Cashew

About

The cashew apple is a false fruit with the true nut attached at its base. Cashew trees, native to Brazil, were spread by the Portuguese to Africa and India. The trees are hardy and drought-resistant, but processing the nuts is difficult because their shells contain the irritant urushiol; demand for their flavor nonetheless keeps them in wide circulation. Cashews pair harmoniously with other nuts and with fried chicken, and less commonly with fruit for contrast. The cashew apple itself has astringent juice with notes of cucumber, strawberry, mango, and sweet pepper; being highly perishable, it is mostly turned into preserves or drinks such as the Goan spirit feni.

Pairs well with cashew

• CiOrangeA macaron once served at a London restaurant combined a citrusy, kumquat-flavored shell with a sweet, toasted cashew filling, reversing…
• SuGarlicGround raw cashews and garlic powder, mixed with nutritional yeast and salt, are used as a vegan Parmesan substitute; it lacks the sweet,…
• WoAlmondCashew is often described as tasting like mild almond, which historically made raw (not roasted) cashews a cheaper substitute for almonds…
• CrCoconutThe two combine in Goan kaju tonak, a rich curry that uses cashews and coconut together or separately as its creamy base; the cashew…
• FfVanillaLightly toasted cashews can taste like sponge cake, a quality that pairs naturally with vanilla.
• FfHoneyIn honey-roasted cashews, honey plays a supporting role in flavor rather than a starring one.
• RoSesameIn a chicken and cashew stir-fry, the essential flavors turn out to be toasted cashews and sesame oil rather than the chicken itself.
• CrRaisinIn Indian desserts, raisins are fried in ghee until fragrant before being used to decorate elaborate milk-and-rice puddings alongside…
• CrDateBoth ingredients lose some character when processed smooth: cashew butter can taste bland or papery compared to whole nuts, and date purée…
• EaChickpeaSubstituting raw cashew butter for most of the tahini in hummus produces a milder result that lacks sesame's earthy depth.
• GrChileHot, spiced cashews are a common bar snack in Sri Lanka, combining the nut's richness with chili heat.
• GrKaleFood scientist Laura Griffin identified a 'greenwood bitter' note in cashews, resembling raw cruciferous vegetables, a quality easy to…
• WoOatWriting in 2005, chef Glynn Christian predicted a future of cashew-based tarts, flans, scones and crackers, noting a natural sweetness…
• SpFenugreekFresh fenugreek leaves, used generously in the Indian sauce methi (similar to how spinach is used in sag aloo), are first salted to reduce…
• SpBay leafBay leaf lends a pate-like character to a vegan cashew spread: cashews are soaked with bay leaves, then blended with a reduced shallot,…
• SuChiveThe pair combine well in vegan cream cheese: raw cashews are soaked, then blended with cider vinegar, salt and lemon juice for a tangy,…
• WoWhole grain riceBrown rice doesn't work well for risotto, which needs a starchier grain, but brown basmati makes an excellent pilaf: its popcorn-like…
• GrZucchiniCashew-based vegan cheese works as well with zucchini as any dairy cheese would.