As summer rolls in, there’s no better time to elevate your meals with the versatile and nutritious addition of California walnuts. With their rich flavor, satisfying crunch, and impressive nutritional profile, walnuts are the perfect thing to add to your summer recipes.
Why Walnuts?
Walnuts have a nutty, creamy taste and a gentle, crunchy texture, making them the ideal addition to your meals and snacks. They’re also a real, whole food that can give you a boost at any time of day. In fact, one ounce of walnuts packs a punch of essential nutrients that are crucial for maintaining optimal health; featuring an excellent source of omega-3 ALA*(2.5 g), good source of magnesium (10% DV), 4 grams of protein, and 2 grams of fiber.
*One ounce of walnuts offers 18g of total fat, 2.5g of monounsaturated fat, 13g of polyunsaturated fat including 2.5g of alpha-linolenic acid – the plant-based omega-3.
6 Ways to Add Walnuts to Your Recipes
1: Add them to your yogurt. One of our favorite ways to add walnuts to yogurt is by making our classic Blueberry Frozen Yogurt Sundae, which features blueberry compote and glazed walnuts. This treat is perfect for a light meal or an after-dinner snack to satisfy your sweet cravings!
2: Add them to your salads. Walnuts can add a dash of flavor to your salad routine. We love sprinkling them in our Walnut, Quinoa, and Ranch Chicken Salad. This dish is not only incredibly easy to make, but it also has essential nutrients to keep you charged throughout the day, like 23 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber per serving.
3: Add them to your smoothies. Walnuts offer an earthy, delicious flavor to our Strawberry Walnut Date Smoothie that you won’t be able to resist. And the best part: It only takes 5 minutes to pull together!
4: Add them to your trail mix. Our Vanilla Walnut Berry Trail Mix is perfect for when you’re ready to hit the trails, have a picnic, or even just get through a busy workday. Walnuts add the perfect touch to this rejuvenating snack.
5: Add them to your avocado toast. Everyone loves a good avocado toast, and believe us when we say that walnuts make it SO much better. Try our Avocado, Arugula, Tomato, and Walnut Toast recipe for a savory treat that you’ll want to make a double batch of!
6: Add them to your ice cream. Walnuts are the perfect addition to your delicious ice cream sundae. Walnuts balance out the sweetness of the ice cream and chocolate sauce and add a richness you’ll never again leave out of your ice cream bowl. For a satisfying topping, try our Wet Walnuts in Syrup recipe!
Now, remember: It’s best to keep your walnuts cold to maintain their freshness, so when you’re done sprinkling your dishes with these delicious walnuts, store them in an airtight container/bag in the cheese drawer of your refrigerator so they’re ready for your next meal!
