Written By Sam Henselijn
How to Cook With Nuts. They are delicious, nutritious, and loved by all of us. While widely consumed worldwide, nuts are still thought of as healthy and convenient snacks. Granted, that is absolutely true – but how about incorporating nuts into your recipes too? Here are some tips on how to cook with nuts.
There are a million ways to work with nuts as an ingredient. You can chop, crumble, grind, turn into milk, pickle, candy, toast, pulverize, and even fry them… Now, grab your favorite nuts and get ready to start cooking!
How to cook with nuts
Almonds
Almonds are one of the most beloved and versatile nuts. They work beautifully both in savory or sweet recipes, either toasted and salted, blanched, slivered…
Cooking tip: If health is your focus right now, consider soaking your almonds before enjoying. This may improve their digestibility and increase the absorption of some nutrients.
Pair almonds with: Their delicate yet deeply nutty flavor pairs well with cherries, pears, butter, chocolate, honey, oranges, olive oil, raisins.
Recipe suggestions: almond pesto, almond flour citrus cake, pear and almond oatmeal
Walnuts
Walnuts are packed with nutrients and healthy fats, and offer a rich, earthy flavor that’s perfect for cheese platters, and comforting dishes.
Cooking tip: Walnuts give off a naturally bitter and earthy flavor that really shines in sweet and savory recipes.
Pair walnuts with: Coffee, apples, dates, cheese, bitter salad greens, honey, pears, oranges.
Recipe suggestions: Arugula, goat cheese, and walnut salad, pancakes topped with bananas, cinnamon and walnuts.
Pecans
Pecans are often the star of many Fall dessert recipes. Rich and warm, they’re ideal for pies, ice cream, and other sweet treats, but also work in a number of savory dishes.
Cooking tip: Their high fat content makes them extra rich and delicious, but it also means they are more prone to spoiling than other nuts, so store them in the fridge for a longer shelf-life.
Pair pecans with: Bananas, butter, mushrooms, caramel, maple syrup, brown sugar, prosciutto.
Recipe suggestions: Maple pecan blondies, pecan stuffed dates with prosciutto, mushroom risotto with pecans
Cashews
Cashews are a delightful snack. They also add crunch and creaminess to soups, stews, spicy dishes, and more.
Cooking tip: Cashews are so fatty and creamy in texture, they make for a great thickener agent for blended soups, and sauces.
Pair cashews with: Spices, curry, apricots, chicken, cinnamon, mangoes, coconut.
Recipe to try: chickpea coconut and cashew curry, ginger cashew chicken salad, cashew “queso” dip.
Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts are sweet-tasting and super crunchy. They taste fantastic in pastries and desserts, but can also go into savory territory.
Cooking tip: Remove their skin by roasting them for about 10-15 minutes, then rubbing them between a clean kitchen towel.
Pair hazelnuts with: Chocolate, vanila, green beans, bananas, pumpkin, coffee, sesame seeds, buckwheat.
Recipe to try: green bean casserole with a brown butter and hazelnut topping, dark chocolate hazelnut cookies.
Why cook with nuts
Nuts are one of the most popular superfood groups. There are countless reasons why you should add them to your daily diet.
- Nutrient dense – Nuts are rich in vitamins, minerals, protein, fibre, healthy fats and several other vitamins and nutrients your body requires to function correctly.
- Nuts help the body absorb nutrients – Nuts contain a lot of healthy fats, which help our bodies to absorb the vitamins and nutrients we ingest better.
- Weight loss – They May get a bad rep in the diet world for being caloric, but nuts are actually a great ally to those wanting to lose weight. They are rich in protein which accelerates your metabolism. The same reason also means they will keep you fuller for longer.
- It’s important to enjoy the food you eat – Yes, food is fuel. But it’s also much more than that. It’s a way for humans to connect and socialize. Even without all the health benefits they bring to the table, nuts are simply delicious, crunchy, and versatile. And that’s a good enough reason to enjoy them often.
Ways to include nuts into your diet
You can pretty much add nuts to just about everything: Liven up your morning oatmeal, or add them to smoothies, blended pasta sauces, cookies, salads, cakes, and other baked goods… The sky’s the limit.
Sam Henselijn Author’s Biography – Meet L’Orenta Nuts CEO
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