There’s more than nougat
Sweets made with roasted nuts or seeds come in all kinds of varieties. In the Netherlands, we’re most familiar with nougat, but have you ever heard of halva or turrón? They’re every bit as delicious.
These sweet snacks often come from countries with a warm climate. It makes sense: nuts are abundant there thanks to the climate. And they’re endlessly varied: soft, hard, with pistachio, almond or sesame, with dried strawberries, cranberries or chocolate.
Nougat
The French version of this energy-rich snack. In the Netherlands, the very best nougat is made by pastry chef Hidde de Brabander, who made his name with his nougat. The French consider the town of Montélimar to be the original nougat paradise. However, it has a much older origin; a similar snack was already eaten in the Byzantine Empire.
Turrón
Turrón originated in southeastern Spain. There are two varieties: soft turrón (from Jijona, made with almonds soaked in water) and hard turrón (from Alicante, made with chopped almonds). Because Spain has a great many almond trees, turrón is made with this nut there. The Spanish snack is hard to find in the Netherlands, so ask your friends or family to bring back a block for you when they’re vacationing in Spain.
Torrone
The Italian sibling of the group. Many hazelnuts grow in the Piedmont region in northern Italy, so torrone is made there with the Nutella nut. You’ll find plenty of pistachios in Sicily, so, unsurprisingly, the snack there is made with the small green nuts.
Israeli halva
The main ingredient in halva from Israel (there are quite a few varieties worldwide) is sesame seeds. Its texture is looser and therefore grainier than the nougat sold in our supermarkets. While nougat and turrón require egg white, this halva contains no animal products. At the Sum Sum delicatessen in Amsterdam, they have more than 40 different flavors (not all vegan). They offer classic varieties with rose or coconut, as well as unusual flavors such as licorice and apple pie.
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