Sweet & Spicy Roasted Cashews

Sweet & Spicy Roasted Cashews are a delightful appetizer, snack, or gift to give that is quick and easy to make. The best part is these cashew nuts are good for you, gluten-free and vegan.

Are cashews good for you?

According to Livestrong Cashews offer several health benefits, although many avoid eating them because of their fat content. The fact is that cashews contain less fat than many other nuts, and what they do contain is primarily unsaturated fat. Unsaturated fats can help lower cholesterol levels and improve heart health. Along with delivering healthy fats, cashews have a positive impact on your health in several other ways.

Cashew Nutrition Facts

• 155 calories
• 9.2 grams carbohydrates
• 5.1 grams protein
• 12.3 grams fat
• 0.9 gram fiber
• 0.6 milligram copper (31 percent DV)
• 0.5 milligram manganese (23 percent DV)
• 81.8 milligrams magnesium (20 percent DV)
• 166 milligrams phosphorus (17 percent DV)
• 9.5 micrograms vitamin K (12 percent DV)
• 1.6 milligrams zinc (11 percent DV)
• 1.9 milligrams iron (10 percent DV)
• 0.1 milligram thiamine (8 percent DV)
• 5.6 micrograms selenium (8 percent DV)
• 0.1 milligram vitamin B6 (6 percent DV)
• 185 milligrams potassium (5 percent DV)

Cashews' nutrition also contains some vitamin E, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, and calcium.

Should cashews be eatten raw?

According to Medical News Today, truly raw cashews are not safe to eat, as they contain a substance known as urushiol, found in poison ivy. Urushiol is toxic, and contact with it can trigger a skin reaction in some people.

Cashew kernels are often sold as “raw” in stores, but these have been steamed. This removes the toxins. These cashews are healthful.

What is better, roasted or raw?

Roasting enhances the flavor of the cashew, creating a crunchy nutty flavor. Raw cashews have a bland slightly buttery flavor and are chewier.

Roasting cashews is easy and when you do it in your own oven you can create a variety of flavors.

Where to buy raw cashews?

Most local health food stores carry organic raw cashews. Also, Costco carries a good variety at a good price. If you can't find them local try Jiva brand.

Jiva Raw Organic Cashews

🔪 Instructions

Airfryer roasted nuts

Using an air fryer is a great way for small-batch roasting.

1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup raw cashews, 1 teaspoon olive oil, and a pinch salt. Toss together then place them inside the air fryer.
2. Cook the nuts for 5 minutes, taking out the basket to shake cashews. Replace the basket and cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, until the cashews reach the desired color.

Stove top roasing

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the 1 cup of cashews, 1 teaspoon olive oil and a pinch of salt to the pan. Stir to combine.
2. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently to ensure each nut gets heated on the pan.
3. When the nuts reach the desired color, remove them from the heat and allow to cool.

How to dry roast cashews

Dry roasting is the process of roasting cashews without the use of oil or water as a carrier.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F).
2. Spread raw cashews on an ungreased cookie sheet in a single layer.
3. Bake for10-12 minutes or until lightly toasted. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Sweet and spicy seasoning

1. Preheat oven to 375F
2. In a mixing bowl add the raw cashews, warmed coconut oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cayenne pepper, and 1 tablespoon rosemary, whisk well. Then toss over nuts and stir until they are evenly coated with the mixture.
3. Roast nuts on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan for about 10 minutes, stirring and turning pan 1/2 way through roasting. Then roast for another 7 minutes or until golden brown.  I set my timer and checked them every minute until they were brown and caramelized. Be careful they can go from golden to dark fast!
4. Immediately after removing the cashew nuts from oven, sprinkle with remaining salt and fresh rosemary. Allow to cool one minute then give them a stir. Allow to cool another minute or so and then lift the parchment paper with the nuts on it and break apart any nuts sticking together.
5. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. Store in a covered container for up to a week.

📖 Variation seasoning

Add 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon of your choice of seasoning below to 1 cup of raw cashews before roasting to create uniquely seasoned roasted cashews.

• fresh chopped rosemary and black pepper
• cumin
• BBQ Coffee Seasoning
• Sazon Seasoning

For these roasted cashews, I like to use the flavor of butter to go along with the maple syrup. I did this by using Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil with Butter Flavor

For another yummy roasted appetizer try my BBQ Roasted Chickpeas They are a simple to make, healthy snack, full of sweet bbq flavor and the best part is they are protein-packed, gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free!

HOW TO SERVE SWEET & SPICY ROASTED CASHEWS

• Serve on one of these Healthy Charcuterie Board Ideas
• Add to stir fry
• Toss with pasta dishes
• Sprinkle on salads

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