Cashews are one of the most widely consumed nuts in the world. Not only is this nut packed with heart-healthy fats and essential nutrients, but its subtle flavor lends itself well to both savory and sweet dishes.
Whether you are snacking on salted roasted cashews between meals or transforming raw cashews into a delicious nut butter spread, this super food can be consumed in an endless number of ways.
What Do Cashews Look and Taste Like?
Cashew nuts are the kidney-shaped seeds that grow on the bottom of a cashew apple, which are produced by the cashew tree.
After cashews go through the production process, they are off-white in color and have a slightly sweet, buttery taste. The texture of a cashew is spongey, yet firm. These characteristics make cashews a popular ingredient in vegan and Indian dishes.
What Are the Benefits of Cashews?
Besides their delicious taste, there are other reasons to incorporate cashews into your diet. When regularly consumed, cashew nuts can provide you with the following health benefits:
Prevent gallstones: Cashews help maintain cholesterol levels, which is vital to gallstone prevention.
Aid weight loss: Studies show that cashews can aid in weight loss by increasing satiety, allowing you to stay fuller for longer.
Support bone health: The cashew nut is rich in magnesium and calcium, both of which are vital for keeping bones healthy. Cashews are also an ample source of Vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin that helps control calcium.
Maintain healthy skin and hair: Who doesn’t want glowing skin and amazing hair? The healthy fats in cashews keep skin supple and hydrated. Cashews are also full of essential minerals such as copper, which helps support melanin production to give you vibrant color.
How to Enjoy Cashews
Cashews are exceptionally versatile, making them a popular ingredient in dishes from all over the world. From savory butter spreads to cashew-based desserts, here are a few of the best ways to begin eating these delicious nuts:
Cashew Dairy Substitute
Did you know that cashews make a great dairy substitute? Dairy-free cheeses can be made from certain nuts—and one of the best types to use are cashews. With its mild flavor, cashews can be used to make a tasty cheese dip or a block of paleo cashew cheese.
Used in Desserts
Cashew nuts are commonly used in desserts, both as a topping and as a main ingredient. For example, you can make mouth-watering vegan caramels by using cashew cream for a healthier dessert. Or, you can ditch the Nutella and make your own milk chocolate cashew butter instead. Make these salted caramel cashew blondies for your next office party and you are guaranteed to wow your coworkers.
Honey-Roasted Cashews
If you prefer your snacks to be sweet, cashews coated with honey are guaranteed to hit the spot. Want to take things further in the flavor department? Honey and coconut cashew nuts make a delicious, guilt-free snack that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere.
Coated With Chocolate
You can also transform your cashews into a satisfying dessert by coating them in chocolate. Our milk chocolate cashews are vegan-friendly and the perfect sweet treat when you get a powerful chocolate craving.
Added to Stir-Fries and Salads
Although they are slightly softer than other nuts, cashews still have a delicious crunch to them. They make great additions to stir-fry dishes and salads because their flavor doesn’t overpower the main dish. Add them to your stir-fry in the last few minutes of cooking so that they are covered in sauce, yet still retain their satisfying crunch.
Hopefully, we gave you some great ideas on how you can start enjoying cashews. Do you have any great cashew-based recipes of your own? Share them in the comments!Comments will be approved before showing up.
