Nuts about nuts!
As far as my
childhood memory stretches, there is not even a fague memory of nuts being a
daily snack. Nuts weren’t on the shopping list, but were kept for special
occasions. We often had peanut butter sandwiches, and salted cashews were off
limits and belonged to my dad! He ate it very sparingly and it was something to
be savoured.
I have fond
memories of my gran setting out pecan halves before and during Christmas
festivities, and having pecan nuts in her freezer that was kept for baking. I’m
not even going to go into the bottle of Nutella that was always standing on the
cupboard shelf oh so proudly.
Some of my
best memories are of eating warm, caramelised almonds in an icy cold Germany.
It was as if I had discovered a treasure. I found them on the streets of Boston
a few years later. Aaah, and the smell of roasted chestnuts in Portugal that
was served in a paper wrapper…
Now let’s
fast forward to today. An assortment of nuts is widely available. If they are
not found in your shops, then you can order them online from basically anywhere
in the world. Nut milks, nut flours, in meal plans, as substitutes, in many
recipes, in trail mixes.
I have yet
to try the Barukas nut! This is seen as the super nut of the Savannah,
and is found in a remote area of South America. Now every nut has its claim to
fame. According to its nutritional chart it is seen as one of the healthiest
nuts on the planet. It is very low in calories, very high in plant protein,
high in fibre and with an extremely high anti-oxidant level. It apparently has
the taste of between a peanut, almond and popcorn with a hint of sweetness in between.
Darin Olien,
a superfood hunter and star of the Netflix series “Down to Earth” also starring
Zac Efron, is the driving force behind this peculiar nut. Fires are
purposefully lit in these areas where these Barucas grow, destroying these
plantations, to make way for new agricultural farming practices. Now for every
5 pounds of Barukas nuts that you order from his online shop, they will be
planting a tree in the wild. You can have a look at their short video on their
website barukas.com
Peanuts:
These are
actually a legume that originated in South America. They are rich in protein
and fat, and is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. It is fairly high
in calories, but the combination of nutrients make you feel fuller for longer.
Sugar free peanut butter is a staple in our house! It does however leave an
acidic residue in the body. The peanut is definitely an affordable nut that can
be incorporated in many dishes and sauces or enjoyed on its own.
Almonds:
Almonds have
taken the world by storm. Almond milk, almond flour and almond butter are now
freely available. We personally love to have a big bag in our cupboard to add
to smoothies, chopped up in our Verlorenkloof yoghurt and to make milk when we
want to. Shop bought milk cannot be compared to the creamy consistency and
frothiness of this delicious homemade milk. We like to add a touch of pink salt
and vanilla to ours.
The almond can
be enjoyed raw or roasted. It helps to lower cholesterol, it is one of the best
brain foods, it leaves an alkaline residue in the blood, improves memory, and
is excellent for building strong bones and teeth. Topping it all off by saying
that the vit. E content is good for your skin, that’s why the oil is added to
many cosmetic products. The almond is seen as a symbol of hope in the Bible, as
well as an object of value. No wonder it is on everyone’s lips!
Brazil nuts:
Brazil says ;“Go
big or go home”! This is one of the biggest nuts that I have seen. It is
primarily harvested in the wild by local people. This sweet and nutritious nut
is topping the charts with its selenium and anti-oxidant levels. It is an
excellent source of B-complex vitamins and also helps to balance hormones. The Brazil
nut provides protein and calories for many tribal, rural and urban Brazilians.
Ladies, take out your party dresses, this one’s for you!
Hazelnuts:
Hazelnuts
can leave you dreamy and hazy. Think nut-filled chocolate slabs and Nutella. We
make our own by roasting the nuts, then shelling them by rubbing them together
in a clean dish towel. Process into a course meal. Add cocoa powder, a little
plant-based milk, melted coconut oil and a sweetener of choice. Continue
processing until thick and creamy. These
are packed with vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidant compounds and healthy fats.
Macadamia
nuts:
These beauties are my personal favourite! For the best vegan soft serve ice-cream made with macadamias and dates, go to Summerfields in Hazyview, Mpumalanga. https://summerfields.co.za
This nut is
native to Australia, and is also grown in places such as Hawaii and Mpumalanga,
South Africa. It is high in good fats which tells you why it makes such
beautiful, buttery ice-cream. Macadamias are high in minerals and protein, which
makes it excellent for blood sugar control. It has a good vitamin E content, helps
to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Made for melting moments, don’t
you think?
Chestnuts:
This nut is
grown in Portugal and is as diverse as its culture. Boiled or roasted, savoury
or sweet. The Chestnut can be whatever you want it to be. This nut can provide
you with high levels of vitamin C, it helps to protect the heart and improves
brain function. The Manganese helps to boost bone health. The Chestnut improves
digestion and then promotes regularity. Don’t forget about its high anti-oxidant
count. This nut is not to be confused with a water chestnut.
Pine nuts:
Dynamite
comes in small packages, right?! This nut is well known for its elevation techniques.
It can elevate any salad or roasted vegetable dish, and not to mention its power
in pesto! This nut is also referred to as the Pignoli. It is known for its
butter like texture because of its oil content, with a subtle yet powerful pine
scent. Did you know that the Pineal gland in the brain is named after pinecones
because of its shape?
This nut is
a good source of vitamin B, vitamin K, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and protein.
These qualities help to boost energy
levels and can reduce diabetes. I think the process of extracting the nut from
the pine cone is what sends the prices rocketing.
Cashews:
These have a
soft spot in my heart because it is my dad’s favourite! Soft enough to eat that
it won’t send you to the dentist, and flavourful enough that it can be a substitute
for cheese. These are low in sugar and rich in fibre, good fats and a good
source of protein. It contains nutrients that are important for energy, brain
health, immunity and bone health. Cashews are however acid forming in the body.
A few of these do however leave you feeling satisfied!
Cashews can
be a versatile cheese sauce replacer. Soak and blend with water, spices and
salt, and voila, you have cheese sauce! Vegan cheese cakes made with cashews
have taken over the food bloggers world. Ever heard of vegan Parmesan? Grind
roasted cashews to a powder, add salt, garlic and onion powder. Nutritional
yeast can up the flavour and nutritional content to make it more “stinky”. Use
where you would use Parmesan.
Pistachios:
These make
my husband happy! No wonder they are called the “happy” nut in China. They look
as if they are smiling! This nut has a ritual to it. The process of breaking
open the shell and trying to get the nut out with its characteristic green
tinge can be quite therapeutic to some people. The Pistachio is a great source
of protein and fibre, is high in B6 vitamins, high in ant oxidants, helps lower
blood pressure, lowers your chances of cardiovascular disease and is high in
unsaturated fats. This nut has the same amount of protein as an egg!
Walnuts:
They look
like a brain and they are good for the brain. It decreases inflammation, helps
lower blood pressure and is high in anti-oxidants. What’s not to love about
them except maybe having a slight bitter after taste?
I’m sure
that all this talk about nuts has made you feel a bit nutty and conjured up images
of squirrels that are collecting nuts for the winter! I’m sure that you will
find a nut to suit your budget and occasion for a heart healthy snack.
From one
health nut to another…
Lizelle
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