Name: Orange-Cardamom Spiced Nuts
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Ingredients: 1 large egg white; 1 tablespoon grated orange zest; 1 tablespoon orange juice; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 pound unsalted nuts (see note); 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon ground cardamom; 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Why This Recipe Works

Oil, melted butter, and other common Orange-Cardamom Spiced Nuts coatings made for greasy hands and didn’t coat the nuts evenly. We found egg whites mixed with a little orange juice and salt worked best. Slow-roasting the nuts at a low temperature ensured they cooked completely without scorching the exterior.

Before You Begin

Almonds and pistachios are a good combination here. To double the recipe, adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and bake the nuts on 2 baking sheets, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking.

Instructions

COAT NUTS Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray. Whisk egg white, orange juice, orange zest, vanilla extract, and salt in large bowl. Add nuts and toss to coat. Drain in colander thoroughly, 4 to 5 minutes.

SEASON NUTS Mix sugar, ground cardamom, and pepper in large bowl. Add drained nuts and toss to coat. Spread nuts evenly on prepared baking sheet and bake until dry and crisp, 40 to 45 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through baking time. Cool completely. Break nuts apart and serve. (Nuts can be stored in airtight container for 3 weeks.)