crock pot nuts

Mixed Nuts | Melchoir | Wikimedia Commons

Previously I had posted some delicious snack mix recipes for the crock pot. I wanted to share another great use for your crock pot, seasoned nuts.  At this time of year a lot of nuts are available in the grocery store fairly inexpensively.  Making seasoned nuts is easy, tasty, and extremely versatile.  They can even make great gifts when packaged in a cute jar with a bow or fabric top.


I love nuts as a snack.  They're high in protein and although they're also high in fat unsaturated making them heart healthy. I like to use raw nuts and soak them.  They also have lots of micronutrients, different ones for different nuts.  


Soaking the nuts will help break down the enzymes that protect them from germinating too early.  Breaking down these enzymes will make the nutrients more available.  How long you soak nuts depends on what type they are.  You can use this soaking/sprouting chart that I found online as a reference.  To soak nuts I prefer to add 1 T. of an acidic medium to the soaking water, usually liquid whey left over from making homemade Greek yogurt, but in a pinch lemon juice will do.


You do need to dry the nuts after soaking before you make these recipes.  You can either use a dehydrator or cook them on low (200 F) in your oven.  When they are completely dry they are ready to eat as is or spice them up a bit.


Crock Pot Roasted Nuts


4 c. raw soaked nuts
1/2 C. melted organic butter
seasonings


Cook on low for 2-3 hours, stirring every 30 minutes, with the lid off
When done turn off the crock pot and let the mixture cool completely in the crock before jarring up


How you season them is up to you.  I have a couple of mixes that I like but feel free to go ahead and make up your own.


1 T. Penzey's taco seasoning + 1/2 t. hot sauce or 1 t. red pepper flakes


1 T. tamari sauce + 1/2 t. garlic powder + 1/4 t. sea salt


1 T. curry powder + 1/2 t. ground cinnamon


1 T. sucanat + 2 t. ground cinnamon + 1/4 t. nutmeg


2 t. vanilla + 2 t. sucanat + 1/2 t. pumpkin pie spice