I first heard about spicy fried cashew nuts from the People With Disability advocate who helped me file Noah’s NDIS review (I’ll write all about the failings of the NDIS on a separate platform – if you have your own NDIS horror story to tell, get in touch!).
Anyhow she mentioned that the highlight of her visit to Thailand had been these amazing spicy fried cashew nuts that she just hasn’t been able to find anywhere. I honestly have no idea what they’re meant to look or taste like but I scanned through some Thai cashew nut snack recipes online, picked some apart, and came up with this iteration, which I haven’t been able to stop eating.
If you’re not a vegan you would use fish sauce in lieu of light soya sauce – and depending on which brand of soya sauce you do use, keep in mind that they do vary in strength and can be overpowering so go light on it if in doubt.
Vegan Spicy Fried Cashew Nuts
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup raw cashew nuts
1 tsp lime or lemon juice
2 tsps light soya sauce
2 TBSP sugar
1 tsp chilli flakes or chilli powder
2 tsp kaffir lime leaf (I used the kaffir lime leaf powder from MyBlueTea.com.au)
METHOD:
- Cook the cashew nuts – either deep-fry for 1-2 minutes at 180C or airfry for 5-6 minutes at 180C (make sure to pause and stir them mid-cycle). Remove and set aside.
- Combine sesame oil, light soya sauce, sugar and chilli in a (preferably non-stick) saucepan, and heat until the sugar starts to caramelise.
- Toss in the cashew nuts, mix well and remove from heat.
- Mix in the kaffir lime leaf.
- Allow to cool before storing.
