5: Hawaij Spiced Crunchy Nuts

Nuts in all forms are an essential part of the Arab diet – from savoury to sweet, you will rarely find a recipe that is not sprinkled with nuts. Growing up in Balad District of Jeddah (which is now a UNESCO world heritage site), I remember running through the narrow streets of the old souk, shaded with all sorts of stuff, from dried palm leaves to tin sheets. Most of the shops displayed a diverse assortment of spices in large jute sacks, along with a huge variety of nuts at a very affordabl