The benefits and harms of dried, fried, raw cashews

Cashew is a nut that has truly unique properties. It is less allergenic than other nuts, which makes it incredibly popular. It also combines a huge amount of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and iron. It is the fusion of usefulness and safety that brings it to the top of the popularity rating among nuts. However, before use, it can (and sometimes even needs) to be fried (in a frying pan, in the microwave, or using other methods). This procedure gives it unforgettable shades of taste. In this article we will tell you how to fry cashews correctly in different ways!

What is cashew

Cashew (Indian nut) is a tree of the Sumacaceae family. The fruit of this tree is a common food product used for various purposes. The tree is originally from Brazil, although it has now “spread” to many other countries, including India, China, Thailand and others. The Indian product is now distributed throughout the world.

The fruit is a kind of yellow pear. Hence the name cashew (derived from the Brazilian “yellow fruit”). Consists of 2 parts:

cashew apple;
nut.

The cashew apple is edible but perishable. Therefore, the apple cannot be transported to neighboring countries. But, when in cashew growing countries, everyone should pay attention to it. It has a sweet and sour taste.

The nut itself is located at the base of the apple. Cashews are sold only in their purified form due to a harmful substance contained between the shell and the nut itself. Before sale, the nut is thoroughly cleaned, harmful substances are removed and the nut is processed.

Composition and calorie content of nuts

Indian nuts contain less fat than other nuts (such as almonds, walnuts). But cashews contain several percent more nutrients.

The nut contains the following vitamins:

B vitamins (B1, B2, B3);
vitamins of the PP group;
vitamins of group E;
vitamins of group C;
unsaturated fatty acids (Omega-3);
microelements (magnesium, iron, calcium, zinc and others).

For the vitamin requirement, it is enough to eat 30 grams of Indian nut per day. By consuming the required amount of cashews per day, improvements will be visible within a week. Cashews have a positive effect not only on the internal state of the body, but also on the external (improves and moisturizes the skin, reduces acne on the skin). The importance of nuts in the daily diet is enormous.

Every woman wants to know the answer to the question: “How many calories are in the product? Calorie content per 100 g is:

raw nut – 580-620 calories (kcal);
roasted nut – 572 calories.

Benefits and harms of nuts in dietary menus: cashew nuts have lower calorie content (compared to walnuts and almonds). The reduced calorie content does not come at the expense of the vitamins contained in the composition. Therefore, they like to use cashews in diet menus.

Roasting cashews

Use fresh nuts for roasting to ensure they are crispy and flavorful. Since cashews are a fairly high-calorie product (100 g of nuts contain 553 kcal), do not add a large amount of oil. Otherwise, their calorie content will increase significantly.

A 100 g serving of nuts contains 43.85 fats, which begin to release when heated, allowing them to be fried without adding oil.

In the oven

Turn on the oven and preheat to 200 degrees.
Meanwhile, prepare a baking sheet by rinsing and drying if necessary, then place parchment paper or foil on a clean, dry surface.
Next, pour the cashews onto a baking sheet and smooth them out so that they lie in one layer.
Cashews need to be roasted for 10-15 minutes. Then immediately remove them from the oven and transfer them from the hot baking sheet to another container.

In a frying pan

To fry cashews in a frying pan, set the heat to medium, heat the pan slightly and pour the kernels into the bottom of the pan. You need to fry for 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly with a spoon or spatula. Be careful not to burn them as cashews cook very quickly in the pan.

When the kernels turn golden, quickly pour them into another container. Otherwise, they may burn from the hot bottom of the frying pan even when the stove is turned off.

In the microwave

The cooking process in a microwave oven takes a minimum of time, so many people prefer this method. But, in the microwave, the nuts need to be laid out in one thin layer; if you need to prepare a large number of kernels, you will have to fry them in several stages.

Cooking time is 1 minute at 900 W power. However, the time may vary depending on the quantity of nuts, their moisture content and the characteristics of your microwave oven. So, raw nuts will take longer to cook, and dried nuts will cook faster. Therefore, during the process you need to monitor the color of the kernels: as soon as they acquire a light brown tint, remove the roasted nuts.

What are the benefits of cashews?

The presence of useful substances in the nut for humans makes cashews one of the first places in products recommended for consumption. The nut is useful for the following:

Due to the large amount of carbohydrates contained, the daily intake of nuts allows you to feel a surge of strength. The body is also cleansed of harmful substances.
Has a positive effect on the gastrodigestive tract. Improves digestion. Normalizes intestinal microflora.
Increases immunity, enriches the body with the necessary daily requirement of vitamins.
Positive effect on the cardiovascular system (thanks to the proteins contained in the nut). Cleanses the blood and strengthens the walls of blood vessels. The potassium contained in the nut strengthens the heart muscle.
Affects human brain activity. Having consumed the daily dose, a person will be ready for active brain work.
The nut also has a positive effect on nails, hair, and skin.
Protects gums from various infections and diseases. Dentists say that eating the nut every day whitens teeth and prevents caries.

In addition to the medicinal properties mentioned above, cashews affect the human visual system. Helps improve visual acuity, prevents the occurrence of ophthalmic infections and inflammations. The benefits of cashews for the body are invaluable. A person feels improved health within 7-10 days after daily consumption of nuts in their diet.

How to take cashews for medicinal purposes

In Brazil, nuts are used in the fight against respiratory diseases, diabetes and are used for inflammatory processes.

In other countries they are used to combat psoriasis and metabolic disorders. The oil is used in the treatment of dermatitis and sunburn, to eliminate warts.

As an aid in the presence of cancerous tumors, nuts are introduced into the diet, as they prevent the growth of cancer cells.

For medicinal purposes, nuts are recommended to be consumed raw, although in this form they are not very tasty. But after heat treatment, the amount of nutrients is significantly reduced.

Cashews: beneficial properties and contraindications for men

It has a positive effect on men's health (improves potency and normalizes sperm activity). Restores men's attraction to the opposite sex. People who smoke should take cashews. The beneficial substances in the product soften the negative effects of nicotine on the body.

The nut has only one contraindication: people with hypersensitivity to the nut or allergies should not eat the product. If the product is consumed by a person with allergies, then all the positive properties will turn into negative ones.

Cashew nut: benefits and harm for women

It contains vitamin E, so its main property is its effect on the condition of the skin, nails and hair. It is important for a woman to be beautiful. An Indian product will definitely help with this.

Restores normal blood volume after heavy periods. It also has a positive effect on hormonal levels. Acts as a preventative against hormonal imbalances, stress and tension. Increases sexual desire.

It is recommended for use by teenage girls, as it reduces acne and evens out skin unevenness (teenagers are more susceptible to these problems).

Cashews: beneficial properties and contraindications for women during pregnancy and lactation

During pregnancy and lactation (breastfeeding), a woman should be more attentive to her body. The health and condition of the baby completely depends on its nutrition.

The product contains iron, which prevents the occurrence of anemia (decrease in hemoglobin in the blood) in a pregnant woman. Indian “food” contains the necessary vitamins necessary for the immune system of the expectant mother. Daily consumption will help avoid vitamin deficiency (vitamin deficiency in the baby and mother). Taking the Indian product helps the proper growth of the skeleton of children during the prenatal period.

The benefits of cashews for women breastfeeding are also present. Through mother's milk, the child receives the missing vitamins. Therefore, during such a period, it is important for a woman to eat the daily amount of essential vitamins.

It is recommended to observe restrictions on cashew intake. You should not eat nuts throughout your pregnancy. During this period of time, a woman is more likely to experience allergic reactions. Therefore, it is necessary to take breaks in eating nuts. Cashews should not be consumed above the specified limit. How many nuts do you need to eat for your daily requirement? About 30 grams per day.

Important!

The norm per day is 30 grams. When the first signs of an allergic reaction appear (rash, itching, irritation), you must immediately stop taking the product.

Having analyzed the beneficial properties and contraindications of cashew nuts for pregnant and lactating women, it must be said that the use of this product is necessary for women during this period of life to maintain the required level of benefits in the body.

Harm and contraindications

It is not recommended to eat the fruit of the plant in the following cases:

Contraindicated for people with hypersensitivity or an allergic reaction to the components of the composition (to check for an allergy, you need to eat several nuts);
urolithiasis (if there are stones or sand in the kidneys, it is recommended to completely stop using);
Do not abuse the product (excessive use can lead to negative consequences);
when taking it, you need to take breaks; you cannot eat a healthy product every day for a year (an allergy may develop);
You should not take Indian “food” in an unrefined form (between the shell and the fruit itself there is a toxic substance that poisons the body).

If we weigh the benefits and harm to the body from cashew nuts, we can say that the product has much fewer contraindications. The beneficial properties outweigh the disadvantages of the product.

How much food should children eat? Answering this question, it must be said that before taking it, it is recommended to contact your assigned pediatrician, who will determine the required dosage. It is recommended to give children under 10 years of age half the dosage of nuts.

How to properly roast cashews

Cashews can be roasted:

In its natural form.
With vegetable oil and salt.
With honey.
With rosemary.
With spices.

When using method 1, place a baking sheet with nuts sprinkled on top of baking paper and carefully leveled in an oven preheated to +180°C, leave for 5 minutes, then stir and send back for another 8 minutes. This is how they are usually prepared if they plan to add cashews to other dishes. You can also fry the kernels using any method in a frying pan.

Important! During the cooking process, be sure to control the color of the finished product - it is possible that the amount of time spent on frying will be less or more.

If you choose the 2nd method, then know that it is not necessary to combine the ingredients; you can fry cashews in vegetable oil without salt or with salt without oil.

How to cook:

Dilute one tablespoon of salt in a small amount of water, sprinkle on the nuts, and leave for a while until dry. The amount of salt can be adjusted to your own taste. If you decide to fry without it, skip this step.
Place the cashews on a baking tray lined with baking paper (this amount of salt and butter will require 450 g of nuts).
Pour any vegetable oil intended for frying over the kernels in a thin stream and distribute it evenly with your hands. If you want to fry without oil, skip this step.
Place the pan in an oven preheated to +180°C until browned, do not forget to stir first.

Sometimes they put nuts in the oven without oil and salt, 0.5 tsp. salts are poured over the finished product, mixed, poured over with oil, which is carefully distributed.

The third method is suitable for those with a sweet tooth:

In a deep bowl to 2 tbsp. l. add 1.5 tbsp liquid honey. l. maple syrup and melted butter, stir. You can omit maple syrup from the ingredients and increase the amount of honey.
Add 1 tsp to liquid ingredients. vanilla sugar and salt. You can do without them, but salt will emphasize the sweetness of the taste, and vanillin will add a unique aroma. You can add a pinch of cinnamon.
Add 450 g of nuts and knead well.
Preheat the oven to +180°C.
Cover the baking sheet with baking parchment, arrange the kernels in 1 layer, separating them from each other.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Monitor the color of the finished product - it should be ruddy, but not dark.
Roll hot nuts in 2 tbsp. l. sugar and cool.

When using method 4:

You must first roast the cashews as indicated in method 1.
During this time, by 2 tbsp. l. add 1 tbsp rosemary needles. l. salt and melted butter, 0.5 tsp. powdered cayenne pepper and 2 tsp. sugar (preferably brown).
Add the finished product to the spices and stir thoroughly.
Place the nuts on a sheet of foil or parchment and let them cool.

The last cooking method looks like this:

To 2 tbsp. l. Add 1 tsp of liquid or melted hardened honey. dried and crushed chili peppers and grind well in a deep bowl.
Pour 450 g of nuts into the resulting mixture, spreading it well over their surface.
Transfer the contents of the dish onto a baking sheet lined with parchment, carefully distributing them into 1 layer and separating them from each other.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until golden brown, stirring every 3-4 minutes.
To 1.5 tsp. add 2 tbsp salt. l. sugar, stir, roll cashews in this mixture. Cool.

Application

The nut is used in various fields (medicine, cosmetology, dietetics, cooking). In each area, the product plays an important role:

Adding nut oil to cosmetics allows you to add moisturizing and strengthening properties to cosmetics. Every cosmetologist knows that thanks to Indian nut oil, irregularities in a person’s skin are reduced. The “outer shell” is enriched with nutrients. People like to add the oil to anti-acne medications, as the nut perfectly reduces rashes.
High in calories. But despite this, the nut is popular in diet menus. Great as a snack. One nut snack saturates the body with nutrients for the whole day.
In medicine it is used to improve blood circulation and cleanse the body. Thanks to the iron it contains, the product acts as a preventative against anemia. Strengthens blood vessels and muscles of the body. Effectively affects brain activity. It is one of the products that reduce the likelihood of cancer.
It is popular in the cuisine of Asian countries. They are eaten in dishes of any type (first courses, second courses, desserts). In Europe it is used mainly as a snack. But gradually the Indian nut comes into use in European dishes.

We can talk endlessly about the beneficial properties of the Indian nut. It is not for nothing that it is used in almost all areas of human activity.

Interesting!

The product is recommended for use by athletes, as it saturates the body with energy and additional strength.

Use in cooking

Cashews are consumed fresh or roasted. They are also often added to various dishes to give them an unusual taste and make the food more healthy and nutritious for the body. For example, you can cook rice with minced meat and nuts according to the following recipe.

Ingredients: