Easy Ideas for Using Nuts in Recipes
Sphinx Date Co. is nuts about… nuts! The Palm & Pantry is generally stocked with a selection of nuts and seeds including local items such as snack bags from Nut Sack and Arizona-grown pistachios and pecans, and through the website guests can have bulk nuts (both raw and roasted) such as almonds, cashews and more, and gift packages with specialty items shipped right to their door. Nuts are a great source of protein and a yummy snack all by themselves, but they are also delicious used in a variety of both sweet and savory recipes. Sphinx Date Co. suggests the following ways to use nuts to liven up any meal!
Nut cookies, breads and muffins— Beyond banana bread, nuts can be added to many bread recipes or even scone and cookie recipes without altering the batter. Think of yummy cookie combinations like walnut or hazelnut chocolate chip or white chocolate chip macadamia nut. And nuts can add salty flavor and crunchy texture to breads or muffins like cranberry-pecan, blueberry-lemon-almond, blueberry-orange-walnut and more. Savory loafs can be enhanced with a variety of nuts or seeds too!
Go Nuts at Breakfast — Nuts can bulk up anything from a yogurt parfait or oatmeal to cereal and can also be used as part of a homemade granola, trail mix (which makes a great afternoon snack, too!) or energy bar recipe. In addition to providing a dose of protein, nuts also pack a punch of fiber, making them a filling addition to any morning meal.
Pastas, Salads, and Sandwiches… oh My! — There are so many ways to enhance savory dishes or even a simple sandwich with nuts. Consider adding walnuts to a chicken salad mixture and serving it on a bed of lettuce or a flaky croissant, topping a spinach salad with toasted pecans and dried cranberries, or sprinkling a bowl of angel hair pasta with sun dried tomatoes, chopped basil and some pine nuts.
The Main Event — For main meals, nuts can enhance proteins from chicken to seafood. Nuts such as almond or pistachios can be ground down to create a delicious crust for baked chicken or fish, for example. Cashew chicken is a popular Asian dish in which the nuts complement the flavors of the chicken, vegetables and sauce, and peanuts play a major role in many Thai dishes.
Sauces, Dips, Dressings and Butters — Nuts are so versatile and many of their flavors are varied enough that they can either play a starring role in a dish or they can serve to enhance a dish’s other flavors. By blending them down, they can easily be transformed into nut butters, sauces, dips and dressings that can be used in endless ways.
While nuts are easy to enjoy simply by the handful, they lend great flavor and texture to a wide range of recipes. Sphinx Date Co. encourages home cooks to get creative — and just go nuts! — when it comes to cooking and baking with nuts!