The crunch, the texture, the taste, and the different shapes and sizes are all we love about nuts! Paired with honey, sugar, maple syrup, or chocolate, the nuts become marvelous while retaining their bite and base flavors. Nuts are a good source of fiber and protein as they provide various health benefits, especially in regard to reducing heart diseases. From buying to storing to cooking, nuts are an all-rounder as they can slip in as party snacks and act as the best zing in brownies! In other words, a nut is a fruit composed of an inedible hard shell and a seed, which is generally edible.
14 Varieties Of Nuts You Can Eat
1. HAZELNUTS
Better known for its taste in Nutella, this round nut plays a huge role in the superbly loved sweet spread. They are edible raw, but to really enhance the flavour, one can roast them and remove the bitter skin. Other than Nutella, hazelnuts can be eaten in soup and salads as well. Roasting these amazing nuts increases their crunchiness.
2. PISTACHIOS
Pistachios are usually sold with their shell intact. They are also a good source of Vitamin B6. Pistachios have a mild and lightly sweet taste with a combination of little salt which tastes yum! They are rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fibre.
3. CASHEW NUTS
The crescent-shaped South American nut made its way into other cuisines such as Indian and Thai. Compared to other nuts, cashews have a higher amount of concentration of carbohydrates, and they are slightly lower in fat. The nice texture and crunch of cashews make it almost everybody’s favourite.
4. PECANS
Grown mainly in Georgia and Texas, pecan is much sweeter than a walnut and thus used mainly in baking and for deserts. They also taste awesome when consumed raw. Pecans are very nutritious as they consist of manganese, omega, and protein. Pecans in cake taste great.
5. BRAZIL NUTS
This huge, elongated nut is native to Brazil and can be found throughout the Amazon rainforest. This nut will provide a daily dose of the antioxidants selenium and vitamin E. The nuts grow on a tree known as Brazil nut tree which can grow to hundreds of meters in height. Brazil nuts are also known as cream nuts.
6. ALMONDS
There are many food products made from almonds such as almond flour and almond milk. Almonds can be used in literally anything, say ice cream, chocolate, Indian desserts, shakes, cakes, custards, etc. This nut is an excellent source of vitamin E, protein, and omega. If taken daily, they can help in developing the brain.
7. WALNUTS
This brain-like looking nut is very beneficial for health. These are used in a wide range of recipes. Walnuts are rich in protein, omega, magnesium, fat, and fibers. Eating walnuts is one of the healthiest nut choices anyone can make.
8. PINE NUTS
Harvested from pine trees, pine nuts are edible seeds. These have a slightly piney flavor and soft, chewy texture. A hard shell rings these nuts, and a pine cone encloses this shell. With a buttery flavor, these are known as an amazing addition when involved in cooking.
9. PEANUTS
These nuts are widely available either salted, dry-roasted or in the form of peanut butter, which is an incredibly prominent food product. These come at a low price which is why people of any category can afford it. Peanuts are a good source of protein and carbohydrates. They are used in India in a huge form, say in sweets, oil, snacks, etc.
10. MACADAMIA
Macadamia nuts come from Australia. Macadamia nuts are arguably the yummiest type of nut with an enticing buttery taste. An obstacle here is that they are quite expensive, and they are one of the least nutrient-dense nuts. Macadamia nuts are also known as ‘Hawaii nuts.’
11. CHESTNUTS
Predominately a source of starchy carbohydrates, chestnuts are different from other kinds of nuts. Chestnuts are typically best for winters. They have carbohydrates and are also very low in fat. Roasted chestnuts are very important for the festive season in the Western world. Chestnuts have 5 different species.
12. ACORNS
These were once a staple food around the world. Acorns need a special preparation method like leaching to reduce their high tannin content. Being rich in manganese, they are not as popular as they used to be.
13. PILI NUTS
These are nuts with a nutritious profile and an amazing taste. Many people don’t know about the existence of this nut. They are also known as Pacific almonds. These are accessible in raw as well as roasted form. These nuts are particularly high in magnesium and phosphorus.
14. TIGER NUTS
These are not nuts to be precise. Tiger nuts are actually a small type of tuber, and they are more closely related to foods like sweet potatoes. They can be added to yogurt, trail mixes, for baking, etc. These nuts are high in protein and omega.
So these were some basic nuts that anybody can try. Having these nuts daily can improve the brain and the body because of the nutritional value each of them carries.
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