25 Cashew Recipes to Shoutout the Chillest Nut in the Bowl

Cashews used to be the nut equivalent of the sad cantaloupe leftover at the end of a fruit salad. Everyone went for the bigger, brasher peanuts—but left behind the subtle cashew. But cashew is like that cool kid who dresses in monochrome shades of gray—quiet yet shockingly pleasant to be around. Vegans swear by cashews for creamy, rich cheeses and dairy-free milk products that actually taste awesome. The rest of us love cashews for their subdued nutty character and crunch. Let these 25 cashew recipes show you the way.
Alex Lau1/24Vanilla Cashew Vegan Ice Cream
It’s important to use refined coconut oil here; you don’t want any coconut-y flavors competing with the vanilla.
Linda Xiao2/24Roasted Tomato–Cashew Salsa
If we had to give this salsa a heat index rating, it would get three out of five chiles.
Eva Kolenko3/24Spinach and Chicken Waldorf with Cashew Crunch
This classic epitomizes the range of flavors and textures in Hillstone’s salads, hitting every note on the salty-sweet-chewy-crunchy spectrum.
Peden + Munk4/24Banana, Coffee, Cashew, and Cocoa Smoothie
This power-breakfast smoothie will be extra smooth if you soak the cashews and oats in water overnight.
Photo by Alex Lau5/24Aromatic Shrimp and Noodle Medicine Soup
A highly seasoned broth and robust cashew purée add layered flavor to this warming soup.
Peden + Munk6/24Cashew Caesar Dressing
Try this vegan dressing drizzled over roasted potatoes or as a sub for mayo in chicken salad.
Kyle Johnson7/24Fall Mole
This recipe makes more spice mix and chile paste than you’ll need for a single batch of mole. Keep the extras on hand for chili, stews, braises, or another batch of mole!
Danny Kim8/24Charred Broccoli Salad with Eggplant Purée and Cashew Crunch
The broccoli should still have snap and crunch after charring—this is a far cry from the mayo-based broccoli salad you may be thinking of.
Christopher Testani9/24Cauliflower-Cashew Soup with Crispy Buckwheat
Cashew brings a pronounced (and delightful) creaminess to this silky soup.
Peden + Munk10/24Crunchy Cashew-Sesame Bars
Cashew-sesame bars achieve the ideal balance between salty and sweet, malleable and crunchy.

12/24Warm Carrot Salad with Spiced Pepita and Cashew Crunch
A recipe easy enough to make for a weeknight meal and sophisticated enough for a dinner party. Cashew brings the crunch.
13/24Spiced Pumpkin Seed and Cashew Crunch
For a salty, savory, crunchy boost, sprinkle this on roasted vegetables, soups, and hot cereal.

Photo by Ditte Isager15/24Nutty Grain and Oat Bars
Pack for that 3 p.m. snack slump, and never look back.
16/24Collard Green Salad with Cashews and Lime
Work the dressing into the leaves until they soften and start to wilt—then come in hot with the crunch.
Elizabeth Cecil17/24Roast Half Chicken with Cashew Tarator and Celery
Chefs do crazy things with nuts. In this otherwise straightforward chicken dish, cashews are transformed into a creamy sauce, and candied spiced walnuts are used as a crunchy topper.
Alex Lau18/24Ultimate Veggie Burger
We solved the “mush” factor by folding in bouncy mushrooms and pleasantly firm black beans, threw a hard sear on it for crisp texture on the outside, and seasoned it aggressively to combat any blandness. There’s no imitation protein or weird ingredients, just a rich, moist mixture of vegetables, grains, and nuts that work with any toppings you want to throw at it.
Alex Lau19/24Cream of Cashew Pea Soup
Cashews lend body, creaminess, and richness to this pea soup and also make it vegan; sub almonds if you prefer.

Matt Duckor21/24Smoked Cashew Salsa
Chef Alex Stupak has a knack for making unusual flavor combinations taste great, as in this smoky, nutty salsa. The sweet, rich cashews give it the body of a dairy-based dip. It works on any grilled meat, too.
22/24Chile-Lime Cashews
The only thing missing is a stiff gin or tequila drink to accompany this salty-crunchy bar-ready snack.
23/24Butterscotch Pie with Curry Crust and Cashew Crumble
Curry crust? Trust us: This lightly spiced crumb will win Best in Show.
