CELEBRATING NATIONAL CASHEW DAY

 

 

A favorite snacking and party nut is recognized each year on November 23rd during National Cashew Day. The cashew nut is a seed harvested from the cashew tree. The tree originated in Northeastern Brazil. However, it is now widely grown in tropical climates for its cashew apples and nuts.

 Four centuries ago, the adventurous Portuguese came sailing down the Indian coasts and brought with them the priceless tree nut "Cashew" , the wondernut of the world. Cashew came, conquerede and took deep roots in the entire coastal region of India.

 There are more than 600 cashew processing units in Kollam with about 800,000 tonnes of raw cashews imported annually to the city for processing. An average of 130,000 tonnes of processed cashews are exported to various countries worldwide every year. As a result, Kollam is known as the "Cashew Capital of the World".

 Panruti in Tamil Nadu is also known for quality cashews at best prices. Panruti is located about 187 Kms from Chennai. Panruti is a town, municipality and taluk headquarters of Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India. Panruti is located between Cuddalore and Neyveli. Panruti is famous for jackfruits and cashew nuts.

 The state agriculture department estimates that 36,450 tonnes of raw cashew nuts were produced in 2022-23. The crop is grown on more than 85,750 hectares mostly in Ariyalur and Cuddalore, besides Pudukkottai, Villupuram, Theni and Thanjavur districts.

 Roasting the cashew nuts to destroy the toxins is dangerous as well, as the toxins are released into the air. After the toxins are removed, the cashews must be graded and sorted. The entire process is labor-intensive as well as hazardous, which helps explain part of why cashews are so expensive.

 Cashews are used in tikkas and kebabs, as well as, in Afghani paneer, cashews are ground with spices to make a marinade and cooked over the kebabs.

 Cashews are commonly used in South Asian cuisine, whole for garnishing sweets or curries, or ground into a paste that forms a base of sauces for curries (e.g., korma), or some sweets (e.g., kaju barfi). It is also used in powdered form in the preparation of several Indian sweets and desserts.

 Cashew nuts are such a versatile cooking ingredient. Their naturally creamy texture is perfect for making dairy-free cream, ice cream, milk and cheese. They also make a great addition to stir fries and curries.

These nuts are an essential in Indian food. Apart from being used in gravies, they are added to different rice preparations for a certain amount of crunch to the dish. They are most commonly used in Biryanis and Pulaos but sometimes also in the South Indian delicacy, Bisi Bele Bhaat.

  In India, Kajus/Cashews are the most popular nut and are revered as a superfood. If you're looking for a tasty snack that's high in protein and low in fat, this Kaju pakoda is a great alternative for all of you.

 Coming to sweet dishes, Here in Tamil Nadu Nokkal – a sweet dish made out of cashew nut and it is usually prepared in Marriages. Next to it  is Mundiri/ cashew nut cone is prepared during festivals.

Do try out these recipes and enjoy the cashew nuts in different styles.