Cashew ????

[Barbara]

I have just discovered I love cashews. One of our local supermarkets has them in containers to buy. Normally I buy roasted cashews or cashews with black pepper. The other day I got home and found I had bought "Fancy Whole Cashews-Raw". Does "raw" mean I have to roast them? Can I eat them the way they are?

I almost took them back but decided to come to you guys and learn something new.

[MaryEllen]

Yes you can eat them raw.

And you can use them in cooked recipes with less worry of them burning.

[Barbara]

Thanks MaryEllen. Have you thought about being a Go-to-guy?

[vicki]

I've heard that cashews are good for depression.

I'm on a "nut" kick and have been eating cashews, almonds, walnuts, and pistachios lately.

Cashews are always sold shelled because the interior of the shells contains a caustic resin, known as cashew balm, which must be carefully removed before the nuts are fit for consumption. This caustic resin is actually used in industry to make varnishes and insecticides.

[Jean]

Cashews come with black pepper? Whodathunk. Yes, the raw ones are yummy to eat just as they are or to use in cooking. They factor highly in recipes for vegan cheese substitutes.

[JOY]

and, according to dh, the fruit is delicious, but too fragile to ship, so they only ship the tips of the fruit - the cashew nut.

Back to the real discussion...

[Barbara]

You convience me it was okay to eat them. I liked them but I think I prefer the roasted. By far my favorite are the ones with black pepper but I am not finding them anymore.