cashew guide
/Cashews are one of my pantry essentials and I feel lost without them. These nuts are packed with all the good stuff and are insanely versatile. Cashews contain some of the most important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants including vitamin B6, E, copper, selenium, iron and more! The list goes on.
Although it’s one of the lower-fiber nuts, cashews are full of Omega 3 fatty acids which helps boost your metabolism to burn fat. I suggest always keeping cashews with you if you're on the go because they’re a nutritious snack that keeps you full for a while. I usually eat a handful of raw, unsalted cashews each morning before I go work out for some fuel.
Cashews are another ingredient that proves beauty is from within and what you put in your body! Cashews promote healthy and shiny hair growth, due to the copper levels which helps hair get stronger and rejuvenate skin.
To me, cashews are a go-to ingredient. Whether I’m eating them as a snack, drinking cashew milk, eating cashew butter by the spoonful, roasting them to top salads and grain bowls, or making creamy sauces, cashews are the real MVP. I’ve put together 4 of my favorite cashew recipes below so you can check out some easy and unique ways of incorporating cashews into your diet.
Recipes
Cashew Cream Pasta Sauce
I grew up eating Fettuccine Alfredo all the time and while we're young, our metabolism and digestive systems are a little different. I miss the days where I could eat a bowl full at lunch and not completely bloat. Sometimes I just need a bowl full of pasta and alfredo sauce but don't want to deal with the post-meal feeling. Enter: cashew cream sauce. Easy, dairy-free, guilt-free & sensitive stomach friendly.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup cashews (soaked for at least 4 hours and drained)
- 1 1/2 cup filtered water
- 2 cloves of garlic
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high for 2 - 3 minutes until smooth. Add more water for desired consistency.
Vegan Queso
I absolutely love Mexican food. But it's really hard on my digestive system. All of the dairy, grease, and sodium is a little much for me. This vegan queso is a complete game changer. Use it just as a dip, a topping for nachos or drizzle on tacos for the perfect dose of cheese.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups cashews, soaked for at least 4 hours and drained
- 1 1/2 cups filtered water
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1/2 chopped jalapeño
- 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- Salt to taste
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in blender, blend on high for 2 minutes. Add more water if you want a thinner consistency.
Cashew Cream Cheese
Store bought nut cream cheeses can really rack up your grocery bill. Yes they’re amazing and a great substitute for dairy cream cheese, but spending almost $10 on cream cheese is a little crazy. No, this recipe doesn’t taste exactly like regular cream cheese. But it can satisfy that craving. Spread on your favorite toast or bagel and add your favorite toppings to keep you fueled all day long.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashews, soaked at least 4 hours and drained
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 2 tablespoon filtered water
- 1 scoop of nut-based yogurt
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- Salt to taste
- Chopped chives
Directions
- Blend all ingredients except chives in a blender on high until thick and creamy.
- Add to container and stir in chives.
Cashew Pesto
I love switching up which nuts I use for pesto. I usually make a big batch of pesto on the weekend to use for dinners throughout the week. We love to use pesto for so many things. I always buy cashews in bulk because I use them so frequently, so I always have them on hand. Use to top pizzas, stir into pasta, or as a dip for roasted veggies!
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup cashews
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 1/2 cups basil
- 1/2 cup spinach
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 garlic clove
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon filtered water
Directions
- Blend all ingredients together in a blender on high until smooth.