How to use cashew nuts in cooking?

Cambodian cashew nuts are incredibly versatile and can be used in countless ways to enhance your meals and snacks. In this article, we’ll explore the various ways to incorporate these delicious nuts into your daily diet, from healthy snacks to savoury recipes, and even innovative uses like spreads or toppings to enrich your favourite dishes.

Cashew nuts are more than just a tasty treat. They make for a healthy and nutritious snack, perfect for curbing hunger while offering numerous health benefits.

A Nut Packed with benefits

Cashew nuts are rich in:

• Proteins: Essential for tissue growth and repair, they help maintain muscle mass.
• Fibre: Improves digestion and regulates bowel movements, promoting a healthy digestive system.
• Unsaturated Fats: Good for heart health, they help reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL).

A HEALTHY SNACK TIP: PAIR CASHEW NUTS WITH SWEET TREATS

According to the Glucose Goddess method, consuming nuts as a source of fat during a sweet snack—like a cake, fruit, or starchy dish—can help ensure better sugar absorption and prevent blood sugar spikes. So, consider enjoying cashew nuts during your indulgent moments, and why not pair our new Cashew Nut recipes with your favourite snacks? A health tip that benefits the whole family, from the youngest to the oldest. You can easily make your own cashew nut spread in your blender.

A Spicy Appetizer

For appetizers, for example, Spicy Cashew Nuts can be enjoyed on their own or paired with charcuterie or cheese platters. Different recipes will complement various cheeses, whether hard or fresh, depending on your preference. Cashews also pair wonderfully with dried fruits, like our Dried Mango or Pineapple with Red Kampot Pepper. These exotic fruits are harvested at full ripeness in our tropical Kampot garden and lightly spiced!

Cashews: A grab-and-go snack

 Cashew nuts are the perfect snack for those on the go. Their small size and crunchy texture make them an easy snack to carry and enjoy, whether at the office, on a hike, or between meetings. Rich in protein and unsaturated fats, they provide long-lasting energy and help maintain satiety throughout the day. Plus, their mild, buttery flavour pairs perfectly with our selection of spices, making every bite both healthy and delicious. With our new Cambodian Spiced Cashews, you’ll always have a nutritious and tasty option on hand to satisfy your hunger without compromising your health.

A Ready-to-Use Topping

Cashew nuts are not just for snacking or recipe ingredients; they can also be used as toppings, adding a final touch of originality and indulgence to your dishes, just like the chefs do.

Adding Cashews to Salads

Add a handful of spiced cashew nuts to your salads for a crunchy and nutritious touch. They perfectly complement fresh vegetables, fruits, and even animal or plant-based proteins in composed salads. For example, try adding them to a rocket salad with red onions and a lemon vinaigrette.

For Pasta Dishes

Crushed cashew nuts are ideal for topping pasta dishes. Sprinkle them over spaghetti with pesto for a crunchy texture and extra flavour. They also pair well with roasted vegetable pasta or even Asian noodle dishes like pad thai or soba noodles.

Integrating Cashew nuts into soups

A spoonful of chopped cashew nuts can transform a soup into a more substantial and interesting dish. Try them on creamy soups like butternut squash soup, tomato bisque, or a summer gazpacho for a contrast in texture and depth of flavour.

For rice dishes and bowls

Rice bowls, whether inspired by Asian, Mexican, or Mediterranean cuisine, greatly benefit from the addition of cashew nuts. Add them to a teriyaki chicken rice bowl, a burrito bowl, or even a quinoa bowl with grilled vegetables and tahini sauce. Cashew nuts provide a pleasant crunch and rich flavour that complements these dishes.

Using Cashew nuts for desserts

Don’t limit cashew nuts to savoury dishes. They also work wonders in desserts, particularly our Cashews with Galangal and Turmeric. Sprinkle caramelised or spiced cashew nuts over vanilla ice cream, Greek yogurt, or even a fruit tart for a gourmet touch. Their natural sweetness pairs perfectly with sugary treats.

For cereals and porridges

In the morning, add chopped cashew nuts to your cereals, mueslis, or porridges for a complete and nourishing breakfast. They not only add a crunchy texture but also provide proteins and healthy fats that will sustain you throughout the morning.

Cashew nuts can also be incorporated into sauces and pestos, or used to make nut crusts for fish or chicken. Their mild and buttery flavours make them ideal for a wide variety of dishes, both sweet and savoury.

Here are some spicy recipes already on our site where you can simply add spiced cashew nuts:

• Summer Salad with tomatoes and Kampot pepper salt: Add some crushed smoked Cashew nuts for extra crunch and protein.
• Sea bass ceviche: Enhance this recipe with some galangal and turmeric cashews for an Asian twist.
• Red or Green Curry: Add some Cashews with Kampot white pepper and salt to your curries to replace animal proteins.
• Granola: Swap dried fruits and cinnamon for galangal and turmeric cashews to mix up the flavours!
• Soba Noodle salad: In homage to pad thai or bobun, add crushed cashews to your noodle salads for a crunchy and nourishing touch.

Cashew nuts are not only delicious; they are also a healthy and nutritious snack choice, perfect for curbing hunger while offering numerous health benefits. Rich in proteins, fibres, and unsaturated fats, they support muscle growth, promote healthy digestion, and contribute to heart health. Whether you add them to salads, pasta dishes, soups, or even desserts, cashew nuts bring a crunchy texture and unique flavour to your everyday meals.