Winter foods should be warm, cooked and full of healthy fats and nutrients so we can stay warm and nourished all season long. These power packed nuts are roasted with some of the yummiest winter spices and make a wonderful snack and will help keep your insides warm and toasty all season long!
Note: If you naturally run hot or suffer from burning in your stomach or acid reflux, best to eat sparingly or remove the black and cayenne pepper.
Spiced nuts
Simple ingredients and made in a short time. These zippy and crunchy snacks are somewhat addictive and a perfect appetizer or snack! Packed with protein, fats and the warming spices of cumin and black pepper, they are wonderful to add some warmth and fuel for the cold winter months. Enjoy!
Ingredients
1 cup Almonds75 g), raw and unsalted
1 cup walnuts (75 g), raw and unsalted
1 cup cashews (95 g), raw and unsalted
3/4 cup pumpkin seeds
3-4 tbsp maple syrup (adjust to the sweetness you prefer)
1 tbsp oil of your choice (optional), I used melted coconut oil or you can use butter or avocado oil dependign on your preference
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2-3/4 tsp cayenne pepper (you can add more if you like them more spicy)
2 tsp dried rosemary (coursely chopped)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350ºF or 180ºC
Mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl (except the dried rosemary) until well combined.
Place the spiced nuts onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. I like to check in on the nuts midway through and turn
Remove from the oven, add the dried rosemary and stir until well mixed.
These keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 weeks and get a nice hardened crunch to them once they cool
I often play around with the spice amounts depending on my mood - sometimes adding more salty, spice or sweet depending on how I feel. So if you're inspired, play around and make your own unique blend!
If you're curious about why these little gems are great for winter, learn a bit more here about medicine on your plate:
Nuts: Nuts in general are considered highly concentrated nourishment and they are fabulous to strengthen our Qi, book and Yin. They contain all the nutrients necessary to support a plants first stages of life, so it's no wonder they are considered a super food. We need the extra calories and nutrients in the winter months to keep us warm and strong. Walnuts in particular are great at strengthening the kidney system which is most active at this time of the year. Walnuts can help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. and help to moisten the lungs and intestines which if helpful for someone suffering from a dry cough. If you tend to run warm or have loos bowels, best to leave these nuts out. great brain health
Almonds: slightly warm in property and sweet in flavour, these little wonders help to move stuck energy in the lungs system and transform phlegm . In ayurveda, almonds are considered one of the top nuts for building.
Cumin: Warming and flavourful, this
Cayenne: very hot and one of the highest botanic sources of vitamin C, this punchy little seasoning can really heat things up! But it's important to not over consume cayenne in the winter as it really drives energy up and out of the body (hence the sweating when you have really spicy food), which also means all that precious heat is leaving your body. Great when you're in the tropics and want to cool down, but best to keep it to a healthy warm glow of heat when you're in full on winter!
Rosemary: Is considered a warming herb and is a great one to use all winter long in roasted veggies, slow cooked meats or these nuts. It also has a lovely moving property to it so it has a fresh invigorating side to it as well
Black Pepper: This is the number one spice to warm up your tummy! So if you're feeling cold or find yourself having trouble absorbing foods (particularly if you eat a lot of raw foods or salads in the winter months), this is a wonderful addition to make sure you're keeping that digestive fire stoked!