Creamy and nutty flavor that is much milder that almonds and peanuts, cashew nuts can be pureed, or served whole or in pieces. Even though they have rich texture, cashews are slightly lower in fat compared to most other nuts.
This type of nuts come in various conditions both roasted or raw, unsalted or salted and seasoned with a variety of flavorings. Depending on the recipe, cashews are healthy and nutritious ingredient to add to an everyday diet when properly paired with other foods.
What to eat with cashews? Mostly found in Indian cuisine, cashews pair wonderfully with chicken and vegetables in curries. They also taste excellent with variety of fruits such as apricots, dates grapefruit, kiwi, lemon, mango, papaya, passion fruit, persimmon, and pineapple.
Due to its subtle flavor, cashews also complement well with other nuts including almonds and macadamia nuts. And when tossed in spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, it helps to enhance the flavor and makes the nuts exciting to eat.
Cashews have been used for making dairy free alternatives such as cashew milk, cashew-based cream sauces, cashew cheese and sour cream. It has hints of sweet and rich texture that blend well with many dishes.
This article explores the flavors, fruits, cheeses, and spices that go well with cashews. Answered below are frequently asked questions about what to eat with cashews according to classic food pairings. Read through to learn more.
What flavors go well with cashews?
Cashews can be added to chicken dishes, snack ideas, dressing, and dipping sauce. Therefore, it can be served puréed, roasted, and pan-fried.
Here are classic flavor combinations that go well with cashew nuts:
- cashew + brown sugar + chicken + soy sauce + oyster sauce
- cashew + vanilla + lemon + coconut milk
- cashew + white wine vinegar + dijon mustard + olive oil + lemon juice
- cashew + maple syrup + cinnamon
What to eat cashews with?
Cashews can be eaten as a sweet dessert or savory dish. Generally, they can be paired with Asian and Indian cuisine, mostly in stir-fry, noodle and pasta dishes as well as in the curries to pair with shrimp and chicken.
If you are looking to find out what other ingredients that pair well with cashew nuts, here is a list for more food pairings:
- Vegetables: red bell pepper, ginger, cabbage, onion, broccoli, sugar snap peas, zucchini, snow peas
- Nuts: almonds, macadamia nuts
- Condiments: caramel, honey, vanilla, rum
- Meat: chicken, beef
- Chocolate: white
- Coffee: espresso
- Rice: jasmine, basmati, brown
- Sugar: brown, white
- Wine: Pinot Noir, Prosecco
- Tea: spiced, Yerba chai with cashew desserts
What fruit goes well with cashew?
From cupcakes to drinks and dips, there are many desserts and sauces that you can create with cashews. Whether the fruits are fresh or dried, cashews complement well on both conditions.
Simply adding cashews to blend with dried fruit, garnish yogurt, fruit salad, or breakfast cereals, the choices are endless.
The fruits that go well with cashews include:
- apricots
- goji berries
- bananas
- dates
- grapefruit
- guava
- kiwi
- mango
- papaya
- passion fruit
- persimmon
- pineapple
What spice goes with cashew?
Whether it is curry or trail mix, adding a spices to the recipe helps to improve flavor and adds fun to the bland flavored nuts. Furthermore, roasting these nuts with herbs, spices and condiments like honey brings aroma to every bite.
Here are chef’s go-to spices to pair with cashews:
- cinnamon
- ginger
- nutmeg
- paprika
- cumin
- pepper
What cheese goes well with cashew?
Creamy and subtle flavor nuts like cashew also blends well with cheese. Even though cashew pairs well with many types of cheese, it complements particularly well on a cheese board with crackers, fruits, and soft cheese like these:
Eat With Cashews: Conclusion
Cashews can be consumed with cheese, fruits, vegetables, and spices added to give a unique taste. It is also important to note that cashews can be made into vegan cheese for a dairy free option.
When it comes to appetizers, raw or roasted cashews are often paired with blue cheese to provide a unique flavor. The tangy taste from blue cheese and mild creamy flavor from cashews harmonize well.
Some of the spices added to cashews include cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, paprika, cumin, and pepper. With these spices, a person can never go wrong in terms of taste and an attractive smell.
Cashews can be enjoyed as snacks or even as a dessert. However, the choice of eating cashews raw or cooked depends on personal preference and the recipe being followed.
Additionally, it can serve as a vessel for sweet, salty, spicy, and savory flavors. Whether you add into curry or breakfast meals like cereal or trail mix, consider these flavor combinations and classic ingredient pairings to create wonderful meal with cashews.