Salt And Pepper Cashews

Salt And Pepper Cashews are a simple appetizer that can elevate any party and takes just minutes to make. Toasted cashews are mixed with a light neutral oil and tossed with cracked black pepper and ground sea salt to create an irresistible, high-protein snack. 

You know when you come across a recipe that seems so simple it's almost a no-brainer? This is one of those recipes. Deceptively simple ingredients come together to create a delicious and addictive snack that goes just as well with a round of beers as it does with a bottle of champagne. You're going to love these cracked black pepper and sea salt cashews. 

I love this addictive snack for so many reasons!

• Easy! This recipe literally comes together in less than 10 minutes (and closer to 5). 
• Delicious! We've all likely had salted cashews but the addition of cracked black pepper here makes these toasted nuts extra special.
• Great for get-togethers! Salt and pepper cashews are perfect served alone, with drinks, or as part of a larger party board alongside cheese, dips, veggies, and fruit. They're just at home at a tailgate as they are at a fancy party. 
• Good for you! Compared to some appetizers or snacks, this one ranks pretty high on the health scale. Cashews have been linked to improved blood sugar control, are high in unsaturated fats, low in sugar, high-protien, are a great source of fiber, and are heart-healthy. Cashew for the win! (Check out my peanut butter protein balls recipe for another high-protein snack!)

Ingredients

It's a pretty short list, and since three of the four ingredients are actually listed in the title of this post, it should come pretty easily.  Here's what you'll need:

• Whole, Raw Cashews. You'll be toasting these yourself so don't buy roasted cashews by mistake. Raw cashews is what you'll want there. And make sure they're whole. Whole cashews are much easier to grab when snacking and are less likely to burn when toasting since they're larger.  
• Sea salt and cracked black pepper. You'll want the good stuff for these nuts, seeing as these are two of the main ingredients. A great flaky sea salt and freshly ground cracked black pepper make this recipe shine.
• Avocado oil (or another neutral oil). Toasting the nuts in oil gives them a bit of flavor and also helps the salt and pepper stick to the nuts. You really want the flavor of the salt and pepper to shine through so keep the oil neutral. I used avocado oil but something like grapeseed oil would work equally well.

How to make salt and pepper cashews

As I said earlier, these toasted salt and pepper cashews are so easy and fast to make. Here's what you'll do:

1. Heat your oil in a large skillet over low-medium heat. Add the cashews and, stirring continually, toast them until they turn from white to a light golden brown. This will only take a few minutes (4-5) so keep a close eye on them. You don't want them to burn!
2. Remove the cashews from the pan and place them on a baking sheet with paper towels to absorb some of the oil. Let the cashews cool slightly then transfer them to a medium bowl.
3. Sprinkle the flaky sea salt and ground cracked pepper over the cashews and toss well. Taste and add more salt or pepper as needed. 
4. Serve, or store in an airtight container for 2-3 days. 

Helpful Tips

• Nuts have a way of going from perfect to burnt in a minute so watch them carefully as you're toasting them and stir them often. You'll know they're about done once they start to smell fragrant. 
• Adjust the salt and pepper levels. Everyone likes different levels of salty, so add a little, taste, and then add some more if you feel like they need some extra. 
• Mix up the spice for something different! Salt and pepper is a classic, but you can make these cashews your own by adding different spices. Want to give them an Italian flare? Add some dried rosemary. Looking for something a bit spicy? Add some cayenne. The choices are as limitless as your imagination. 

If you make these Salt And Pepper Cashews, please let me know what you think in the comments, and tag me with a pic on Instagram @frontrangefed!  

More Easy Appetizers

• Cheddar Cheese Straws
• Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
• Louisiana Voodoo Fries
• Spicy Caramel Popcorn
• Maple Toasted Walnuts
• Roasted Garlic
• Deviled Eggs With Bacon And Jalapeno

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