Home > Diet & Fitness > Diet and food > Nutty truths GA_googleFillSlot("sitagitarectanletop");

Nuts are an all-time favourite in our country. We use nuts for garnishing desserts, adding flavour to our savouries, make our kheers with them and even serve them raw or salted for guests as snacks or appetizers. Here is a low-down on nuts " it is good to know a few facts about them too!

Walnuts

Did you know that walnuts are connected to fertility (in Rome) and anti-fertility (in China)? Our ancestors believed that walnuts were for divine consumption and it was considered a royal delicacy. It is often referred to as the “nut of the gods". While the gods feasted on walnuts, lesser subjects were given nuts like acorns and chestnuts. In Italy, walnuts were considered a good-luck symbol and were thrown to wedding guests to ward off the evil eye.

Selection and care

Never buy shriveled up, rubbery or shelled nuts " this is an indication of age. If you go in for shelled nuts, see to it that they are brittle and break easily. It is said that nuts that grow with the sun upon them are generally darker in colour and have a richer flavour. Because walnuts are high in oil content they require special storage to prevent them from tuning rancid. If you are planning to buy large quantities, it is better to go in for unshelled nuts " but you have to store them in the refrigerator where they would last for 2 to 3 months. They can last a year if you put them in deep freeze.

As health food

Walnut oil is excellent for using as dressing for salads but never use in regular cooking which involves heating at high temperatures. The nuts are high protein foods and are excellent for vegetarians. Like most nuts, they have a mild laxative effect as they lubricate the large intestine. They are also rich in Vitamin E which helps relieve arthritic pain and enhances mental well being.

GA_googleFillSlot("sitagitarectanglebottom");

Pistachio

The fruit is said to have originated in Persia. It is also known as the green almond though it is actually related to the cashew. The Pistachio trees survive for hundreds of years on stony soil and require very little care. They are now commercially cultivated in California, Italy, Turkey and Iran. The Roman emperor Vitellius and the Queen of Sheba were particularly fond of pistachios and were known to feast on these exotic nuts. The pistachio is a drupe like the cashew " it has a fleshy outer covering with a hard shelled nut inside which is removed and dried in the sun.

How to select and store

Buy pistachios that are split at one end. If they are unopened they are still immature. The nuts that are bright green in colour are better flavoured. The nuts are available as raw, shelled, unshelled and roasted. The thin covering on the nuts can be easily removed by blanching. As the shell splits on ripening, the shelf life is limited. They have to be stored in airtight containers and will last for 3 months when kept in the refrigerator. They cannot be frozen.

Uses

The nuts are widely used in desserts and they are also used to enhance seafood, salads and poultry dishes.

Almonds

Almonds are the most widely grown and eaten nuts. The almond belongs to the plum family and is said to have originated from N.Africa, West Asia and the Mediterranean. The Romans referred to them as 'Greek nuts' as they were first grown in Greece. They are actually a fruit which looks like a longish peach. When mature, the husk is broken and reveals the shell which contains the nut. Almonds are given as symbol of good luck.

Uses and forms of almond

Almond extract is made from the oil of the bitter almond (which is different from the regular sweet almond). It is diluted and used as a flavouring. Almond milk is made from soaked, crushed and strained pulp of almonds .See that the almonds are completely dry before you grind them. Almond paste which is made from blanched almonds. Almond oil is from crushed whole raw almonds. It is rare to find food grade almond oil " it is also very expensive.

As health food

Almonds are known to help in reducing cholesterol and they are high in monounsaturated fatty acids. They are thus useful in reducing the risk f heart disease. They are also a very good source of Vitamin E which helps to prevent plaque in arteries. Just an ounce of almonds can give you at least 10% of your daily requirement of calcium and is therefore a good non-dairy source for vegetarians. They also help in body building for those who are underweight.
Almond oil also has its uses as a cosmetic.
However, if you are prone to cold sores or herpes, it is better to avoid this nut as it is rich in arginine which is known to aggravate the condition.

How to buy and store almonds

If you plan to buy unshelled almonds, just take one and shake it vigorously. If there is a lot of rattling it means that it is rather aged and is shrinking. They will turn rancid when shelled. When soaked for half an hour, the almond should retain its whiteness and texture. If it is yellowed and has a honeycombed appearance, just discard it immediately.

Packaged natural almonds can be stored unopened in cool dark places for even two years. Unopened roasted ones will last for a year. They can last longer under refrigeration. If opened store them in airtight containers and use within 3 months. Store in refrigerator. Never keep them in the pantry or in a shelf in the kitchen as the heat will damage them.

Cashews

Cashews are part of the mango and pistachio families. Originated in Brazil, it was brought to India by the Portuguese sailors. The seed of the cashew hangs from the bottom of the cashew fruit. The fruit too is edible but highly perishable which is why it has to be eaten absolutely fresh. They are used in making liqueurs.

Uses and storage

Cashews labeled as raw are generally never completely so as they undergo a process of heating during the shelling and cleaning processes. Dry- roasted cashews actually have a lower fat content than other nuts. Cashews are highly perishable when shelled as they are rich in oil content. They should be stored in air-tight containers as they absorb food flavours very quickly. When refrigerated they can last up to six months and when frozen, for a year. Cashews are often used in curries, salads, rice dishes, desserts, stew, stir-fry and vegetable preparations. Always remember to add cashews after the cooking process is over as they will turn soft and disintegrate very fast. When used in baked dishes, they lose their crunchiness and become soft. Broken cashews have the same taste as full ones and are less expensive.