Equipment
Ingredients
Base
- 400 g raw cashews, unsalted
- 2 g sea salt, fine
- 15 ml neutral oil
Nutrition (per serving)
Method
Preheat your oven to 165°C/330°F.
Spread the raw cashews in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast for 10 to 12 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through.
Remove the cashews from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. They should remain slightly warm, which greatly assists in releasing their natural oils during blending.
Transfer the warm cashews to a food processor. Process on high speed. Initially, the nuts will break down into a fine meal, then eventually clump together into a thick paste or ball.
Continue processing for 5 to 10 minutes. Stop the machine every couple of minutes to thoroughly scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. The friction from the blades will eventually melt the fats, turning the clump into a smooth, liquid butter.
Add the sea salt and, if the butter is still too thick for your preference, the optional neutral oil. Blend for a final 30 seconds until fully incorporated.
Chef's Notes
- Patience is the single most important ingredient. The friction heat generated by the food processor blades is what ultimately melts the natural fats, transitioning the mixture from a dry clump into a flowing liquid.
- Do not skip the roasting step. While raw cashew butter exists, roasting drastically cuts down processing time, reduces moisture, and provides the essential Maillard reaction that builds complex flavor.
- For a chunky texture, pulse a small handful of roasted cashews into small pieces, set them aside, and manually stir them into the finished smooth butter at the very end.
- If using a high-speed blender instead of a food processor, use the tamper tool continuously to push the nuts down into the blades, but monitor the engine heat closely to avoid overheating your machine.
Storage
Refrigerator: 2 months — Store in an airtight jar. Refrigeration prevents the natural oils from going rancid.
Freezer: 6 months — Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and stir well before using.
