Nut Free
Cooking nut free is less about substitution and more about knowing where nuts hide. Indian food uses them heavily as a thickener, so the recipes here are the ones that never used nuts to begin with. Raw Cauliflower Salad is gluten free and nut free as written. Meanwhile, Asian Crunchy Cabbage Salad and Greek Chickpea Salad both get their crunch from vegetables rather than from a nut topping. Miso Bok Choy and String Beans and Coconut Stir Fry are quick weeknight sides, and Mint Cilantro Chutney is the nut free version of a sauce that usually is not. Browse everything nut free below.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Fewer than you would like, because nuts are often used as both thickener and garnish in Indian desserts. Nut free Indian desserts are those built on gram flour or coconut rather than a cashew or almond base. Besan ladoo is nut free if you leave off the pistachio garnish. Meanwhile, coconut based burfi works as a replacement for cashew burfi. However, watch out for Kaju katli, badam halwa and most barfi as they are nut based by definition. Additionally, store bought mithai is almost always made in a shared kitchen, making it possible that they may have come in contact with nuts.
For most people, yes. Coconut is a fruit rather than a tree nut, and the majority of people with tree nut allergies tolerate it. It is worth knowing that some labelling systems classify it as a tree nut anyway, which is why it shows up on allergen lists. Check with your allergist before relying on it, since a minority of people do react.
Fresh fig cake and orange coconut cake are both nut free as written. Meanwhile, vegan chocolate covered strawberries need nothing but fruit and chocolate, though do check the chocolate as it may contain a warning. Cinnamon oatmeal cookies are nut free if you leave the nuts out, which the recipe allows for.
Yes, and cauliflower is a useful vegetable when you are cooking nut free because it gives body to a dish without needing a nut paste to thicken it. Raw cauliflower salad is both gluten free and nut free. Additionally, roasted cauliflower works anywhere a korma would usually rely on cashews.
Anything that travels and needs no reheating. Greek chickpea salad and pomegranate cucumber lentil salad both hold well in a box. Meanwhile, you can put mint cilantro chutney in a small pot as a dip. Skip the trail mix, and check any granola bar, since most are made in the same manufacturing facilities and may come in contact with nuts.