Cashew is an evergreen tree widely grown in tropical countries for its apples and seeds. Its fruit looks like the shape of an inverted heart that ripens into yellow or red apple 5 to 11 centimeters long. A fruit drink, especially in Latin America, is made from the cashew apple for a refreshing taste. At the extremity of the
cashew apple is a single seed shaped like a boxing glove called
cashew nut. Upon harvest, the cashew nut is roasted to remove the toxins from its allergenic oil, and processed into various product forms to serve many purposes. In India, the nuts are used in its cuisines to garnish curries and sweets, or as paste after being ground to serve as base for different sauces. Also in Thai and Chinese cuisines, the nuts are used in whole form but in Indonesia and the Philippines, they are roasted and usually salted and eaten alone as a snack. As delicious snacks, the
cashew nuts contain healthy monounsaturated fats, magnesium and copper that provide many health benefits.
Cashew nuts are rich not only in heart-friendly monounsaturated fatty acids but also in many essential vitamins. They are also packed with energy, dietary fiber, antioxidants and minerals. Having high oil content, they are most often used to add extra oil to some other nut butters. They can also be eaten raw—cooked but not roasted nor browned—for maximum nutritional benefits. As raw nuts, they are certified by the United States Drug Administration as organic, raw and gluten-free food. They are said to contain a nutritional value per 100 grams of 30.19g of
carbohydrates , 43.85g of fat, 18.22g protein, 34% thiamine, 5% riboflavin, 32% vitamin B6, and 7% niacin. Some other products of cashew nuts include
cashew nut kernels,
roasted cashew nuts,
split cashew nuts,
salted cashew nuts, and
cashew nut liquid oil.
Health-giving
recipes using cashew nuts are found in many parts of the world. The RecipeLand has listed about 218 of these recipes topped by the Chicken and Cashew Nuts and Oriental Chicken with Cashew Nuts. These are followed by the Indian Cilantro Rice with Cashew Nuts, Beans and Thyme and Cashew Nuts, Curried Cashew Burgers, Mushroom Cashew Bisque, and Risotto with Cashew Nuts. Most of these recipes are cholesterol-free, trans fat free and a good source of fiber. Other cashew nut recipes that are promoted by some cuisines include Asparagus and Cashews, Carrot Slaw with Cashews, Cashew Mushroom Loaf, Chili Con Cashew, Saffron Rice with Cashews And Raisins, Szechwan Chicken and Cashews, Velvet Chicken with Cashews, Hawaiian Chicken Salad, Cashew Banana Cream Pie, Chicken Cashew Salad, and Veggie and Rice Pilaf. Some recipes have some details, as follow: (a) Tuna Cashew Casserole—condensed cream of mushroom soup, milk, cooked noodles, drained and flaked tuna, dried celery, broken salted cashew nuts, salt, ground pepper, minced onions and crushed soda crackers, and (b) Chicken Cashew Casserole—cooked and cut up chicken or turkey, undiluted cream of mushroom, tomato paste, celery, chopped and salted cashew nuts, and minced onions.
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