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Guirlache Nougat stands out from others due to its flavor and texture. It is a very traditional Christmas sweet, made from caramel and almonds, and has been widely consumed in Spain since ir arrived in the Aragón region, where most of this nougat is produced.
Below, you can learn some important facts, such as where this nougat is made, how to prepare it at home, and the differences it has with soft nougat.
What is Guirlache Nougat?
This nougat is know as one of the "obrador" nougats, which means it is prepared in a completely different workshop from the one used to make Alicante nougat or Jijona nougat. This type of nougat is made with almonds with their skin and caramel, which gives it a very hard texture.
The origin of this nougat dates back to the Middle Ages, at a time when the Aragonese community existed, according to historical records, during the period when the Arabs had a strong presence in the Iberian Peninsula. The word Guirlache comes from the French Grillage, meaning "something toasted".
It is a typical nougat from Zaragoza and Alcoy, although it first became popular in the region of Aragón. As mentioned earlier, it belongs to the category of obrador nougats, so it is not classified together with Jijona or Alicante nougat.
Instead, this nougat is grouped with nougats such as snow nougat or fruit nougat. Its production takes place in different workshops, since it is a nougat that differs both in appearance and in the process required for its preparation.
How is Guirlache Nougat Made?
Making Guirlache nougat is quite simple, so if you enjoy buying Guirlache nougat but would like to know how it's made - or even prefer to prepare it yourself - here's how you can do it.
To prepare Guirlache nougat, you'll need the following ingredients:
- 200 grams of sugar
- A small spoonful of lemon juice
- 50 grams of honey
- 200 grams of raw almonds
- A few sesame seeds
It's very important to check the quality of all these ingredients before starting the recipe. If you want to make authentic Guirlache nougat, you must use top-quality ingredients, as that is the only way to achieve a genuine result.
If you look closely, you'll notice that both the raw almonds and the sugar are used in the same quantity. This balance is key to creating a Guirlache nougat bar of excellent quality.
With the right proportions, your Guirlache nougat will turn out crunchy and not too sticky. Once you have all the ingredients ready, you can begin with the preparation process.
The procedure is as follows:
- First, you need to toast all the almonds. This is a tedious process, and if you want to avoid it, you can buy toasted almonds. Whether you use toasted or raw almonds, they must be added to the recipe without their skins.
- To prepare the nougat mixture, use a stainless steel container, where you will start making the caramel.
- For the caramel, use lemon, sugar, and honey. All of these should be heated over low heat, and it's recommended to use a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients.
- The caramel will be ready once it has a light golden color (slightly toasted), and at that moment you should add the toasted almonds.
- Continue mixing carefully until all the almonds are fully coated with the caramel.
- To finish, pour the entire mixture into the mold you'll use to shape the nougat. This step must be done carefully to make sure the nougat is completely flat.
- Once the process is finished, simply let the nougat cool, and it will be ready to eat or share with your loved ones.
Differences between Soft Nougat and Guirlache Nougat
It's importa to know the differences between Guirlache nougat and soft nougat, since people often confuse them. These differences are as follows:
- Guirlache nougat is made with caramel, while soft nougat is prepared with the basic ingredients and, in some cases, cinnamon is added - although this is not mandatory.
- The texture of soft nougat is different from that of Guirlache nougat; the latter has a much harder texture.
- Soft nougat must be made in "Boixets" (metal containers shaped like mortars), while Guirlache nougat can be prepared in a stainless steel container.
- The difficulty level of soft nougat is higher than that of Guirlache nougat. Therefore, if you'd like to make one at home, we recommend starting with Guirlache nougat.
How to Make Guirlache Nougat at Home?
Making guirlache nougat at home is not very different from how it's done in factories. The only thing you need to keep in mind when preparing guirlache nougat at home is the quatity of portions to use. The ingredient proportions mentioned earlier in this post are based on preparing the nougat in a standard-sized container.
The procedure is practically the same; the only difference is that at home you can use either smaller or larger containers. If you are working with a smaller container, you may need to reduce the ingredient measurements accordingly.
If you are working with much larger containers, then you need to consider that the mixture might not achieve the typical sweet flavor you expect. That's why we recommend tasting the mixture before starting to set the nougat, so you can adjust - either by adding more or reducing some ingredients.