Nuts are a great addition to any diet. They add flavours and crunch to dishes and can be used in sweet and savoury recipes.
This article will list the different types of nuts with their main characteristics, so you know what they are and how to use them!
Almonds
Almonds are a type of nut that is high in vitamin E. They have a sweet, nutty taste and can be eaten raw or roasted.
Almonds are often used in desserts, such as cakes and cookies, but can also be added to salads or main dishes such as curry.
Almonds can be eaten whole, chopped, blended for almond butter, or ground up and turned into almond flour.
Another use for almonds is to soak them in water and blend them to turn them into almond milk as an alternative to cow’s milk.
Brazil
Brazil nuts are high in selenium and have a soft texture ideal for nut butter and milk.
They have an earthy flavour that can be quite strong, so you’ll need to use them sparingly if adding them to savoury dishes.
They often come shelled, but unshelled ones will last longer because the shell protects the nut from going bad.
Brazil nuts can be eaten raw or roasted and are often used to make “brazil nut milk” by soaking the whole nuts in water and blending them with a few optional sweeteners such as dates or maple syrup.
Cashew
Cashews have a creamy, sweet taste and can be eaten raw or roasted.
Cashews are often used in desserts, such as cakes and cookies, but can also be added to salads or main dishes such as curry.
Cashews can be eaten whole or chopped or turned into cashew milk or cashew nut butter.
Cashew has a high starch content making them ideal for blending in with soups and sauces to thicken them.
Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts from the hazelnut tree are sweet and crunchy and can be eaten raw or roasted.
Hazelnuts can be eaten as a snack, salad, or dessert, especially chocolate.
Chocolate lovers will be familiar with the chocolate spread ‘Nutella’ – hazelnuts play a leading role in making this popular spread.
Macadamia
Macadamias have a soft and creamy texture making them ideal for baked goods and sweet treats.
They have a mild taste, so they are often used in desserts that contain other ingredients such as chocolate or berries.
Macadamia nuts are often expensive because they are a labour-intensive crop to harvest.
Peanuts
Peanuts are technically not a nut; they are actually from a plant in the pea family and are classified as a legume.
We have included them in our list of nuts, commonly known as nuts, during culinary discussions.
Peanuts are often served as a snack, typically a bar snack – usually heavily salted.
Another widespread use of peanuts is blending them into peanut butter. This popular spread has many benefits, including sandwiches, savoury dips, and sweet treats. Peanut butter can be made or bought as a crunchy or smooth texture.
Related:
Slow Cooker Chilli Peanut Pork
Pecans
Pecans have a sweet and rich flavour and are often found in baked goods or desserts. They are also used in savoury dishes, such as salads or sauces.
Pecans can be eaten raw or roasted, and add winter squash and sweet potato dishes.
Pistachios
Pistachios have a unique flavour that is often enjoyed by many. Pistachios are the seeds of pistachio trees originating in Central Asia. They have a hard exterior shell and an interior smooth in texture and slightly sweet in taste.
Walnuts
Walnuts have a strong and distinctive flavour with a hard exterior shell and an interior that is slightly crunchy in texture.
There are different types of walnuts grown in various locations around the world. Most walnuts are produced in China, but they are also grown commercially in California and Europe.
Walnuts are often enjoyed as a snack, either raw or roasted. They can also be added to sweet and savoury dishes such as baked goods or salads and sauces.