Cashew apples had been growing abundantly in our garden during the months of March and April. And we had a great time eating these fruits either by cutting them in slices or in juice form.
So before sharing the recipes for cashew apple / fruit juices which are extremely tasty and nutritious, let me first help you intoduce you to the cashew apple is and where exactly the nut, yes the very cashew nut, the delectable dry fruit that we all love grows on the cashew tree.
So for those of you who don't know what a cashew apple is - it is an accessory fruit (pseudocarp or false fruit) of the cashew tree. It ripens into a yellow and/or red structure.
It has a strong "sweet" smell and a sweet, astringent taste. The pulp of the cashew apple has a waxy and shiny texture, is very watery and juicy like cucumber, but the skin is very thin and delicate.
But it's not crunchy like cucumber, in fact it is fibrous and cottony and melts into the mouth as fibres and water as you eat it.
However it begins to spoil almost within a few hours of it being picked from the tree. It's a highly perishable fruit. It can survive less than 12 hours at room temperature and for around a week in the refrigerator.
For best results, cashew apples have to be stored in polythene bags in the fridge. But it's best consumed fresh. If consumed after a many days, the taste won't be that great.
The true fruit of the cashew tree is a kidney shaped drupe that grows at the end of the cashew apple.
Ingredients:
Remove the nuts from the cashew apples carefully. Cut the cashew apples into pieces. Scrape some jaggery. Add cashew apples, jaggery and water in a mixie jar and grind it to a smooth paste. Instead of water, you may add a few ice cubes also. Strain the mixture and pour it into tall glasses for you to savour the awesome, healthy drink.
Ingredients:
Take the cashew apples with the nuts removed and add water or ice cubes and grind it in a mixie. Strain it and pour it in a vessel. Add white pepper powder and salt to taste. Pour in glasses and serve.
Tip: Use a sharp peeling knife to cut away the flesh surrounding the kidney shaped nut. Ensure that the nut remains intact and keep it aside. Ingesting any of the shell’s toxic resin may cause blisters and burning if it comes in contact with the skin.
Now that you know the health benefits of this wonder pseudo fruit, you may well try it when you get a chance.
And do try the above mentioned health drinks with cashew apple and do mention if you liked the taste.
So before sharing the recipes for cashew apple / fruit juices which are extremely tasty and nutritious, let me first help you intoduce you to the cashew apple is and where exactly the nut, yes the very cashew nut, the delectable dry fruit that we all love grows on the cashew tree.
So for those of you who don't know what a cashew apple is - it is an accessory fruit (pseudocarp or false fruit) of the cashew tree. It ripens into a yellow and/or red structure.
It has a strong "sweet" smell and a sweet, astringent taste. The pulp of the cashew apple has a waxy and shiny texture, is very watery and juicy like cucumber, but the skin is very thin and delicate.
But it's not crunchy like cucumber, in fact it is fibrous and cottony and melts into the mouth as fibres and water as you eat it.
However it begins to spoil almost within a few hours of it being picked from the tree. It's a highly perishable fruit. It can survive less than 12 hours at room temperature and for around a week in the refrigerator.
For best results, cashew apples have to be stored in polythene bags in the fridge. But it's best consumed fresh. If consumed after a many days, the taste won't be that great.
The true fruit of the cashew tree is a kidney shaped drupe that grows at the end of the cashew apple.
Health Benefits of cashew apples
- Cashew apples are a good source of iron, phosphorous, calcium, and have five times the vitamin C of an orange.
- Cashew apple also contains minerals like copper and magnesium which help combat premature aging.
- Cashew apple t is rich in vitamins B1, B2 and B3 and contains calcium, iron and beta carotene.
- Cashew apples possess anti-bacterial properties and have been proven to be effective in treating stomach ulcers and gastritis, which is usually caused by H. pylori bacteria.
- Cashew apple juice is rich in vitamin C and has an anti-scurvy effect.
- Cashew extract contains anarcardic acid which is an antioxidant and has been shown to limit the pigmentation effects of aging and to eradicate the cancer cells.
- A 1993 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reveals that cashew apple juice exhibits moderate anti-tumor activity against breast cancer and cervical cancer cells.
- Fruit of the cashew tree is used to treat infant's thrush and sore mouth.
- The tea prepared from the bark and the cashew apple juice is used for chronic dysentery and as an anti-diarrheal remedy.
- Fresh or distilled, it is a potent diuretic and is said to possess sudorific or sweat-inducing properties.
- The juice extracted from the cashew apple can also serve as an ointment for aches of rheumatism and neuralgia.
- Cashew apple juice helps burn fat and is good for overall health, claims Festus Okunlola, a researcher with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan, Nigeria.
- A 2012 study published in Food and Bioprocess Technology indicates that fermented cashew apple juice may be an inexpensive source of beneficial probiotics.
Health Drinks with Cashew apple or Cashew fruit
Cashew Apple Juice Recipe With Jaggery
- Cashew apples - 4-5
- Jaggery / brown sugar - as per taste
- Water / ice cubes
Remove the nuts from the cashew apples carefully. Cut the cashew apples into pieces. Scrape some jaggery. Add cashew apples, jaggery and water in a mixie jar and grind it to a smooth paste. Instead of water, you may add a few ice cubes also. Strain the mixture and pour it into tall glasses for you to savour the awesome, healthy drink.
Cashew Apple Juice Recipe With Pepper & Salt
- Cashew apples
- White pepper corns crushed to powder
- Black salt / Himalayan pink salt / saindhav salt / ordinary salt to taste
- Water / Ice cubes
Take the cashew apples with the nuts removed and add water or ice cubes and grind it in a mixie. Strain it and pour it in a vessel. Add white pepper powder and salt to taste. Pour in glasses and serve.
Cashew apple slices with salt
Another way of eating cashew apple is to cut it into slices. Sprinkle salt all over it and have it.Tip: Use a sharp peeling knife to cut away the flesh surrounding the kidney shaped nut. Ensure that the nut remains intact and keep it aside. Ingesting any of the shell’s toxic resin may cause blisters and burning if it comes in contact with the skin.
Final Thoughts
I am sure many of you have eaten the cashewnut or kaju but how many of you have tasted the cashew fruit or the cashew apple?Now that you know the health benefits of this wonder pseudo fruit, you may well try it when you get a chance.
And do try the above mentioned health drinks with cashew apple and do mention if you liked the taste.
References:
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