Almond-Pistachio Nougat
- 3 cups roasted almonds
- 3/4 cup unsalted shelled pistachios
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1 2/3 cups plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup light honey
- 1 3/4 cups water
- 2 large egg whites, at room temperature
- Pinch of salt
- Preheat the oven to 200.
- Spread the almonds and pistachios on a large baking sheet and keep warm in the oven.
- Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing the paper to hang over on two opposite sides.
- Lightly spray the paper with vegetable oil spray.
- In a bowl, combine the cornstarch and confectioners' sugar and dust the pan with half of the mixture.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the 1 2/3 cups of granulated sugar with 1/4 cup of the honey and the water and bring to a boil.
- When the temperature of the syrup reaches 245 F on a candy thermometer, after 20 to 30 minutes, bring the remaining 1/2 cup of honey to a boil in a small saucepan.
- Continue cooking the sugar syrup.
- Meanwhile, in the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the whisk, beat the egg whites with the salt until firm peaks form.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar; beat until combined.
- When the pure honey reaches 265 F on a candy thermometer, after 5 to 8 minutes, add it in a fast, steady steam to the egg whites with the mixer at medium-high speed.
- When the sugar syrup reaches 305 F, add it to the egg whites in a fast, steady stream and beat at high speed until the mixture is pale, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Using an oiled wooden spoon, immediately stir in the hot nuts (the nougat will be a bit stiff).
- Scrape the nougat into the prepared pan, and, using oiled hands, press it into an even layer.
- Dust the remaining cornstarch mixture on top, cover and let cool.
- Lift the nougat from the pan and brush off the excess cornstarch powder.
- Using a serrated knife, cut the nougat into 3/4-inch slices.
- Cut the slices in pieces and serve, or wrap in wax paper and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
almonds, pistachios, cornstarch, confectioners, sugar, light honey, water, egg whites, salt
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/almond-pistachio-nougat (may not work)