Toasted Cashews without Salt

The cashew is a plant that produces two fruits, one fresh, the so-called cashew apple and one dry, which is an edible seed, like a bit of the whole so-called dried fruit.

Nutritional characteristics of roasted cashews without salt

Cashews are very high in calories, like all dried fruit, 574 calories per 100 grams of roasted cashews. They have a good content of mineral salts, among the most important: iron (6 mg), potassium (565 mg), phosphorus (490 mg) and magnesium (260 mg).

The many calories are for the most part ensured by fat but it is for the vast majority of unsaturated fats, about 45 grams of fat contained in 100 grams of roasted cashews, only 9 are dreaded saturated fats, that is about one fifth. The other 4/5 consist of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, including oleic acid, the same content in olive oil, among the fatty acids. As for the vitamins we remember the precious contribution of those of the group B , in particular B2 and B9 (folic acid).

Curiosities about cashews

If you discover that the fresh fruit, for obvious reasons (it has a very fine and delicate skin, it is not easy to store and transport), is essentially consumed only in the countries of origin , perhaps you will be surprised to find that in many of the aforementioned countries of origin they do not consume the dry one (ie oil seeds) that we appreciate so much.

Another nice curiosity for those who have no knowledge of botany is that in reality neither fresh nor dry fruit are really a fruit. Cashews as we know are edible seeds, but the fresh "fruit" is a false fruit because in botany the fruit is called what comes from the transformation of the ovary of the plant only and not from other parts of the flower. This is quite common, much of the common fruit is actually a false fruit, for example in the apple the fruit is just the core. The difference of the cashew nut is that the real fruit and the seed are not at all inside the false fruit (as is the case in the apple), but the hard shell that encloses it grows on top of the false fruit.

Finally, a curiosity that explains why cashews have a rather high price compared to other nuts, they absolutely cannot be consumed as they are, they must go through a process that eliminates some substances toxic that are around the seed or on the peel that contains it.

A phenolic resin (which is used to produce insecticides), anacardic acid (an irritant) and uruscium a highly allergenic irritant contained in some plants of the family of cashew nuts especially poison ivy. The latter is mainly contained in the shell and this is the reason why cashews are sold to consumers without the shell.

Roasted cashews without salt in the kitchen

Cashews as well as being an appreciated snack alone are quite used in cooking, especially in Asian recipes (even if it is a plant native to Brazil after the introduction in India by dei Portoghesi has quickly spread and rooted in the oriental culinary tradition) but we offer you a vegetarian recipe.

Vegetarian hot dog

Ingredients for 4 hot dogs

Dried tomatoes in oil 100 gr

Roasted cashews 125 gr

Red onions ½

Fresh Chilli ½

Oregano to taste

Rice flour 200 gr

Flax seeds 1 tablespoon

Salt up to q.b.

Black pepper to taste

Water 60 gr

Extra virgin olive oil 60 gr

Vegetable broth 1 lt

Hot Dog Sandwiches 4

Ingredients for caramelized red onions

Red Onions 2

Extra virgin olive oil to taste

Brown sugar 20 gr

Balsamic vinegar 20 ml

Ingredients for the dressing

Avocados (ripe) 2

Lemon juice 1

Cheddar 12 slices

Valeriana (songino) q.b.

Preparation

The place of the sausage is taken by a dough made from rice flour, cashews and dried tomatoes

1) Keep the liter of vegetable broth warm to keep warm.

Preparing vegan sausage

2) Blend the dried tomatoes, toasted cashews, half a red onion, peeled and chopped into coarse pieces, half a fresh chilli pepper without seeds.

3) Add rice flour, flax seeds, salt and pepper.

4) Pour this mix into a bowl and combine the water and oil. Work everything by hand, kneading until the mixture is well blended.

5) Divide the mixture into 4 equal parts, roll up to give an elongated shape just like a sausage.

6) Wrap each in thin gauze and tie the ends with candy-type kitchen twine.

7) Cook the sausages in boiling vegetable broth for 45 minutes.

8) Let the sausages cool in the same cooking liquid.

9) Once cold, drain and remove the gauze.

10) Let it rest on the cutting board for about 30 minutes.

Preparation of caramelized onions

11) Clean the red onions. Cut them into slices and brown them in a pan with a drizzle of oil, stirring occasionally.

12) Combine the brown sugar.

13) Caramelize over low heat for two minutes, stirring.

14) Deglaze with the balsamic vinegar, wait a few moments and turn off the heat.

15) Let it cool down.

Preparing the rest of the dressing

16) The slices of cheddar (8-12 will be needed for the four sandwiches depending on your taste).

17) Then the avocados: cut them in half, remove the core and peel them. Then cut them into slices.

18) Sprinkle with lemon juice so they don't blacken.

19) Brown the sausages in a pan with a drizzle of oil, just a few minutes before filling the sandwiches.

20) Open the sandwiches and pass them a few moments on the hot plate or on a non-stick pan to lightly toast the inside.

21) Then fill with 2-3 slices of cheddar and a sausage and then close them.

22) Pass them over a few moments on the hot plate or on a pan (even in the oven) just as long as the cheddar is melted.

23) Then open them again and dress them with caramelized onions and slices of avocado.

Recipe source: Ricette.giallozafferano.it