Category: Nut Usage Ideas

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the abundance of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables available at farmers markets, backyard gardens, and grocery stores. From zucchini and sweet corn to juicy berries and ripe peaches, summer produce offers endless opportunities for colorful, flavorful meals elevated with the addition of tree nuts

Why Tree Nuts Pair Perfectly with Summer Produce

Whether you’re planning backyard barbecues, refreshing salads, chilled soups, or simple weeknight dinners, pairing seasonal favorites with tree nuts can transform summer produce into satisfying dishes. Incorporating tree nuts into your healthy summer recipes adds protein, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals while enhancing texture and taste of everyday ingredients. Explore these delicious ways to combine summer vegetables and fruits with almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts, and more to make the most of the season’s bounty.

Which Nuts Pair Best with Summer Fruits and Vegetables?

Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans, hazelnuts, pine nuts, macadamias, and cashews pair well with seasonal produce. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.

Summer Squash Recipes with Tree Nuts

Whether it’s zucchini, yellow squash or patty pan, there are so many ways to enjoy them: 

• Try shaving thin slices with a potato peeler or mandolin, and tossing with olive oil, lemon, basil and mint. Scatter with dollops of fresh ricotta and toasted nuts.
• Boil until tender, then puree with a little white pepper, tarragon, yogurt or buttermilk until a thick soup consistency. Enjoy warm or chilled topped with dill and finely diced nuts.
• Chop into bite sized pieces, toss with olive oil, season, scatter with tree nuts and roast until tender. Serve with toasted bread or over pasta.
• Squash makes terrific pizzas, finely sliced and arranged over dough (or puff pastry), with ricotta cheese and mint. Here’s a recipe for you with lots of nuts.
• Grate and add to your favorite muffin mix full of nuts and spices.

Corn Recipes Featuring Tree Nuts

• There are few things that shout summer as much as corn wrapped in foil and roasted or put on the barbecue. And it’s even more deliciously summer when smothered in a smooth nut pesto.
• Corn succotash, sautéed with bell peppers, green onion and nuts such as pine nuts, walnuts or pistachios makes a great base for grilled chicken or fish.
• A puree of corn is also divine when blended with stock and given a thickening of nuts such as macadamias and almonds.

Bell Pepper Recipes with Almonds and Pecans

• Roast and peel bell peppers, and blend with oil, almonds, garlic and chilis for a classic Spanish sauce that’s wonderful over meat or rice.
• Barbecued sliced peppers, eggplant and asparagus are wonderful with goat cheese and toasted hazelnuts.
• Stuffed peppers are a great lunch or midweek meal, and you can fill with all manner of chopped vegetables, cheese, herbs and nuts. Here’s one with Pecans and avocado.

Eggplant Recipes with Nuts

• Give your eggplant parmigiana a crunchier texture and earthy flavor boost with ground nuts in the coating.
• A wonderful party dish, Baba Ganoush is made by pureeing roasted eggplant with lemon, garlic and tahini. It’s extra special with nuts such as walnuts, pecans and almonds. Serve with pita bread and vegetable crudites.
• Like summer squashes, eggplant roasts beautifully and the combination of silky and the crunch of nuts is addictive. This recipe will give you ideas for roasting veggies and nuts.

Fresh Bean and Pea Recipes

• These simple yet delicious summer vegetables are often just left plain, but add a dollop of butter, some white pepper and toasted nuts and they are now gourmet heroes. Add some grains such as farro or couscous, sit a poached egg on top and that’s lunch right there!
• A fresh mixed pea and bean salad – steam green peas, snap peas, lima beans and green beans until just tender– toss in olive oil and pepper and sit on a bed of watercress, topped with fresh ricotta and toasted nuts.

Creative Ways to Enoy Radishes

• The French are known to serve sliced radishes simply with bread and butter, but have you tried using a nut butter? The earthiness and texture of the nuts and flavor of the radish work together like a symphony.
• Not many have discovered the joys of sautéed radishes. Flash fry with olive oil with beans or cauliflower and scatter with fresh thyme, oregano, parmesan and diced pine nuts or macadamias.

Refreshing Cucumber Recipes

• A classic summer chilled soup combines cucumber, green grapes, bread soaked in milk and almonds with buttermilk – so refreshing and sustaining!
• Shaved cucumber, tossed with yogurt and lemon is a terrific side dish for curry.  Great with pea shoots or tatsoi. Or grate cucumber and add to yogurt with garlic and lemon for a classic Middle Eastern sauce for fish.

Berry Recipes with Tree Nuts

There are so many ways to enjoy fresh berries with nuts:

• A classic fruit salad with ice cream and nuts.
• Over your breakfast overnight oats studded with nuts.
• Wrapped in pastry for a succulent berry pie with a nut-based pastry or crumble.

Cherry Recipes for Summer

• Salmon loves cherries, particularly when warmed and served over the fish with an almond brown butter sauce.
• The cherry season is so short, sometimes it’s just best to serve a big bowl of fresh cherries and chilled nuts to graze over with a glass of bubbles. Add some apricots for added color.

Stone Fruit Recipes with Walnuts and Almonds

• Roasted apricots and peaches drizzled with honey and scattered with toasted walnuts begs a scoop of gelato for a perfect summer dessert.
• Salads with greens such as arugula, endive and radicchio are brought to life mixed with finely sliced stone fruit or fresh figs, shaved gouda and toasted nuts. A simple dressing of oil and lemon is all you need.

Experiment with these healthy summer recipes and discover new ways to enjoy nature’s bounty to enjoy a tasty and nutty summer!

Salads are ubiquitous to the American menu year-round, but as summer draws near, they take center stage. If you’re looking for unique and healthy ways to add more flavor and nutrition to your salads, tree nuts such as walnuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts and cashews can transform any ordinary salad with satisfying crunch.

Why add tree nuts to salads?

There are so many ways to incorporate tree nuts into your salads. Whether you’re making a summer salad, a hearty lunch salad or a side dish, tree nuts are a versatile and nutritious topping, adding vital nutrients such as:

• protein
• fiber
• vitamins
• minerals
• healthy fats.

And, tree nuts can help make salads more filling.

Here are some ideas using tree nuts for salads that stretch the imagination. We’d love to hear your ideas, too!

Let’s start with salads simply adorned with tree nuts:

Asian-inspired Salads – These days, Asian lettuces are much easier to find. Try a salad of mizuna, Tatsoi, mustard greens, Thai Basil and Napa Cabbage tossed with lime, soy sauce and a dash of sesame oil, and sprinkled with toasted cashew nuts.

Tropical Salads – These can be a dessert or main meal. For a savory version, try mango, pineapple, papaya, cucumber and red onion, with a vinegary mint dressing and glazed macadamia nuts. For dessert, mix any of your favorite tropical fruits, toss with lemon and some chopped mint and scatter with nuts such as flaked almonds, toasted hazelnuts, pecans or walnuts. A scoop of ice cream wouldn’t go astray either!

Warm Salads – Adding a warm dressing to salads made with bitter greens brings out a wonderful flavor in the leaves. Mix bitter greens such as escarole, radicchio or curly endive in a bowl and make a dressing with olive oil and vinegar. Warm chopped mixed tree nuts in a small pan. When they are getting golden and aromatic, remove from heat and add the dressing – it will absorb the flavor of the nuts. Toss with the salad while still warm, then scatter with crumbled goat cheese. This is delicious topped with a poached egg as well. Here’s a recipe to get you started using endive.

The Classics – There’s something delightfully summery about a Waldorf Salad, with apple, grapes and nuts, or this twist on the classic Caesar with pistachios, hazelnuts and almonds (but you could use any nut). A Caprese Salad with layers of fresh tomato, mozzarella and basil is wonderful with any tree nuts – here’s a recipe for a Caprese Toast with walnuts.

And how about some tree nut-rich dressings:

Pesto – Did you know that pesto can be made with any nut and many herbs, not just basil? Mint, parsley, tarragon and arugula are just a few herbs that can make a delicious dressing. Toss with a mixed salad just before serving and top with chunks of fresh burrata or shaved parmesan. Or you could just blend some tree nuts with oil, lemon and parmesan to toss with a butter lettuce salad for something simple and bursting with flavor.

Parmesan and Nut Cracker Topping – Shred parmesan cheese and add some finely chopped tree nuts. Place mounds on a heated nonstick pan over low heat and cook until fully melted and golden brown. Transfer to a rack and allow them to harden then scatter over an arugula and beet salad! Or just serve on the side to enjoy with your greens.

From tropical fruit salads to classic Waldorf salads and homemade pesto dressings, tree nuts offer endless ways to add flavor, texture and nutrition to your favorite dishes. Experiment with different varieties to discover your favorite combinations and enjoy a healthier, more satisfying salad year-round.

Bon Appetit!

The Nutty Chef

Two wonderful late afternoon traditions began in England in the 1800’s – high tea and afternoon tea. Though these days high tea is seen as a luxurious special event, it was actually the working classes that initiated high tea as a substantial hot meal served between 3pm and 6pm after a hard day of work and usually eaten on high tables in the kitchen.

Afternoon tea was established for the wealthier classes of the time who had begun eating dinners late at night and needed a snack, usually cake or bread and butter, between lunch and dinner.

Nowadays, the tables have turned, and high tea features a multitude of delicacies including scones, finger sandwiches, cake and, of course, tea. So, this Mother’s Day, why not treat your mother to a special afternoon celebration. Here are some classic high tea recipes that will make her feel pampered:

Fruit and Nut Scones – Jazz up your scone recipe with some tree nuts and dried or fresh fruit – try walnuts and banana, pecans and cranberries, hazelnuts and currants, or go savory with pistachio nuts and grated carrot.

Finger Point Sandwiches – Make a creamy nut butter, such as cashew or pine nut, and spread with Crème Fraiche on sliced white bread with the crusts removed– fill with cucumber or smoked salmon and dill.

Mini Quiches – Try making a tree nut pastry such as walnut pastry with veggies, or macadamia pastry with goat cheese.

Shortbread – Scottish shortbread can be made with tree nuts – almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts and macadamias are great – you use less butter and they are just as luxurious. Here’s a base recipe you can make with any nut.

Citrus Cakes – These are often seen on high tea menus – they are simple to make, not too filling and bursting with the fruits of the season, and richness of tree nuts. Here’s one with Orange and another with Lemon and Olive oil.

Mini Pancakes – Called blini or pikelets in Australia, mini pancakes are delicious with the crunch of nuts and served topped with jam and cream. Try this one with pecans.

Chocolates – These could be given to Mom in the morning as a gift or served with your high tea. Try truffles with almonds, a delightful nut brittle, or a decadent fudge.

Most importantly, make sure the day is full of hugs, laughs and love, as your mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, mothers-in-law and all mothers in your life are true treasures. Find more tree nut recipe inspiration and nut health resources.

Guy Beringer’s article in 1895 titled, “Brunch – A Plea”, is the first recorded reference to brunch. Since that time, it has spread around the world, in various shapes and forms to mean that relaxed meal between lunch and dinner that allows a lazy morning and social extended grazing.

Adding tree nuts to your brunch is not only a healthy and tasty touch but gives you more energy to last until your evening meal. You can simply serve a bowl of nuts on the side; scatter chopped nuts over your eggs or spread your bread with a succulent nut butter. Here are some of our favorite brunch recipes with nuts: 

Eggs Pair Well with Pine Nuts and Macadamias

Whether it’s an Eggs Benedict that is scattered with chopped toasted nuts, an omelet filled with pine nuts or chopped macadamias, scrambled eggs topped with a nut pesto or salsa, or poached eggs on top of your avocado toast, nuts and eggs are wonderful partners nutritionally and offer a great texture contrast. A veggie quiche is also perfect with spring vegetables such as asparagus and peas, and you can make the crust with nuts!

Breads, Scones, Toast and Muffins are Delicious with Nuts such as Pecans and Hazelnuts

Many crave a sweet addition to brunch and adding nuts helps to balance out the sugars and give you lasting energy.  Try this mixed nut and blueberry bread that is so easy to make and delicious with jam and yogurt!  Make your own nut butter and spread it on toast before adding some honey, jam and sliced banana. The butter will store in the refrigerator for over a week to use on sandwiches, crackers and stirred into soups or smoothies. Muffins can be made the night before and just reheated in the morning when you are ready to serve your spread!

Add nuts and dried fruit to your basic scone recipe before shaping into desired scone size. Store in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to pop into a hot oven 20 minutes before serving.  They’re wonderful with a spoonful of crème fraiche or yogurt and jam.

Many believe brunch is not complete without French Toast, so here’s a walnut idea to make overnight.

Pancakes and Burritos Get a Boost with Brazil and Pine Nuts

You can’t beat the classic banana pancake with pecans or walnuts and a drizzle of maple syrup, or, as we are replacing lunch, pancakes can be made into savory dishes, adding chopped spring onion, spinach and smoked salmon, and served with Ketchup. 

Burritos are becoming a staple of brunch and adding nuts such as walnuts, Brazil nuts and pine nuts add a lovely crunch!

Bowls of Rice and Grains with Nuts Such as Pistachios

Asian brunch spreads always include rice in many shapes and forms, and bowls are a wonderful and increasingly popular way of adding some healthy grains to this mid-morning into afternoon meal. Try a rice bowl with chick peas and pistachios or our classic grain bowl that can be either sweet or savory.

Almonds, Cashews and Macadamias are a great addition to your Brunch Beverages

Though there may be Bloody Mary’s (delicious scattered with pistachios, macadamias or pine nuts), and Mimosas, how about a bright sustaining smoothie with nuts?  They give you lots of options for adding fruit just coming into season. Here’s a Blueberry Cashew Smoothie,  a Spiced Almond Banana Smoothie or, for green smoothie lovers, here’s a Green Monster to keep you happy!

We have many more recipes on our website, nuthealth.org, for all tastes and ages, so please enjoy a relaxing Sunday brunch on us!