Paleo Foods: Cashews

These butter-like flavored tree nuts are loved by many because of their delicate taste and slightly soft texture.

Nutrition Details

Cashews taste like butter, and are even a bit sweet, which makes for a creamy nut butter to spread across a piece of fruit. Cashews are commonly used in Indian cuisine as a paste for a curry, or to simply garnish a dish.

Do you know how a cashew grows? Cashew trees produce both a cashew apple and a cashew nut. The cashew nut is attached to the bottom of the cashew apple, and is removed during harvesting. You may notice that cashews are not encased in a shell when sold in stores. The shell of a cashew contains a resin called cashew balm, and is not fit for consumption. This cashew balm is removed and can be used to make varnishes and insecticides.

Macros in Context

Here's how a serving of 1 ounce of cashews stacks up in the context of a typical Paleo meal:

Blue bars show the typical range in grams for a Paleo meal. For example, a Paleo meal usually includes 30-60 grams of fat, but where you personally fall in that range will depend on your preference.

Orange dots show how 1 ounces of cashews fits into the typical nutrient profile of a Paleo meal.

Buy It

Purchase cashews at your local market year around. Buy raw cashews, then roast them to your liking.

• STORAGE: While cashews are more shelf-table than other nuts, cashews are best stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, like the refrigerator.
• ROASTED: Cashews can be eaten either raw or roasted. Oven-roast cashews for 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees F. Add salt and seasonings!
• ALLERGEN: Cashews are grown on trees and are classified as a tree nut; tree nuts are a common allergenic food.

Cook It

Recipe Ideas

Chicken And Mango Stir-Fry

Chicken Korma With Cauliflower Rice