can you unsalt a salted nut?

11 years ago

My recipe calls for unsalted pistachios. I can only find salted - either shelled or in the shells. Can I quickly blanch them to get the salt off?

Could I substitute pecans?

Here is a link that might be useful: Chow Mexican Wedding Cookies

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Comments (7)

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
11 years ago
I like these cookies better when they're a little "too salty" and usually add quite a bit of extra sea salt. Your linked recipe calls for salt, so I would think that if you used the salted nuts and didn't add the extra salt, you'd come out about even Steven.
donna_in_sask
11 years ago
You can rinse off the salt, dry well and very lightly toast them to give it that final dry. However, I would probably do what the above poster recommends and omit the salt in place of the salted nuts. There have been a lot of new sweet desserts that are topped with savoury seasonings like sea salt and even bacon!
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It really varies to the person. I used to use salted all the time. But then, that's pretty much all that was available unless you wanted that gawdawful margarine. Then I made some mud bars and the frosting was so dang salty it was not edible and I only put in the pinch required in the recipe as I had always done. Couldn't eat it. Was bringing them to work so I made another batch omitting the salt. Still pretty salty. I think the salt varies in butter at times unless I all of a sudden got more sensitive to it and I have always been a salt freak. I'd put salt on ham. So at that time unsalted butter was out and some of the shows said to use unsalted butter for baking which I did. Then I figured why bother buying both so I just bought unsalted. To me the taste is fine, again, especially compared to that imitation grease. I'll go without rather than eat that stuff. The ratio of salted to unsalted in most stores around here is equalizing as time goes on. Still probably 2-1 most of the time but it used to be cases of salted and one facing of unsalted. Cost now is the same. Theoretically, most recipes unless specified shouldn't make a big difference. If I'm making something with a lot of butter in it though I'd assume the salt in the butter could make a difference. I'm a lot more cautious since throwing out that good fudge! If for instance you're frying potatoes in butter, well the potatoes can always use the salt so do what you want. Seems to me baking is where the difference would arise.
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lindac
11 years ago
I make that same cookie with pecans.....and call them "pecan snow balls"....carefully skirting any political issues...;P.
I'd use pecans until you can find unsalted pistachios. Trader Joe's carrys them...like ground as a coating for fish cillets to be baked.

Here is a link that might be useful: pistachios
cynic
11 years ago
I grew up knowing them as "snowballs" and when I found the similar recipe it was called "Mexican Wedding Cookies". (Interesting trivia tidbit about Russian Teacakes, if true). I don't put nuts in mine. Grew up without them and prefer the texture without the nuts.

If you want them in there, just omit the salt and they should be fine. You could always try a small batch first to see what you think of them.
colleenoz
11 years ago
I make mine with pecans, they are one of my most popular Christmas Cookies. Oddly my mother, who also made them as part of her Christmas cookie repertoire, called them "Swedish Wedding Cookies" :-)
westsider40
11 years ago
These are 'nut butter balls' from a Good Housekeeping cookbook, ca., 1958, altho no zest and only extract is vanilla. One of my two fave cookies in the world. Pecans or walnuts, unsalted.

I do sometimes rinse salted nuts in my hand, under the faucet. Gotta be careful. Then close your fist and shake! Repeat, every 10 minutes!
bbstx
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, all! DD was able to find unsalted pistachios at her local Trader Joe's (which is also the closest Trader Joe's to me but the 4 hour drive for me, makes "local" relative). She is bringing them when she comes home this weekend!

If these cookies are good, I'll make again with pecans!

I don't know why I didn't think of using salted nuts and reducing other salt in the recipe!

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can you unsalt a salted nut?

Comments (7)

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL

donna_in_sask

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can you unsalt a salted nut?

Comments (7)

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL

donna_in_sask

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lindac

cynic

colleenoz

westsider40

bbstxOriginal Author

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bbstx
Original Author