Roasting cashews and crowning them with different recipes is an excellent way to consume this nutritious food.

In this article, we will discuss the roasting process, the health parameters of the process, making roasting cashews at home, and how to make honey-roasted cashew recipes.

Raw vs. roasted nuts: health differences

Cashews are very nutritious and the ideal go-to snack.

Cashews are a great source of fiber, protein, and fat and are rich in antioxidants and micronutrients. In addition, most of the fat it contains is healthy unsaturated fats, while a very low amount is saturated fat.

In addition, research indicates that consuming nuts, including cashews, has several health advantages, along with a reduction in cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar.

Background of the roast

Generally, cashews are roasted to enhance their flavor, fragrance, and crispiness.

Occasionally, roasting is used to remove cashews’ shells from their kernels. This is a typical way of cashew shelling and the reason they are rarely marketed raw.

There are two primary roasting methods:

1. Dry roasting is roasting without the use of oil. Cashews may be roasted dry in an oven or a skillet.
2. Oil roasting refers to roasting using oil. Additionally, cashews may be oil-roasted in the oven or in a skillet.

In addition to these two procedures, microwave roasting is possible for nuts.

You may purchase roasted cashew nuts or roast them yourself.

Both have a comparable amount of nutrients

By roasting nuts, their structure and chemical composition are altered.

Specifically, it alters their hue and reduces their moisture content, resulting in a crunchier texture.

Raw and dry-roasted nuts provide comparable fat, carbohydrates, and protein quantities. Even though roasted nuts contain slightly more fat and calories per gram, the difference is negligible.

One ounce (28 grams) of raw cashews contains 157 calories and 12.4 grams of fat, whereas the same amount of dry-roasted cashew contains 162 calories and 13.1 grams of fat.

During the roasting process, nuts lose moisture. Consequently, roasted cashews are lighter than raw cashews. This explains why roasted nuts have a slightly increased fat content per ounce.

Fat content:

Some studies have indicated that roasting nuts do not alter their total fat content.

However, roasting might damage the healthy polyunsaturated fats in nuts, but you can help minimize this damage by roasting them at a low temperature.

Protein and carbohydrate content:

Raw and roasted nuts have identical protein and carb levels. However, roasted nuts may have more or fewer macronutrients depending on the process.

Calorie content:

Oil-roasted cashews have just a little more fat and calories than dry-roasted cashews. Nuts are inherently fat-rich and can’t absorb much more.

Vitamin and minerals:

Some of these nutrients may be lost during roasting due to their sensitivity to heat.

However, research on the criteria needed to determine the lost vitamin and mineral loss is insufficient for cashews.

How to roast cashews in the oven?

Roasting cashews helps bring out the naturally rich flavor of this healthy and nutrient-dense nut and gives it a more crunchy consistency.

Ingredients

4 cups cashews

3 teaspoons olive or coconut oil

Directions:

1. First, preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Spread the cashews one by one evenly on the baking tray. You can use more than one tray if you have a lot of cashews.
3. Drizzle 1-2 teaspoons of oil over the cashews. (Consider adding oil. Roasting cashews with a small amount of oil is recommended but not essential.)
4. Place the cashews on the middle grill of the oven and cook for 5 minutes. Then remove the tray and mix the cashews with the help of a spoon.
5. Return the tray to the oven and bake for another 3 minutes. Then take it out, mix it, and put it back in the oven.
6. Cashews will be roasted for 8-15 minutes in total. But don’t forget to take it out and mix it every 3 minutes.

Cashews give off a pleasant and sharp smell when roasted. Unfortunately, it also gets a few shades darker in color.

Cashews can burn quickly while baking in the oven. That’s why it’s so important to stir it often.

The honey-roasted cashew recipe we have prepared for you is the perfect recipe to try. Apart from that, you can also add sea salt, granulated sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, butter, cayenne pepper, or sweet paprika to add flavor.

After cooking, transfer the roasted cashews to another bowl and allow them to cool completely for 15 minutes.

You can store roasted cashews in an airtight container or glass jar at room temperature for 2 weeks.

Honey roasted cashews recipe with oven

These easy honey roasted cashews recipes are beyond easy to make the perfect combination with sweet and salty ingredients, these opposite flavors making them simply delicious.

Ingredients:

450 grams cashews (whole)

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 tablespoons of honey

3 teaspoons olive or coconut oil

1 tablespoon of maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1. First, preheat the oven to 180 degrees and lay the baking sheet with parchment paper. Since the honey coating is very sticky, honey-roasted cashews will likely stick to the baking sheet if you don’t lay something underneath. Therefore, non-stick foil or parchment paper is highly recommended.
2. Mix all the ingredients with a wooden spoon in a large bowl except cashews well in a mixing bowl for making the honey mixture. Then add the roasted cashews to the mixture.
   You can use honey, butter, and cinnamon for a simpler recipe. Maple syrup, salt, and vanilla enhance the cashew flavor but are not essential ingredients.
3. Place cashews in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for 3 minutes.
4. Then remove the sheet and mix the cashews well. Throw the cashews back into the oven and cook in a controlled manner for 4-5 minutes.
   Cashews should smell noticeably delicious and appear darker in color but should not appear dark brown or charred.
5. Take the roasted honey and roasted nuts into a bowl. Add a little salt and mix well.
   If you want the cashews to be entirely sweet and not at all salty, you don’t need to add any salt.
   If you want it to be sweeter, you can add sugar and mix.
6. After coating the cashew with salt, wait 15 minutes. Then, you can enjoy it after it cools down.

Honey roasted cashews recipe with pan

Ingredients

2 cups cashews

¼ cup honey

2 tablespoons melted butter

1 tablespoon coconut oil

⅛ teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Warm up a tablespoon of coconut oil in a pan 
2. Place the raw cashews coated with honey and butter in the pan.
3. Stir continuously for eight minutes.
4. Take the roasted honey cashews from the pan into a bowl.
5. Add a little salt, mix well, and let it cool.

Feel free to add cinnamon for additional taste.

Simple honey roasted cashews with just 4 ingredients

We’re focusing on cashews for this recipe, but you can also make a honey roast with the following nuts with the same recipe:

• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Pistachios
• Pecans
• Hazelnuts
• Peanuts

Ingredients

4 cups cashews or nuts

1/2 cup honey

3 tablespoons melted butter

1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
2. Heat the butter until it has melted. Add the honey and whisk to combine. Add salt (to taste.)
3. Coat the nuts with the honey mixture by pouring it over them.
4. Spread parchment paper over the baking sheet, then pour the nut mixture onto it. Spread the mixture with a spoon, so the nuts are all flat and not clumped together. This will ensure even baking.
5. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven, mix the mixture, and bake for an additional 5 to 8 minutes.
6. Remove the roasted honey cashews into a bowl. Add remaining salt and mix well.
7. Let them cool and enjoy!

Conclusion

Cashews are great food sources that can be preferred as a snack. In addition, you can consume them both raw and roasted to provide health benefits.

You can roast your cashews at home and flavor them with different spices. One of the most popular and awesome recipes is honey-roasted cashews, and it’s pretty easy to make. So you can roll up your sleeves and start making it.

Questions & Answers

Are honey-roasted cashews healthy?

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, nuts are generally beneficial when consumed in moderation.

Additionally, cashew is an excellent provider of micro- and macronutrients. Although it is important to remember that honey-roasted nuts contain far more sugar than ordinary nuts.

However, they may be included in a healthy diet when consumed in balance.

Should cashews be soaked before roasting?

The flavor of the cashews will be enhanced by soaking. This is because soaked cashews absorb the spices way more than those used in roasting. However, this could result in a texture that is chewier than crispy.

How do you roast cashews quickly?

First, preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the cashews one by one evenly on the baking tray. Drizzle 1-2 teaspoons of oil over them. Place the cashews on the middle grill of the oven and roast for 8-15 minutes in total, stirring in a bit every few minutes, until golden brown.

Can ready-roasted cashews be used for the recipe?

Of course, it can be used. But it is useful to keep in mind that there will be varying degrees of nutritional value loss depending on the heat and processing procedures.

What are the benefits of consuming cashews raw?

They preserve more naturally occurring nutrients, such as antioxidants and vitamin E; per gram, they have fewer calories and less fat; they contain less sodium and less damaging free radicals.

What are the pros of consuming roasted cashews instead of raw?

Roasted cashews have a more pronounced flavor and sensory experience. As a result, they are easier to digest and have a lower risk of exposing you to harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli.

What can I use other than coconut oil when roasting cashews?

You can use nuts like almond or walnut oil or other healthy oils like grapeseed or olive oil.

Do I have to use cashews in the recipe?

In place of cashews, you may substitute any other type of nut, such as hazelnuts, in this recipe.

How can I tell if the raw cashews have been roasted?

When the nuts are heated, they will appear soft, and you might think they have been roasted. However, as they cool and the honey solidifies, the nuts will also become crisp. When the cashews emit a nutty aroma and turn golden brown, they are done/roasted.