A Houseful of Love

If you love roasted cashews as much as I do, you’ve probably lamented that all of the cashews (and other nuts) in the store seem to be coated in inflammatory seed oils. Luckily, it’s easy to make roasted and salted cashews in your own oven in less than 30 minutes!

Once our family swore off the “hateful eight” seed oils (corn, canola, cottonseed, soy, sunflower, safflower, rice bran, and grapeseed – we also avoid peanut oil because it’s also often highly processed), we noticed that it was difficult to buy any roasted nuts. But I didn’t want to give up my favorite quick snack or salad topping! Instead, I figured out how to roast them to perfection in my own kitchen.

All you need is raw cashews – whole, halved, or pieces. If you want, add some sea salt and/or any seasoning you enjoy. You can also toss them in a teaspoon or so of a healthier fat that can withstand higher heat, like melted beef tallow or avocado oil, but dry roasting works just fine!

From there, just bake them in the oven until they reach the level of toastiness that you prefer. I like mine crunchy but not too dark. You can also roast them lightly or to a crisp – whatever you like best! That’s the beauty of roasting your own cashews.

How do I store homemade roasted cashews?

I store my roasted cashews in an airtight container. If I plan to use or eat them within a couple of weeks, I store them in a cabinet at room temperature. For longer-term storage, I find they stay fresher if stored in the fridge.

Usually, I’ll roast a large batch if I catch a good sale on raw cashews, store most in the fridge, and leave a smaller portion in a cabinet for snacks and toppings.

How should I season roasted cashews?

I’m a big fan of keeping it simple with just some sea salt so that I can use them as a topping for a wider variety of meals. However, if your roasted cashews are exclusively for snacking, feel free to sprinkle them with your favorite spices or seasoning blend. Some ideas to get you started:

• Barbeque Cashews: I love a good bold BBQ rub, like this one with no sweeteners. The smoked paprika gives the cashews a wonderful smoky flavor and the other spices complement the natural sweetness of the nut beautifully.
• Garlic Herb Cashews: Add some garlic powder and any herbs you enjoy (thyme, oregano, basil) with some sea salt for a bit of Mediterranean flair.
• Curried Cashews: Combine curry powder, ginger powder, and turmeric powder for warmly curry-flavored cashews. You can also use garam masala or other Indian spices!
• Healthy “Dorito”-Flavored Cashews – Craving nacho cheese Doritos without the junk? Make a clean version with roasted cashews! Try sprinkling this nutritional-yeast-based popcorn seasoning on your cashews!

How do I prevent my roasted cashews from burning?

I’ve found that this is not a recipe to walk away from while it’s in the oven. They go from perfect to overdone way too fast for that! Stay nearby and toss the cashews every 5 minutes to monitor their progress, checking even more often as they get close to your desired doneness. Once they seem close, take one from the baking sheet, blow on it to cool it off, and sample it. You’ll know when they’re just right for you!

Ingredients

• 16oz raw cashews
• Optional: 1 tsp melted tallow or avocado oil
• Optional: Sea salt or other seasonings, to taste

Directions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F.

Step 2: Spread raw cashews on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. If desired, toss the cashews in some melted tallow or avocado oil and add salt prior to baking. If you’re dry roasting, we’ll salt them later!

Step 3: Bake cashews for 5 minutes, toss on the baking sheet, then return to the oven for another 5 minutes. Repeat until cashews reach desired doneness (whole cashews take longer than halved, halved take longer than pieces). As they get close, check every 2-3 minutes to ensure they do not burn!

Step 4: Remove from the oven and toss in sea salt and/or other seasonings as desired while still warm.

Step 5: Allow cashews to cool on baking sheet, then transfer to an airtight container for storage. Store in the cabinet if you plan to use them within a couple weeks or in the fridge for longer-term storage. Tip: If cashews begin to taste stale, a quick toasting will often revive them!

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Nutrition Facts

Amount Per 1oz Serving (Dry Roasted)
Calories: 163 kcal
Fat: 13g
Total Carbohydrates: 9g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 4g

The nutrition data provided here is for informational only and is only an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It cannot be verified or guaranteed, and should not be used in the treatment of medical conditions. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice This data should be interpreted and used at your own risk.