Do You Know How…

DRIED FRUITS AND NUTS ARE USED IN DIFFERENT WORLD CUISINES

-Almonds, pine nuts or hazelnuts are used for pesto sauces, pasta sauces, and to flavor oils and spreads in Italy. They are also used a lot in dessert and baking. The most popular dried fruits present in Italian cuisine are mainly featured in desserts, they are berries, figs, pears, cherries, apples and plums.

-Nuts in French cuisine are mainly used primarily in baking desserts and breads or to make oils Almonds, pistachios, walnuts and hazelnuts are the most predominantly used nuts. Dried fruits are used mainly in desserts or used to create concentrated flavoring agents for sweet and savory dishes; heavily used dried fruits are peaches, apricots, apples, plums, cherries, strawberries, and raspberries.

-Greeks have been using died fruit for centuries. The most common dried fruits that are used in cooking (sweet items not as much as savory) are apricots, raisins, dates, cherries, apples, pears, plums, and figs. Nuts are utilized in everything from baking, adding texture and flavor to savory dishes, to eating raw as a snack. The most popular nuts are pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, and pistachios.

-Peanuts are the most popular nut in Indonesian cuisine. They are typically used as a garnish or ground into a paste and mixed with spices, coconut milk ad water to make peanut sauce. Dried fruits are usually eaten as a palette cleanser during meals, as a dessert or snack; the most common are bananas, mangoes, & papaya.

-Japanese cuisine doesn’t utilize nuts as much as other cultures when it comes to main dishes. When nuts are found in Japanese cuisine it is usually peanuts either in a paste, sauce, or oil. Dried fruits are more commonly used than nuts, but their availability can fluctuate with the weather and current season; most popular are apples, cherries, and figs.

-Nuts are very heavily used in Spanish cuisine. Almonds, pine nuts and hazelnuts are often ground down and used to thicken and enrich the flavor of stews, sauces and soups. Peanuts, walnuts and pistachios are also used in fillings for poultry and fish in soups, in many sweet dishes and pastries, along with basic ingredient in turrón. Dried fruits are utlizied in stews along with the nuts, but also used to sweeten breads and desserts. The most commonly used dried fruits are apples, raisins, cherries, dates, and figs.

-Caribbean cuisine is typically spicy and to counteract the spice, they take advantage of the plentiful varieties of tropical fruits. The most popular fruits that are dried and used are plantains, bananas, coconut, mango, papaya, and pineapple. The most commonly used nuts in Caribbean cuisine are peanuts, almonds, and cashews because they grow in the Tropical environment, are easy to manipulate (turning into a paste or sauce), and are versatile for many different types of dishes.

-Most dried fruits in Chinese cuisine are used to balance the flavors of a dish. Goji berries, and ginger are two of the most commonly eaten dried fruits during meals and in desserts. Nuts, like cashews and almonds, are used mainly in stir fries and other dishes for their crunchy and nutty flavor. While peanuts are also used in stir fries and in sauces, they can be used to create peanut oil for frying.

-While Germans are known for their heavy and hearty savory dishes, they also produce delicious desserts, many of which utilize nuts. Hazelnuts, almonds, chestnuts, and sometimes even black walnuts are used in candy and cake fillings. Dried fruits can be found in many different places in German cuisine including sauce enhancers, interesting additions to various hand made meat products, and in desserts. The most popular dried fruits are cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.

-In Indian cuisine, nuts are used very frequently. Peanuts, almonds, pistachios, and cashews are used in savory dishes like curries and pilaus. They are used as textural/flavoring additions to sweet desserts like milk fudge and rice pudding. Unlike others, Indian cuisine uses dired fruits in a lot of savory dishes from curries to savory pastries filled with vegetables and dried fruits. The most popular dried fruits are apples, apricots, bananas, figs, mangoes, papayas, and raisins.

-In Thai cuisine, dried fruits are eaten mainlyas a dessert or in between course of a long meal. They are also used in stir fry-like noodle dishes. The most common dried fruits are coconut, mangoes, pineapples, bananas, and papayas. Peanuts are used in multiple ways in Thai cuisines: peanuts are ground into pastes to add flavorm richness, and texture to food. They are also crushed or used whole to garnish or sprinkled over foods such as noodle dishes and salads.