1 cup dry roasted hazelnuts
2 tablespoons bee pollen
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
Directions:
Place the pollen, sugar and salt in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder and grind until a fine powder forms. Heat the oil in a small skillet. Add the nuts and toss occasionally for 1 minute. Pour into a bowl. Sprinkle with the pollen mixture. Toss to coat. Pour into a fine mesh sieve and shake off excess powder.
My thoughts:
I bought bee pollen at the farmers market ages ago with the idea of making some pollen caramels like the divine ones sold by Vosges but never quite got around to it. Then yesterday I came across a passing reference to a dessert that featured bee pollen and almonds in a food memoir and then a box of Freddy Guys hazelnuts arrived and it seemed fortuitous. They were super simple to make and tasted great out of hand or in a salad. The bee pollen has a fruity herbal flavor that pairs wonderfully with the toasty nuts. The sugar adds a touch of sweetness and helps the bee pollen adhere to the nuts.
Bee pollen! I’ve never tried it before, but you make it sound so accessible and delicious on these hazelnuts. I’ll have to look out for it at the farmer’s market.
Wow, Ive never heard of bee pollen either. Sounds so sweet and delicious!
Bee pollen! Very alluring! That same memoir is sitting on my coffee table waiting patiently to be read. I need to get a move on…
I love bee pollen! It is so good, my mom used to give it to me growing up, for health reasons, but it’s a real treat; it sound great on hazelnuts.
Sounds great! BTW, I get bee pollen at my local health food supermarket (in the bulk aisle).
I’ve never used bee pollen before. Looks delicious on the hazelnuts!
This is completely new to me.
What is the texture like? I’m guessing it melts…
Abby-
Ground up like this the pollen does sort of melt but as-is, it is like soft pellets.
What a great idea…would have never thought of combining the two!
Do you have to be careful with the heat with the bee pollen? I’ve never really cooked with it.
Emily-
For this recipe the pollen wasn’t really heated so it was fine. In my experience cooking with it is sort of melts which may or may not be a good thing depending on what you are using it for.
What a great idea. I’ve been trying to think of a way to use the bee pollen at the markets.