Ingredients

• 3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste
• 2 1/4 teaspoons crumbled dried thyme
• 6 cups walnuts

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large heavy saucepan melt the butter with the five-spice powder, the cayenne, the thyme, and salt to taste, stirring, add the walnuts, and toss them to coat them well. Bake the walnuts in batches in a shallow baking pan in the middle of the oven for 10 minutes and let them cool until they are warm.