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Gozinaki
Gozinaki: Georgian New Year walnut and honey diamonds
Gozinaki is the sweet every Georgian family makes for New Year's Eve, from Tbilisi flats to Kakhetian farmhouses: toasted walnuts stirred into honey boiled until thick, spread on a wet board and cut into diamonds that set glossy and crunchy. Children help shell the walnuts in December, and a plate of gozinaki sits on the table for the midnight toasts. A common mistake is taking the honey off too early; it stays sticky and the pieces never set. Chef's tip: cook the honey until a drop in cold water forms a firm, pliable ball, then work fast, because the mixture sets as it cools.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
For the gozinaki
- 14 oz walnut halves
- 9 oz runny honey
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 bowl cold waterto wet the board and test
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Toast 14 oz walnut halves in a dry pan over a medium heat for 6–8 minutes, stirring, until golden and fragrant. Cool, rub off loose skins and chop roughly.
8 minStep 2: Bring 9 oz runny honey and 1 tbsp sugar to the boil in a heavy pan over a medium heat, then cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring often, until it darkens and a drop in cold water forms a firm ball. Common mistake: stopping too soon; it never sets.
10 minStep 3: Tip in the walnuts and stir for 2–3 minutes over a low heat, until every piece is coated and the honey turns a deeper amber.
3 minStep 4: Wet a wooden board or baking tray with cold 1 bowl cold water. Spread the mixture on it 1 cm thick, smoothing with a wet spatula.
Step 5: While still warm, cut into diamonds with a wet knife. Leave for 1 hour to set hard, then break apart along the cuts. Store in a tin for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 14 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does gozinaki take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of runny honey?
- Maple syrup or golden syrup, same amount.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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