Toasted Walnuts 2 Ways for Snacking & Recipes - Attainable Sustainable® (2024)

FAQs

How do you eat walnuts as a snack? ›

Pair with Fruit, Cheese, and Crackers

You can also create Walnut Snack Boxes, which feature hard boiled eggs, veggies, crackers, hummus, and more for a quick and easy snack!

Toasting raw walnuts is generally optional, but it's almost always recommended. The toasting process adds a better taste, golden brown color, nutty aroma, and a delicious crunch. Nuts toast quickly in the oven or on the stovetop, and they add a healthy, gluten free, protein-packed, omega-3 rich element to many recipes.

Almonds would be my choice, they have a delicate flavor. Unsalted cashews work well also. Macadamia and brazil nuts are also really good, though not necessarily cheaper than pine nuts. I prefer pecans to walnuts, since they are somewhat sweeter.

To maximize the health benefits, look for raw, unsalted walnuts. You can eat them alone as a snack or add them to your oatmeal in the morning.

Summary: Both raw and roasted nuts are healthy. It's best to roast them yourself at a low-to-medium temperature of about 284°F (140°C) for roughly 15 minutes.

– Raw nuts contain natural enzymes that can aid digestion. “nu*ts such as walnuts and pecans can be enjoyed raw to derive their full nutritional benefits. The heat from roasting can compromise the omega-3 fatty acids in these nuts, which are integral for heart health and brain function,” added Sisodia.

Both raw and roasted nuts can be a healthy addition to most diets. Both types are a good source of beneficial nutrients such as Vitamin E, manganese, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids.

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange walnuts in a single layer on a cook sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove once golden brown and fragrant.

Since raw nuts do not go through roasting, they have more nutrients than roasted, specifically vitamin E and antioxidants. Even though raw nuts might not have the satisfying crunch or full flavor of roasted nuts, they will have less sodium and fewer free radicals.

Do you chop walnuts before toasting? ›

Do not chop or mince the walnut halves before toasting. Heat walnuts in a dry, heavy skillet over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown and smell toasted. Since the nuts will burn easily in a skillet, you must stir constantly to ensure even toasting until the nuts turn a rich, golden brown.

Despite the lower production, walnut prices have been depressed, leading a number of growers to remove orchards from production over the past year, the CWB said. Heavy supplies of uncharacteristically dark kernels and poor export demand were blamed for the challenging market conditions.

Pecans have a similar texture and an identifiable flavour. They would be my first choice. Hickory nuts are probably the closest to walnuts, but hard to find. Almonds and hazelnuts are tasty, but much harder than walnuts.

A serving of walnuts is roughly 1 ounce, or about ¼ cup. However, some studies suggest eating 1.5 to 2 ounces may be beneficial to reap the health benefits walnuts offer. With this in mind, and considering walnuts are calorically dense, Kalloo recommends aiming for a handful daily to reap their many health benefits.

A Walnut-Rich Diet. Walnuts provide a wealth of health benefits, especially for the cardiovascular system. The FDA suggests a serving of nuts, including walnuts, to experience these benefits. A serving of walnuts equals ¼ cup, or about one handful or seven whole walnuts.

This will make it difficult to include enough foods from the other major food groups in your diet. An ounce (30 grams) of walnuts a day has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. The recommended serving size is a small handful or 1½ ounces (45 grams) a day.

What's more, walnuts are usually eaten raw. So they have greater antioxidant abilities than nuts that are usually eaten roasted. (Antioxidants help prevent or reduce the artery-damaging oxidation that contributes to heart disease).