Bear nut (Tree hazel)

Bearnut is also called tree hazel. He is very strong, like a bear. It is probably for this that he was given such a name. Hazelnut, which is a relative, is similar to it in its properties.

In many ways, the bear nut is valued for its excellent decorative properties. In addition, it is the only plant of the hazel genus that has a tree-like life form. The height can reach 20 meters, however, in the Russian climate, trees higher than 8 meters are rarely found. This nut lives for about 200 years.

The trunk is smooth, covered with light-colored bark. The leaves are broadly ovate, large, the petiole can be up to 5 cm long. The fruits are small, covered with a thick shell. A nut is hidden inside, but getting to it is not so easy. So do not try to crack the shell with your teeth.

Interestingly, although the fruits are larger than those of a hazelnut, the edible part, that is, the seed, is still smaller. Plus, it's covered in thick skin. Their main advantage is a more pleasant taste compared to hazelnuts.

The bear nut grows mainly in the Caucasus, the Balkans, Asia Minor, Iran, and it has also recently begun to be actively grown in Ukraine and the Mediterranean countries. Gardeners appreciate them, first of all, for tasty fruits. Although decorative becomes a nice addition when grown at home.

In fact, in terms of the content of nutrients, the bear nut is not inferior to other types of hazel and hazelnuts. It is worth noting the following advantages of fruits:

• Fat content - 70%;
• Proteins - 14-18%;
• Carbohydrates - 3-8%;
• Vitamins E;
• Vitamins B1;
• Fe;
• Vitamin C (in leaves).

• Fruits are not damaged by harmful insects;
• The tree bears fruit every year;
• Serves as an excellent supply for growing large hazelnuts;
• Has excellent decorative properties;
• The tree is strong, reliable, not afraid of the vagaries of nature;
• Despite the climate, it produces a crop every year (but the amount of crop can be different, of course).

As for its name, the bear nut got it because of its reliability and resistance to weather changes, strength. Like a bear.

Despite the difference in names, this nut is similar in its medicinal and beneficial properties to hazelnuts, hazelnuts and other "relatives". But you can use it in cooking in a slightly different way.

First of all, this nut is incredibly tasty just raw. But in order to eat it, you will have to "tinker", getting rid of the husk. Therefore, it is better to send nuts to the oven or fry them in a pan. This will allow you to easily remove the dense husk and enjoy the full taste of the bear nut.

Many believe that it has a richer and more aromatic taste than wild hazel, as well as a soft structure. That is why it is used in the preparation of the following dishes.

This is an incredibly tasty and beloved by many dish, which first appeared in the time of the Turks.

To prepare it, you need to take the following ingredients:

• Lamb with ribs - 1.5 kg;
• Fresh carrot - 0.75 kg;
• Potato - 1.5 kg;
• Sweet pepper (preferably red) - 3 pieces;
• Onion - 3 pieces;
• Oil (vegetable, you can olive) - 3-4 tablespoons;
• Dill - at will and taste;
• Seasonings (black pepper, cumin, bay leaf, salt, etc.);
• Bear nut - 0.2 kg.

Cooking: Cut lamb into large pieces. Pour a little into the cauldron to grease it. Ignite the zira for 30 seconds in a cauldron, then throw the meat there. Fry it for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Now fill the meat with boiled water (3 liters) and cook. Cooking time largely depends on the meat itself, so keep an eye on the degree of its readiness. After that, you can add potatoes, carrots, sweet peppers and bear nuts. Still boil the dish for about 30 minutes (less if the meat is young).

Literally a few minutes before cooking, add salt, pepper and other seasonings and spices. Kovurma should be infused for about 20 minutes. Be sure to remove the lavrushka from the dish so that it does not spoil the taste in the future. Already in the plate, you can optionally add fresh chopped dill.

Another great dish in which you will need a bear nut. Rabbit and bear usually get along well in fairy tales and anecdotes. Therefore, it is not surprising that bear nuts and rabbit meat are so perfectly combined in one dish.

You will need the following set of products:

• Bear nut - 30 pcs.;
• Eggs - 1 pc.;
• Rabbit or rabbit fillet - 1 kg;
• Chicken liver - 0.5 kg;
• Onion - 2 pcs.;
• Fat - 0.1 kg;
• Greens (at your discretion) - 1 bunch;
• Salt, pepper - to taste;
• Nutmeg - 1 pinch;
• Starch - 1 tbsp. a spoon.

Cooking: First, cut the liver and fry it. Process the fried liver with a blender or scroll through a meat grinder. Rabbit meat should be cut into small cubes, add salt.Also chop the onion finely and stew it with the rabbit. Cut up the greens.

Cut the bacon into strips so that they are thin enough. Roll in starch. Place about half of the bacon in a baking dish. Mix together the egg, greens, chopped onion, add the bear nut (it must first be chopped into large elements). Don't forget to season everything with salt and pepper.

In the form you need to put the minced meat (half) on top of the lard, then put the meat, then the second half of the minced meat and again the bacon. Bake in the oven using a water bath. The form should be almost completely immersed in water. Cooking takes about an hour and a half. The oven temperature should be around 170 degrees.

It is necessary to plant a nut in the fall. To do this, you need to make a hole about 0.5 by 0.5 meters, fill it with 10 kg of humus, 200 grams of mineral fertilizers and 50 grams of potassium salt. Also, you can not do without fertile soil.

Prepared or purchased seedlings must be cut before placing them in the ground. It is advisable to dip the roots in a mash made from manure and clay. If you are not making a hedge, then keep the distance between the seedlings about 5 meters, otherwise the planting is denser. It is important to water the tree abundantly.

They take care of the bear nut by constantly loosening the soil to a shallow depth. Also don't forget to mulch. If the weather is dry, you can occasionally water the tree. Apply mineral fertilizers every year, and organic - only once every 2 or 3 years.

Growing a bear nut on your own is not difficult.

As a result, you will get not only nuts that you, your children and grandchildren can enjoy, but also a very beautiful tree that can decorate any part of a summer house or a private house.