These air fryer cashew nuts are a crunchy, delicious and healthy snack.
Roast cashews in air fryer and they come out perfectly toasted and taste absolutely addictive.
Not only are they a fantastic snack, but they're also a great addition to your favorite salads and stir fries adding so much crunch and taste.
Roasted nuts are a favourite snack in my home.
It is also served to guests especially around Diwali.
Normally, my mum would fry cashews and almonds in ghee and add seasoning.
I do the same with just a brushing of oil or ghee in air fryer. Healthier and just as tasty.
You will love these air fryer peanuts, air fryer masala peanuts, air fryer honey almonds, roasted almonds in air fryer.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Healthy: Cashews are rich in healthy fats, fiber, and protein.
When you air fry them, you retain these health benefits without adding unnecessary oil.
Quick and Easy: This recipe involves barely any prep work.
Even a newbie can quickly make this.
Versatile: This recipe is super easy and versatile.
Change the seasoning as per your wish and you have a fantastic snack.
Are Cashews Good for You?
Cashews are kidney shaped nuts, originally from tropical regions.
While they are a tasty and healthy snack having a rich buttery taste, they are also very nutritious.
They are rich in plant protein and healthy monounsaturated fats that are good for the heart as per PubMed.
They also have many vitamins and minerals - vitamin K, vitamin E, magnesium, copper and zinc and more.
They're high in fiber, which helps in digestion and also keeps you feeling full and satisfied.
Hence it is helpful in weight managment.
Cashews are loaded with antioxidants that help fight off inflammation and oxidative stress.
That said, cashews are calorie intense. Do not polish off a bowl at one sitting.
A handful is more like it.
Enjoy cashew whether raw or toasted, powdered or as cashew butter. It is delicious and definitely good for you.
Ingredients
Cashews: I have used whole raw cashews in this recipe.
Seasonings: Just salt, pepper and paprika for its bright red color are used.
I have also used Indian seasoning chaat masala. It is optional.
Olive oil: Just a little spray or brushing of oil is used to make the nuts look more fried in appearance.
Seasoning Suggestions
From sweet to savory, spicy to tangy, you can play around with a variety of seasonings.
Savory: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder or a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
For an Indian twist add cayenne or red chilli powder along with chaat masala, salt and pepper.
Sweet: Cinnamon, nutmeg, a touch of brown sugar or maple syrup taste really good.
Spicy: Cayenne, chipotle powder or peri peri seasonings give it a nice zing.
Tangy: A sprinkle of lime or lemon zest after air frying for a zingy twist.
Or you could add lemon juice to the spices before air frying.
Serving Suggestions
These air fryer cashews can be served in multiple ways:
Snack: Enjoy them straight out of the air fryer as a healthy snack.
Remember to have about a handful and not more as nuts are calorie intense.
Salads: Toss them in your favorite salads for added crunch.
Stir fries: Sprinkle over stir fries for extra crunch.
Yogurt or Oatmeal: A handful of these cashews can jazz up your breakfast bowl.
They are a great addition to masala oats or savory oats.
Add to khichdi or Upma: They add crunch and nutrition to your favourite khichdi or Upma.
Instructions
Take 1 cup raw, unsalted cashews.
Assemble the spice powders or seasonings that you are using.
Add salt, pepper and oil, if using to the cashews.
Preheat air fryer to 360F or 180C for 5 minutes.
While the air fryer is preheating, lightly brush or spray the cashews with oil.
Hold back the paprika or cayenne and chaat masala for later.
Mix well.
Transfer the cashews to the air fryer basket.
Spread them in a single layer making sure there is no overlap.
Air fry for 4 to 6 minutes at 360F or 180C.
Four minutes gives you a light blush and 6 minutes is darker like fried nuts.
Shake the basket a couple of times during air frying.
I have also air fried without using any oil and the colour of the nuts is lighter without any shine.
They still taste equally good.
Once done, mix the remaining seasonings and toss the cashews with them.
This is so that paprika or cayenne do not burn.
Oil helps in adhering the seasoning well.
If you have not used oil, just take the seasoning in a ziploc and toss air fried nuts to catch some of it.
Mix well and serve.
If you are planning to store them, cool them down and store in an air tight container.
Expert Tips
1. Don’t overcrowd: Ensure that the nuts have enough room around them for air frying.
Lay them in one layer and air fry.
2. Shake air fryer basket occasionally: Shake the basket or stir the cashews a couple of times during cooking.
This ensures even toasting of nuts.
3. Monitor Closely: Nuts can go from perfectly toasted to burnt in a matter of seconds.
Stay close to the air fryer, especially towards the end of the cooking time.
I start watching every minute after 3 minute air frying mark.
4. Cool Completely Before Eating or Storing: The cashews are very hot right off the air fryer.
Allow them to cool before consuming or storing.
They also feel softer after air frying. But they get harder on cooling.
FAQs
Yes, you can, but remember to adjust your seasoning accordingly to avoid overly salty cashews.
You can roast the cashews in the oven.
Spread them on a baking sheet and roast in a preheated oven at 360F or 180C for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
If stored properly in an airtight container, they can last for up to 2 weeks.
Yes cashews can go bad or turn rancid as they have their own oil that goes bad with time.
Raw cashews stay well for 4 weeks in the pantry and up to six months in the fridge. Air fried cashews stay good for 2 weeks in air tight container. You can keep them in the fridge too.
Packaged cashews stay well upto expiry date and a couple of weeks more.
Here's the recipe card:
📖 Recipe Card
Air fryer Cashews
Equipment
Ingredients
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Instructions
- Take 1 cup raw, unsalted cashews.
- Assemble the spice powders or seasonings that you are using.
- Add salt, pepper and oil, if using to the cashews.
- Preheat air fryer to 360F or 180C for 5 minutes.
- While the air fryer is preheating, lightly brush or spray the cashews with oil.
- Hold back the paprika or cayenne and chaat masala for later.
- Mix well.
- Transfer the cashews to the air fryer basket.
- Spread them in a single layer making sure there is no overlap.
- Air fry for 4 to 6 minutes at 360F or 180C.
- Four minutes gives you a light blush and 6 minutes is darker like fried nuts.
- Shake the basket a couple of times during air frying.
- I have also air fried without using any oil and the colour of the nuts is lighter without any shine.
- They still taste equally good.
- Once done, mix the remaining seasonings and toss the cashews with them.
- This is so that paprika or cayenne do not burn.
- Oil helps in adhering the seasoning well.
- If you have not used oil, just take the seasoning in a ziploc and toss air fried nuts to catch some of it.
- Mix well and serve.
- If you are planning to store them, cool them down and store in an air tight container.
Video
Notes
Lay them in one layer and air fry.
2. Shake air fryer basket occasionally: Shake the basket or stir the cashews a couple of times during cooking.
This ensures even toasting of nuts.
3. Monitor Closely: Nuts can go from perfectly toasted to burnt in a matter of seconds.
Stay close to the air fryer, especially towards the end of the cooking time.
I start watching every minute after 3 minute air frying mark.
4. Cool Completely Before Eating or Storing: The cashews are very hot right off the air fryer.
Allow them to cool before consuming or storing.
They also feel softer after air frying. But they get harder on cooling.
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