If you’re serving a potent drink or two, it’s always a welcome touch—not to mention prudent and polite—to provide cocktail munchies. Instead of the standard chips, dips, and salsas, why not try something a little more intriguing, such as these tasty toasted nuts? And for an added color accent, you might garnish them with some beautiful little dried red chili ­peppers.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne ­pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound raw peanuts, almonds, and macadamia nuts
• 2 teaspoons salt, or to ­taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 10 to 12 whole dried small red chili peppers, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine the coriander, cumin, and cayenne. Set ­aside.

2. Place the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium­-­high heat, add the nuts, and toast them, stirring continually, until they are lightly browned, 4 to 5 ­minutes.

3. Dust the nuts with the spices and toast for another 2 to 3 minutes. Season with the salt and pepper and then spread out to cool on a bed of paper towel. Once cool, place in a bowl and serve with the whole chili peppers as garnish.

Other Nut Recipes

Nut Stuffing
Toasted Mediterranean Almonds

Tip

Two-Minute Hors D'oeuvres

Video

A Cocktail Party in 15 Minutes