Nougat

Nougat is a confectionery made with sugar or honey, roasted nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios or hazelnuts are common) and sometimes chopped, candied fruit. The consistency of nougat can range from chewy to hard depending on its composition. White nougat is made with beaten egg white and is soft, whereas brown nougat is made with caramelized sugar and has a firmer texture.

Related Topics:
Confectionery - Sugar - Honey - Nut - Almond - Walnut - Pistachio - Hazelnut - Fruit - Egg white

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Nougat is particularly popular in southern Europe: for example, in Italy in Cremona, in France in Montélimar and in Spain at Christmas (where it is called turrón, or torró in Catalan). The first appearance of nougat was described in the "Istoria Naturalis" by Plinius the Old. As for him it was in Augusta Taurinorum, the current Turin.

Related Topics:
Italy - Cremona - France - Montélimar - Spain - Christmas - Turrón - Catalan - Turin

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The nougat found in many modern candy bars is not very similar to traditional nougat recipes, being a mixture of sucrose and corn syrup aerated with a whipping agent such as egg albumen or hydrolyzed soya protein. It may also have vegetable fats, milk powder and nuts added.

Related Topics:
Candy bar - Sucrose - Corn syrup - Soya - Vegetable fat - Milk - Powder

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Spanish turrón follows the traditional recipes with toasted almonds (66%), sugar, honey (12%) and egg white with a net weight of c. 300 g.

Related Topics:
Almond - %

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Nougat is used in American candy bars including the Snickers, Milky Way and 3 Musketeers Bars.

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Persian nougat is yet another variety that has been produced in Isfahan - Iran for many centuries by Ashrafi nougat and other traditional producers.

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