Grillage

Homemade treat from French confectioners or nougat - this is roasted nuts in caramel. I won't say it's very healthy, but it's certainly not worse than store-bought candies. The best choice when you want something sweet, and without coloring agents and preservatives. The most important thing - nougat is only for strong teeth!

You will need:

Walnuts — 1 cup (or any other nuts)
Sugar — 2 cups
Lemon juice — 1 tsp

How to prepare:

1. Nougat can be made from any nuts. Walnuts are the most accessible and budget-friendly option. Nougat made from almonds is also very tasty.
If you have already bought peeled nuts, you won’t have to deal with shells. Whole nuts need to be carefully cracked, it's better to use a nutcracker for this, and very carefully separate the kernels from the skins and shell pieces - who would like to find a hard piece in their teeth?
You can slightly roast the nuts in the oven for about 10 minutes at a temperature of 180 degrees, it will taste better.

2. First of all, during the process of making caramel, you should not be distracted by anything or anyone. If you get distracted for a minute, your nougat will burn. The process of caramelizing sugar is very fascinating, which is why kids love it, but you should not forget about safety. Caramel burns occur instantly and are very severe, and they take a long time to heal - the temperature of the caramel mass reaches 160 degrees.

Another important question is the cookware. What to use for making caramel? You can forget about non-stick pots and pans right away, if you still value them - sugar granules severely damage the coating. You need a sturdy cast-iron skillet with a thick bottom and high sides or a saucepan. The cookware should provide a more or less even heat across the entire surface.

Place the skillet on medium heat and warm it slightly, add half of the sugar, and start constantly stirring with a spatula. As soon as the sugar starts to melt, gradually add the remaining sugar while continuing to stir with the spatula. Once all the sugar has melted, add the lemon juice and keep stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture boils. Watch the color of the mixture; if you have a dark skillet, place a sheet of white paper nearby - you can monitor the caramelization process by the color of the drops. The melted sugar mass will first turn light yellow, and then it will gradually darken. The darker the caramel, the more pronounced the taste of burnt sugar. It is enough to bring the caramel to a light brown color, and you can add the nuts.

Reduce the heat to the lowest setting to prevent the caramel from burning. Mix well to ensure that all the nuts are evenly coated with caramel, and roast them for about 5 minutes. Spread parchment paper on the table, place the caramel-coated nuts on it, and evenly distribute them with a spatula, leaving them to cool.

3. Nougat is a delicious treat on its own. It pairs wonderfully with hot tea or coffee.

Enjoy your meal!

Tips:
– Nougat can be made from crushed nuts. Spread the hot caramel mass with nuts in a thin layer on parchment paper, and when it cools, break it into small pieces.
– Store nougat (if you have any leftovers) in a dry, tightly closed container for 5 days.