Top cancer researchers in the world agree that step number one in avoiding cancer is a healthy lifestyle which includes a healthy diet. Some fruits and vegetables are true winners in terms of anti-cancer containing compounds as well as some nuts. A nut which stands above all others in terms of anti-cancer compounds is the cashew. Not particularly used a lot in Western style baking and confectionary, partly because it is expensive and partly because it does not have the delicious aroma of hazelnuts or almonds. Two good reasons indeed why the cashew has been sitting in the background.
For this particular confection I wanted to keep the healthy compounds and oils of the cashews intact and did not toast and or caramelize the cashews. Neither did I want to make a toasted cashew paste and use it as a filling or mix the cashews in a delicious caramel or ganache. What I wanted to make is a simple and healthy snack, good for our children, the ones we love and ourselves.
Chocolate dipped cashews
| 17 oz | Dark chocolate couverture | 500 g | |
| 12 oz | Non salted non roasted cashews | 360 g | |
- Crystallize or temper the chocolate couverture. Spread approximately one eight of the tempered chocolate on a parchment or acetate sheet. Keep the remaining chocolate in temper by placing it in a microwave oven for a few seconds.
- Cut the chocolate as soon as it has set in squares 1.2 cm x 1.2 cm (0.5 inch)
- Pipe a few drops of tempered chocolate on each chocolate square and place two cashews on each.
- Dip each cashew assembly into tempered chocolate and place on a parchment lined sheet.
- Decorate with edible gold leaf if desired.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!
I absolutely cannot wait to make these!! I’m in heaven just looking, Chef Eddy! So simple, too…
Chef Eddy,
I am currently enrolled in a healthy cooking course that highlights the importance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats in the diet. This would be an excellent way of getting healthy fats in your diet. A 1 ounce serving of cashews provide:
Total Omega-3 fatty acids 17.4 mg
Total Omega-6 fatty acids 2179 mg
Ben
Ben,
Thank you very much for the additional information.
Eddy
I really like making healthy sweets, thank you for sharing this idea.
Chef Eddy,
I was very motivated by your blog posting about the cashew nuts having anti-cancer components. I went and did a little research on the matter and i found out that its called anacardic acid and that it has chemopreventative properties. Anacardic acid has also been found to sensitize human cancer cells to the effects of radiation treatment. They have also been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Thanks for the food for thought!
Jelani
Pstry 1301/Fundamentals of Baking
What a tasty decadant way to promote heart health! The antioxidents of dark chocolate which, among it’s many benefits, have been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. The cashews are high in oleci acid, the healthy fat. Since the chocolate is calorie dense, eating a square or two of this pefect bite combo treat is an easily good idea. This also makes a great gift that really shows you care in more than one way. I’ll put this one to work right away! Thank you. Anita
Thanks Chef for sharing that bit of information on cashews. I’ve always loved cashews and known that nuts are pretty healthy for you but I wasn’t aware that cashews had anti-cancer components. So, next time I’m at the nuts aisle in the grocery store debating between the almonds or cashews, I’ll definitely go for the cashews. Thanks.
Wow these look amazing! i have had some before but never knew they where helping me avoid getting cancer! Who knew something sooo delicious could be helping your body! And these pictures just want me to keep eating them :]
I love the composition of the cashews atop the small plaque of chocolate and ganache.
Cashews, and nuts period are soooo delicious!!! I would love to make these with a variety of different nuts. I always thought the healthiest nut was the walnut so I am glad to find this piece of information out. Also it was very interesting to learn in class that nuts may be healthy either way but lose some of their nutritional value when roasted or cooked. I will definitely be eating ALL my nuts raw from now on. And this very simple treat looks absolutely magnificent! Thank you Chef!
Chef Eddy,
Love the way these chocolate cashews look… I really want to try these now. Pretty good fact for these cashews, cancer avoiding nuts is a plus!!!
Chef Eddy, I was so surprised when you told us in class about the cashew having an anti – cancer component. I have never really been interested in other nuts besides the almonds and hazelnut but I will definitely add this to my shelf to enjoy!
Hi Eddy,
I was just wondering what actual difference in taste is going to be between using roasted and non-roasted cashews. Only after I made them, I came to the conclusion that your recipe calls for non-roasted instead of roasted ones.
By the way, I’ve noticed that you specified rather small squares (1.2 cm), but this size is nowhere near enough to fit my cashews on (perhaps there are different sizes of cashews, I don’t know). Therefore, I’ve made 2 cm squares and even then it’s a tight fit and I certainly wasn’t able to place them diagonally on the square without having them stick out way too far (so I’ve put them straight on the square, which also still looks nice).
Thanks for this great idea.
Regards,
Kris
Hi Kris,
Nice to hear from you. Roasted cashews do have a better flavor compared to non roasted ones. Roasted ones do have less healthy attributes.
Eddy
Cashews have such great flavor. This recipe is so effective, presentation and taste-wise. And it being healthy – even better!
This is a very simple recipe that one can do and i love it mainly because out of all the variety of nuts that we have cashews are my absolute favorite.
Super simple and healthy and with a great taste! Iove cashews and dark chocolate but they are even more amazing together as a dessert!
its always great to learn that something I love is healthy. I already know that dark chocolate is a healthier chocolate but i don’t really like the taste of it. Maybe if i flavor the chocolate like the raspberry infused chocolate.
It is more than nice to make a tasty treat for everyone. As a cancer survivor I am well aware of the love/hate relation we have with food. Nice to know and use the good guys.
Kudos to you for creating this mouthwatering healthy snack. It sounds like the ingredients can also be used for a protein bar as well.
It’s a pretty shape, simply to make, and a healthy food. Thank you for a good recipe.
This is two of my favorite things. Chocolate and cashews. Yummy!
Cashews are my favorite nut. I will give this recipe a try since I have learned the importance of tempering chocolate. I will let you know the outcome and I may do a mixture of chocolates.
My favorite nut!! We didn’t get a chance to make these in class, but I will be making it at home. These look sooo delicious! Can a liquor be added to the chocolate?
I would have looooooooved to make these in class!! I would have probably gone crazy for them. These were one of the things I was kind of looking forward to doing in your class. Very simple. But one of my favorites.
Could you use othere nuts
Wish I couldve made these. I love any kind of nuts covered in chocolate. The saltiness and crunch always go hand in hand with each other. Also looks like a thin coat of chocolate covering the cashew which is even better.
Chocolate class is definitely my favorite class. It is an interesting notion to dip cashews into the chocolate. It looks so delicious.
Chocolate Dipped Cashew are something i want to do in because i want learn more how to dipped chocolate.