Description:
Cashew nuts thrive along the coastline of India. The cashew fruit is a fleshy, juicy, sweet, bell shaped fruit. The cashew nut is the seed which grows outside the fruit. The nuts are dried and then left in the shell or peeled.
How to select:
Good cashew nuts are about 20 mm. (3/4") long, creamy white and kidney-shaped. They have a creamy, nutty taste which is refined and sweet. Cashews can be bought whole, broken or powdered. They are also available roasted, fried, salted, spiced or batter fried. The best Indian cashew nuts come from Goa and Kerala.
Use:
Cashew nuts complement both savoury and sweet dishes. They can be used whole in vegetable curries or ground to a paste for rich gravies. Cashew nuts are cooked in sugar to make sweets like chikki or cashew burfi. They can also be used instead of almonds in the making of marzipan.
How to store:
sore in a cool dry place in an airtight container.
Health benefits:
Cashew nuts, like all nuts, are an excellent source of protein and fibre. They are rich in mono-unsaturated fat which may help protect the heart. Cashew nuts are also a good source of potassium, B vitamins and folate. They contain useful amounts of magnesium, phosphorous, selenium and copper.
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