I’m a big fan of flavored nuts, which are easy to make and a great way to impress dinner guests. But the store-bought versions aren’t exactly cheap, and they’re usually loaded with sodium and preservatives. Luckily, it’s easy (and much cheaper) to make your own. Here’s how!
Soak raw cashews in water for 2 hours.
Soak raw cashews in water for 2 hours. Do not soak longer than 2 hours, or it will become difficult to remove the shells.
Use room temperature water and filtered if possible.
Do not use hot water, as this may damage some of the healthy enzymes found in nuts and seeds. Also refrain from using canned cashews, as they are usually coated with oil (and sometimes salt) before being packaged up for sale at grocery stores – both of which will prevent your homemade flavored nut from getting crispy! You want raw organic unroasted unsalted cashews only!
Soak the cashews in water for 2 hours. Use room temperature water and filtered if possible. Do not use hot water, as this may damage some of the healthy enzymes found in nuts and seeds. Also refrain from using canned cashews, as they are usually coated with oil (and sometimes salt) before being packaged up for sale at grocery stores – both of which will prevent your homemade flavored nut from getting crispy! You want raw organic unroasted unsalted cashews only!
Drain the cashews.
To reduce the fat and calorie content of your cashews, drain them. To increase their protein and iron content, soak them in water overnight.
Cashews are high in fat (44%) and calories (about 170 per ounce). They’re also high in magnesium (23%). Soaking cashews will help break down some of their starches and make it easier for your body to digest them; however it also reduces their magnesium content by about 20%, so you’ll want to be careful not overdo it!
You can also reduce the fat and calorie content of your cashews by blanching them. Blanching is a cooking method that involves immersing food in boiling water for a short amount of time, then immediately cooling it down in ice-cold water or running the hot food under cold water.
Add granulated garlic powder and salt to a food processor.
Add granulated garlic powder and salt to a food processor.
Add cashews, and process until finely ground. (You may need to pause the machine and scrape down the sides once or twice.)
Transfer mixture to a bowl, add olive oil, and mix until moist enough to roll into balls without sticking together too much. Add more or less garlic powder depending on taste preferences–or try different flavors like cinnamon or honey!
Roll mixture into small balls, and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving to allow them to set.
Add the drained cashews and a bit of olive oil.
Add the drained cashews and a bit of olive oil. Process until finely ground, then transfer to a bowl and mix in more olive oil until it’s moist enough to roll into balls (you may need more than two tablespoons). Process using a food processor or blender, adding one teaspoon at a time to test the flavor (you want it spicy but not too spicy). Let sit at room temperature for about an hour before rolling into balls if you want that fresh-out-of-the-oven taste!
If you want to add an extra kick, mix in some cayenne pepper or another hot sauce. You can also use a food processor or blender to make it smoother and more uniform.
Process until finely ground, then transfer to a bowl and mix in more olive oil until it’s moist enough to roll into balls.
Transfer the nuts to a bowl and mix in more olive oil until it’s moist enough to roll into balls.
Add the salt and chili powder, then mix well. Form into small balls and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Nuts are a great source of healthy fat and protein, which is why they’re so popular. They’re also full of fiber and antioxidants that can help lower cholesterol levels, reduce risk of heart disease, fight inflammation and boost brain health.
Making flavored nuts is easy.
Cashews are a good source of protein and healthy fats. They’re also easy to make at home, so you can flavor them however you like. The best part? They don’t just have to be used for flavoring! You can use cashews in cooking, baking and garnishing your favorite dishes too.
Cashews make good snacks because they’re high in protein and healthy fats — two ingredients that are extremely important for everyone’s diet (even if you don’t care about that stuff).
Cashews are a great source of protein, which is why they make for such a good snack. They’re also high in healthy fats, which helps keep your body running smoothly.
If you want to make cashews at home, it’s easy. All you need is some cashews, salt and sugar (or other flavorings), a blender or food processor and some time. You can experiment with different flavors and combinations until you find one that suits your taste buds best!