes
- 60g California walnuts
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 tsp salt
Toss walnuts in oil, then sprinkle with nutritional yeast and salt in a small bowl. Freeze for 30 minutes.
Thinly shave on a mandolin like shaved Parmesan.
*Approx. a handful