Ingredients

  • 4 cups walnut halves
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • ⅔ cup sesame seeds
  • 1¼ teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Preparation:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large, wide saucepan, combine the walnuts, sugar and water and bring to a boil. Add the sesame seeds, cayenne and salt and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until the water is nearly evaporated, about 4 minutes.
  3. Lower the heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the walnuts are golden brown and sandy, about 4 minutes longer.
  4. Immediately pour the walnuts onto the prepared baking sheet and spread in a single layer.
  5. Bake for about 20 minutes, until the nuts are deeply golden and covered with a sandy coating. Let the walnuts cool completely.
  6. Break any large clusters apart; transfer to a bowl to serve.