Spiced Nut Mix with Dried Fruit

I made this nut mix as a sample for an event. You can use whichever nuts and dried fruit you like best. My version used almonds, hazelnuts and cashews, with dried pineapple, peach and papaya.

It is very easy to eat more of this than you planned, so you may as well make a generous batch.

Ingredients

• 200 g almonds
• 200 g hazelnuts
• 200 g unsalted cashews
• 200 g mixed dried fruit, such as papaya, pineapple and peach
• 100 g sugar
• 3 tbsp water
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp ground cardamom
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp Maldon salt

Method

1. Line a baking tray with baking paper before you begin.
2. Put the sugar and water in a wide saucepan. Heat without stirring until the sugar has dissolved and begins to take on a little colour.
3. Add the nuts and stir well until they are coated in the sugar mixture.
4. Turn down the heat. Stir in the butter, cardamom, cinnamon, smoked paprika and salt.
5. Take the pan off the heat and fold in the dried fruit.
6. Quickly spread the mixture in a thin layer on the baking paper.
7. Leave to cool completely before breaking it into suitable pieces.

Storage

Keep the nut mix dry and in an airtight container. It works well as a snack, alongside cheese, or roughly chopped over yoghurt and ice cream.