ingredient
Nozes
By Carlos Automatico
Portuguese walnuts harvested in autumn from the ancient trees of Trás-os-Montes, used in sweets, stuffings, and liqueurs.
Walnut trees have grown in Portugal for centuries, particularly in Trás-os-Montes and the Beiras. The nuts are harvested in October and November, dried in the sun, and stored for year-round use. Portuguese walnuts are smaller and more intensely flavoured than many commercial varieties.
Nozes appear in conventual sweets, Christmas dried fruit platters, salads with queijo de cabra, and as a filling for stuffed figs. Licor de noz, a walnut liqueur made with green walnuts steeped in aguardente, is a beloved homemade digestif.