Cashew Nuts

Why do we like to use Cashew Nuts? Not just because we love the flavour of them. They are creamy, nutty and crunchy. We love to toast them in a pan with some herbs and toss it on the top of some of our favourite dishes. They easily add a delicious crunch and added nutritional benefits too.

We also like to use cashew milk. In the morning we enjoy it over porridge or granola and a drop in our coffee once or twice a day. Elizabeth, our daughter, just discovered it and she loves it, too! She has her porridge made with cashew milk in the morning, too. We also like to add it to her meals if they are too hot or too thick for her.

We have loved cashews for years and so it was only natural for us to explore using them as the base for our vegan cheese. Cashews form the base of our camembert and blue cheese. After soaking, we blend the cashews to form a creamy puree which we then shape and let mature and age to perfection.

So what are cashew nuts? Cashews are a kidney-shaped seed sourced from the cashew tree. The tree native to Brazil but now cultivated in various warm climates across the world. Although commonly referred to as tree nuts, and nutritionally comparable to them, cashews are really seeds. They’re rich in nutrients and beneficial plant compounds and make for an easy addition to many dishes. Like most nuts, cashews may also help improve your overall health. They’ve been linked to benefits like weight loss, improved blood sugar control, and a healthier heart.

100 g of cashews contains 553 calories and the following nutrients:

• protein: 18.22 g

• fat: 43.85 g

• carbohydrate: 30.19 g

• fiber: 3.30 g

• sugar: 5.91 g

Most of the fats in cashews are monounsaturated fats.

The important vitamins and minerals in cashews include:

• calcium: 37 mg

• iron: 6.68 mg

• magnesium: 292 mg

• phosphorous: 593 mg

• potassium: 660 mg