Nut Identification

[liuzhou]

Excuse my profound ignorance, but does anyone know what these nuts are? I bought them on a whim, but they were unlabelled and the supermarket staff were in their usual fog of senselessness.

 

They are rock hard, so I'm guessing they need cooking in some way.

 

 

[liuzhou]

Well, I've found out, but would still like to hear your guesses and any suggested uses.

 

[Kerry Beal]

9 hours ago, liuzhou said:

Excuse my profound ignorance, but does anyone know what these nuts are? I bought them on a whim, but they were unlabelled and the supermarket staff were in their usual fog of senselessness.

 

They are rock hard, so I'm guessing they need cooking in some way.

 

 

Shea nuts?

[liuzhou]

4 hours ago, Kerry Beal said:

Shea nuts?

 

No

[cdh]

Look like pine nuts... but they never get rock hard... are you sure they're not some sort of beans?  They get rock hard. 

[Kerry Beal]

Other guesses would be palm kernels or argan - but they don't look quite right for those.

[liuzhou]

25 minutes ago, cdh said:

Look like pine nuts... but they never get rock hard... are you sure they're not some sort of beans?  They get rock hard. 

 

Technically, they are seeds, but often described as "nuts".

 

24 minutes ago, Kerry Beal said:

Other guesses would be palm kernels or argan - but they don't look quite right for those.

 

You are getting closer.

[Kerry Beal]

5 minutes ago, liuzhou said:

 

Technically, they are seeds, but often described as "nuts".

 

 

You are getting closer.

Ok then - pilli nuts (manila nuts) is my last offer!

 

[liuzhou]

4 minutes ago, Kerry Beal said:

Ok then - pilli nuts (manila nuts) is my last offer!

 

 

No

[Kerry Beal]

Just now, liuzhou said:

 

No

I'm out

[liuzhou]

OK. They are jackfruit seeds (or nuts).

[JeanneCake]

What will you do with them?  How are they prepared?

[Margaret Pilgrim]

This question is somehow mind boggling on this or most internet boards.   I mean, how do we really identify the nuts among us, ourselves included.    To see ourselves, etc, etc.  

[donk79]

1 hour ago, liuzhou said:

OK. They are jackfruit seeds (or nuts).

Very interesting.  I have heard of this, and may have to consider keeping the seeds next time I buy jackfruit.  Please do let us know the results!

[liuzhou]

6 hours ago, donk79 said:

Very interesting.  I have heard of this, and may have to consider keeping the seeds next time I buy jackfruit.  Please do let us know the results!

 

Ok. I took a handful of them and gave them a test boil for 30 minutes. After letting them cool, I tried them. Yes, sort of chestnut-y and quite pleasant. I can see me using them in a chicken Chinese dish usually made with chestnuts.

 

Sadly, I don't have the equipment to try oven roasting them, but I'm sure that would work too. I'm told 20 minutes at 200ºC / 400ºF does the job.

It's also possible to pan roast them. Maybe I'll try that later.