GO NUTS ABOUT CASHEWS !
Across the world people are waking up to the goodness of nuts; not only are they good to eat, they have a multitude of health benefits. Cashew nuts in particular are loaded with nutrients, and make a good addition to meals.
Freely available, the kidney-shaped nuts have a unique taste, and multifarious uses in the kitchen. Whether roasted, salted, sugared or covered in chocolate, the cashew nut, often used as a flavourful complement to appetisers, main dishes and deserts, packs a mix of nutrients and minerals not found in many common foods.
Though these nuts have a relatively high fat content, they are considered to be ‘good-fat’ because they contain ‘good’ or heart-protective monounsaturated fat. In fact, cashew nuts are lower in fat than almonds, walnuts, and peanuts. Cashew nuts are good sources of protein, mineral salt, iron and fibre. They also contain significant amounts of phytochemicals with antioxidant properties that protect the body from cancer and heart disease. The leaves from the cashew tree can provide vitamin C, calcium and iron.
Cashews are available in various forms: broken, shopped, paste, crushed, fried, powdered, and toasted. It is advisable to store cashews in an airtight container in a cool, dry place to avoid absorption of other food odours. While cashews will not last long at room temperature, they can last up to six months if refrigerated. Cashews may also be frozen up to one year. Because of their high fat content, they should be stored tightly wrapped in the refrigerator to retard rancidity. As with most nuts, roasting cashews brings out their nutty flavour.
Try a good dessert for kids tiffin. Kaju Kopra Sheera, just got more tastier with the use of coconut-cashewnut combo rather than the usual wheat flour or rava sheera.