Did you know macadamia nuts are native to Australia?
26 August, 2020
Let’s find out more about these delicious nuts
Macadamia nuts are native to Australia but are also grown in other places around the world including Hawaii and New Zealand. They’re prized for their creamy texture and buttery flavour. They’re also packed with healthy fats, vitamins and minerals.
September 4th is Macadamia Nut Day so it’s a perfect time to celebrate these nuts!
How to enjoy macadamia nuts?
Macadamia nuts can be enjoyed raw or roasted with a variety of flavours. If you’re lucky enough to have access to a macadamia nut tree, you’ll know that these nuts take a bit of effort to get to with their hard external shell. Specialist macadamia nut crackers can be found at kitchen supply stores and definitely make getting your delicious macadamia fix a bit easier.
Macadamias are native to northern New South Wales and Queensland, but trees can be found in suburban backyards right across Sydney – maybe hunt around and ask your neighbours! They’ll probably be happy to share as many trees produce more nuts than a single household can get through.
Once you’ve cracked your macadamias, you can enjoy them fresh and raw or you can lightly toast them in an oven. Macadamia nuts are delicious roasted and simply seasoned with salt, or you can experiment with many other flavours too. Of course, not everyone is lucky enough to have access to a macadamia tree. But there’s plenty of options available to grab off the shelf at Woolworths or at shops like Horn of Plenty, including the delicious treat of honey roasted macadamias and even abalone flavoured macadamias. Absolute decadence!
Macadamias are also available as a macadamia nut butter that you can use instead of peanut butter on your toast and macadamia nut milk is also available as a non-dairy alternative with a mild and creamy flavour.
What about using macadamias in cooking?
Macadamias can be an excellent addition to many dishes. In particular, they can be a fantastic substitute for candlenuts that are sometimes used in Asian cooking. Candlenuts can be hard to find in Australia, but macadamias have a similar texture and flavour profile making them an ideal replacement. A suggested ratio is 1.5 macadamias per candlenut called for.
Australian Macadamias has heaps of recipe ideas in its online hub, spanning savoury and sweet ideas for all times of the day including:
- Honey roasted macadamias
- Bao buns with smoky macadamia sauce and tangy macadamia dressing
- Macadamia milk porridge with honey and macadamia whip
- Macadamia and chickpea curry
- Macadamia muesli
- Betel leaves topped with prawns and roasted macadamias
- Lemon and blueberry macadamia ‘cheesecake’
Macadamias are also fantastic in desserts, for example in ice-cream and gelato. Macadamia nut oil is also a great substitute for other oils or butter in baking and has a high smoke point for using in roasting or frying.
What are your thoughts on macadamia nuts?
Are you a macadamia nut fan? Do you have a tree nearby that keeps you stocked with nuts? We’d love to know your thoughts on these delicious native treats.
