Nuts and seeds have long been celebrated as nutrient-rich staples that bring both flavor and nutrition to the table. From almonds and cashews to peanuts, they’re packed with high-quality protein, healthy fats, and fiber, making them a satisfying and versatile addition to countless recipes.
Whether adding crunch to salads, blending into smoothies, or elevating baked goods, nuts and seeds are true kitchen essentials. Chopped, ground, or pureed into spreads, they offer endless ways to enhance both sweet and savory dishes.
Discover how to choose the best nuts for your kitchen, explore different types, and find fun ways to incorporate them into your favorite recipes!
Selecting the Best Nuts and Seeds for Your Kitchen
Picking the best nuts and seeds is easy with a few quick tips to ensure top quality and maximum benefits!
- Raw vs. Roasted: Roasting nuts enhances their flavor, making them perfect for snacking or adding a warm, toasted taste to dishes. However, roasting can reduce freshness and some nutrients. On the other hand, raw nuts offer a milder flavor and smoother texture, while retaining more of their original nutrients.
- Salted vs. Unsalted: Unsalted nuts give you more control over the seasoning in your dishes, allowing you to adjust the salt level to your taste and manage your sodium intake. Salted nuts bring an extra burst of flavor, making them a great option for snacking or adding a savory kick to your meals.
- Whole or Chopped: Whole nuts are your best bet for maintaining freshness, as chopped nuts can lose their crispness and flavor more quickly. But if you’re short on time or just not in the mood to chop, pre-chopped nuts are totally fine to use too!
- Shelf Life: To maintain the quality of your nuts and seeds, store them in airtight containers to keep them fresh longer. If you don’t plan to use them within a month, freezing them is an excellent option to preserve their flavor and texture.
Peanuts
Peanuts are versatile, enjoyed on their own or made into the original nut spread. Roasted and blended, peanut butter adds a rich, savory flavor to everything from toast to sauces to sweets, making peanuts a must-have in the kitchen.
Check out these creative recipes featuring peanuts in different forms below, or find even more peanut recipe ideas here!
Almonds
With a mild, sweet flavor and a subtle nutty undertone, this nut pairs perfectly with both sweet and savory dishes. Almonds are great in granola or almond-based pastries, and also pair nicely with vegetables.
Check out these creative recipes featuring almonds in different forms below, or find even more almond recipe ideas here!
Cashews
This creamy nut has a slightly sweet, mellow flavor and is often used in sauces, smoothies, and desserts.
Check out these creative recipes featuring cashews in different forms below, or find even more cashew recipe ideas here!
Here are some other products you might love that are made directly from cashews!
Hazelnut
A favorite for those who love a richer, nuttier taste, it almost has a chocolate flavour especially when roasted. Hazelnuts are slightly bitter when raw and transform into a toasty and nutty flavor when roasted. These nuts compliment cocoa so well, think Nutella. Less versatile than other nuts, hazelnuts are perfect for the sweet treat.
Check out these creative recipes featuring hazelnuts in different forms below, or find even more hazelnut recipe ideas here!
Our market features a fun variety of hazelnut spreads that are perfect for getting creative in the kitchen!
Pecans
With their rich buttery flavor and natural sweetness with an almost woodsy flavor, these caramel-like tasting nuts are best in sweet dishes and pairs well with chocolate or cinnamon.
Check out these creative recipes featuring pecans in different forms below, or find even more pecan recipe ideas here!
Sunflower Seeds
A great option for those with nut allergies, sunflower seeds have a mild, slightly nutty flavor with a light almost grassy finish. Roasting these seeds with the hull on will bring out a deep toasty earthy flavor, but usually are more neutral as a spread than other nuts and seeds making them a great substitute for peanut or other nut butters if we are looking to avoid an allergy. Their neutral flavor makes them great in both sweet and savory recipes.
Check out these creative recipes featuring sunflower seeds in different forms below, or find even more sunflower seed recipe ideas here!
Pumpkin Seeds
Mild, slightly sweet and nutty flavor with earthy undertones, pumpkin seeds offer a great alternative to traditional nut spreads. This versatile spread can be used in savory and sweet dishes.
Check out these creative recipes featuring sunflower seeds in different forms below, or find even more pumpkin seed recipe ideas here!
Tahini (Sesame Seed Butter)
Made from ground sesame seeds, tahini is a staple in Middle Eastern cuisine. The roasted sesame seeds give tahini it’s rich, earthy and slightly bitter with a toasted nutty flavor
Check out these creative recipes featuring tahini in different forms below, or find even more tahini recipe ideas here!
Crunchy Black Sesame Butter
Relatively new to the spread scene, black sesame butter is a unique spread with a crunchy or smooth texture with a unique, slightly earthy profile that can support both savory and sweet dishes. A similar texture to tahini, but a richer, more pronounced flavor. It can be used as a traditional spread on toast, bagels or crackers, or added to a smoothie or a dressing for a creamy finish.
Pili What!?!?!
Another uncommon nut that we have in our market that you may or may not have heard of is the pili nut. The pili nut (pronounced pee-lee) comes from the Canarium ovatum tree, which is native to the Philippines. The edible part is the seed which is rich, buttery, and has a unique, creamy flavor with a subtle sweetness, making them a versatile ingredient in both sweet and savory dishes. They are often used in snacks, trail mixes, and nut butter blends.
Nuts about Giving 🎁
‘Tis the season of giving and Georgia Grinders has the gift for the foodie on your list with their amazing 3-pack gift set in the FoodSocial Market and we have you covered with delicious holiday treat recipes to go with it!
Want even more nut butter recipe inspo? You’re in luck! Check out three tasty ideas below and explore more here.
Nuts and seeds aren’t just a trend—they’re nutrient-packed powerhouses with timeless versatility. From the creamy richness of cashews to the bold flavor of black sesame, each brings something unique to the table. By learning to select, store, and use them, you unlock flavors and textures that can transform your meals. So, grab something new and experiment—blend nut and seed butters into smoothies, baked goods, dressings, or savory dips. The possibilities are endless!
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