Walnut Halves (Jawz Farashe)

Jawz farashe, or butterfly walnuts, is the common Lebanese name for shelled walnut halves, so called because the two lobes of the kernel look like butterfly wings. These raw walnuts are ready to use without cracking. They are eaten as a snack, chopped into salads, cakes and cookies, and used in many Lebanese dishes, such as maamoul filled with walnuts, muhammara, and sweets topped with nuts. They can also be lightly toasted at home, ground for sauces or stuffings, or sprinkled over yogurt and oatmeal. At Dekenet Al Nes in Baaqline, in the Chouf, walnut halves are sold by the kilo from the Raw Nuts section. Dekenet Al Nes is a package-free grocery store, so customers can bring their own jars or bags and take just the amount they need, cutting down on plastic and single-use packaging.