Maltose-Glazed Cashews

This is an extremely pretty and appealing Cantonese dish of lightly sweet, crystalline cashews—“nuts with waists,” as they are called in Chinese. The glaze is made with maltose, the same subtle, golden sweetener that characterizes the skins of Peking and Cantonese ducks. When it hardens, the nuts are like jewels.

• Maltose is readily available in Chinese markets. If you cannot get it, substitute the variety of malt syrup sold in health-food stores or a mild-flavo