Meatless Monday: An Ode To Nuts—What’s Your Favorite?
I’m kinda nuts for nuts lately. They’ve got to be one of the easiest, most delicious and satisfying whole foods on the planet, don’t you think?
I get the feeling some people are scared of nuts because of their high fat content. But when you flip that fear mongering on its head the facts are this: Nuts contain many of the key nutrients we need in one tiny package, including healthy fats, fiber, proteins and, yes, carbohydrates—all of which we need plenty of.
When you’re busy or on the run, it’s easy to reach for crappy food out of convenience. But these days, if I’m starving and my next meal is a little ways away, a handful of nuts is the perfect tide-over to keep me focused.
Lately, I’ve been especially into almonds and pistachios. The latter are not only delicious, but I love popping them out of their shells, like a little reminder that we once had to do some work for our food. What’s your nut of choice?
Health Benefits
According to the Mayo Clinic, nuts can also prevent heart disease. Nutrients do vary by type, but most nuts contain omega-3s, vitamin E, plant sterols, and l-arginine. Most of these are proven to be good for our hearts and health in multiple ways—not to mention our skin!
Fun Ways To Eat Them
Inspired by Siobhan’s seed post last week, I thought I’d share some of my favorite creative ways to eat nuts. Got any fun nutty recipes?
—In dessert. I still love this recipe that features salty almond butter in Greek yogurt.
—In soup. And this one too.
—In stir frys. Cashews, almonds, or whatever nut you have on-hand can add all kinds of texture and deliciousness to a fry.
—In salad. Especially good with asian salad dressings, like rice vinegar, miso paste, olive oil and green onions.
OK, you’re up.
I love almond milk with my breakfast.
I have been eating a handful of nuts and seeds a day. As I understant it, women do not incorporate enough nuts and seeds into their diets. My main source is Trader Joe’s Omega mix. It also contains dried cranberries, along with the nuts and seeds. I will eat a handful plain or on top of mixed greens.
My favorite nuts are pistachio, peacan and almond. Occasionally, I will bake pistachio biscotti from pistachio meal and pistachios purchased at our local farmers’ market.
Almonds and blueberries for a snack are a favorite. Since blueberries are not in season on the east coast yet, roasted almonds and dried cranberries are great together too.
I use almond slivers in my morning museli and macadamia nuts in my granola.
Oh, toasted macadamia nuts make a fantastic coating for broiling tuna steaks! YUM!!!
Cashews! Cashews! Cashews! I think you may all like my recipe for faux-cheddar cheese veggie pate. I am constantly changing it but it is always delicious…dare I say?
Ingredients
◦ 5 teaspoons powdered agar-agar or 5 tablespoons agar-agar flakes
◦ 1 1/2 cups water or unsalted veggie broth
◦ 1/2 cup cashews
◦ 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
◦ 1/2 cup pimientos
◦ 3 -6 tablespoons lemon juice, depending on how sharp you want it
◦ 3 cloves of garlic
◦ 1 tablespoon dijon
◦ 1 teaspoon salt
◦ whatever else you want to add! (pesto, olives, sun dried tomatoes, etc.)
Directions
1. Begin by combining the agar and tap water in a small sauce pan.
2. Heat over a medium flame, stirring often.
3. When the mixture boils, reduce the heat a bit.
4. Allow the agar to boil gently for 5 minutes.
5. Stir often to prevent burning and to make sure that all of the agar dissolves.
6. Meanwhile, measure all of the other ingredients into a blender container.
7. When the agar is finished boiling, carefully pour it into the blender container.
8. Place the lid on the blender and whizz it on high for about a minute.
9. Stop, scrape down the sides, replace the lid and whizz again, for about another minute.
10. The mixture should be very smooth and the same orange color as dairy cheddar. Pour the mixture into a small, lightly oiled loaf pan.
11. The pan I use is about 3 by 7 inches.
Place the pan in the refrigerator and allow it to chill until firm.
I <3 nuts. Yum, I love brazil nuts and than raw unpasteurized almonds. Nuts add a great extra crunch to salads or taste even better covered in raw chocolate! Grind them up in your vitamix and make apple nut butter sandwiches. Core an apple make two slices spread some nut butter on one, put a couple of berries on it or just plain, cover with other apple slice, perfect!
Nicole (health nut lol)
I just made some awesome walnut butter in my Vitamix…. two different kinds, actually. For plain, just put in a big bag of walnuts with a couple tablespoons of oil (flax or walnut is best, but any kind will do) and some salt, if you want.
For a little bit of a sweeter treat, add a tablespoon of cocoa powder, a tablespoon of agave, and two teaspoons of cinnamon. Delish. (you can play around with the amounts to suite your tastes)
I haven’t met a nut I didn’t like! I especially love almonds, cashews, and pistachios. Vanilla almond milk is my go-to milk of choice. ;)
I absolutely Love Almonds. I feel like a lot of other nuts are too rich for me, but almonds I can’t get enough of. I saw the link to nuts in desserts, and my version of my tasty go to healthy snack when I’m craving something sweet is plain yogurt, cut up pink lady apple, raw almonds, and drizzled with a hint of maple syrup, sometimes I add ground flax. YUM, so satisfying. I also love the occasional hazelnut in chocolate.
Almonds are my favorite, mainly in the form of my homemade almond milk which I use in smoothies and tea every day. I also love pistachios. Cashews are great with coleslaw (made with Vegenaise, or almond milk for creamy dressing). Basically any nut (or anything else edible) covered in chocolate is awesome, even better if mixed with fresh fruit.
I like TJ’s raw crunchy almond butter spread on apple slices and I like to sprinkle walnuts over steel cut oatmeal with raspberries.
BTW, Moksha’s pate recipe sounds good!
Cashews and brazil nuts all the way (the former on salads or by themselves and the latter by themselves or with dark chocolate)!
I made some granola bars last week with almonds, walnuts, oats, coconut, and wheat germ bound together with honey and brown sugar, oh and some dried cranberries and apricots. I’ve been addicted to them!! Great quick breakfast and in-between meals snack.
Also, having a pecan tree in my front yard is pretty rad!
This post made me think of my flight yesterday – Ya know how they give you that little, mini bowl of an assortment of warm nuts before your meal? I gobble that darn thing up every time! I know it’s crazy super salty but there’s something about them being all warm and toasty that make them so appealing! I also feel like warming them up makes the nut a bit softer, which is also pretty nice to gnosh on :)
Like others above, I have also never met a but I didn’t like! The famous psychic Edgar Cayce recommended we eat only *three* almonds per day, and I make sure to soak them in water overnight to soften a bit. I recall reading in a gentle birthing book by Gowri Motha, that eating almonds sauteed in olive oil helps women heal after giving birth, but some cultures (I think South Asian?) believe eating too many almonds creates wrinkles (like almond skin).