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Have you ever heard of the macadamia? It is part of the oilseed group and, although it is not as popular as other options such as chestnuts and walnuts, it is very good for your health. Its flavor tends to be more delicate and can be used in several recipes, such as macadamia paçoca.
This oilseed has stood out in research as a guardian of the arteries, due to the presence of monounsaturated fat. Furthermore, it is also rich in antioxidants, as highlighted in the article by Regina Célia Pereira, in the Saúde do Estadão editor.
Where to buy macadamia nuts and other oilseeds?
It is worth opting for grain and natural product emporiums and warehouses instead of looking for these products in large supermarket chains, as they can be more expensive.
The quality of walnuts also tends to be better in these specialized stores. To Paladar, chef Helô Bacellar explained that the great demand and renewal of this type of ingredient in emporiums guarantees a greater possibility of finding fresher oilseeds at the time of purchase.
It is also possible to find these products in the so-called “Zona Cerealista”, in São Paulo, which offers a line of stores that sell these and other products in bulk.
How to choose oilseeds?
It’s good to keep in mind that it can be a little difficult to visually check whether a product of this type is fresh. Therefore, it’s worth asking to try it and check out the texture and flavor. Check out some tips from chef Helô Bacellar below for choosing these products:
- Look for nuts that are crunchy and have a fresh flavor;
- Avoid products that are withered and have a strong oily flavor, this may indicate that they are older;
- It is possible to opt for already broken oilseeds if the recipe does not call for whole ones and you are not going to use them to decorate dishes. Oilseeds sold broken have similar quality and a considerably lower price.
- Buy enough to use in recipes and table settings, instead of buying a large quantity at once, this way you will always have fresh products.
Paçoca recipe with macadamia nuts
THE macadamiaalthough less known, can also be used in several recipes. It is very popular in ice cream, but it can also be the main ingredient in paçoca. This recipe was presented by Mariana Dias in the “Paçoca” class during the 8th Paladar Cozinha do Brasil, and uses macadamia nuts instead of peanuts. The sweet is easy and quick to make. See the full recipe.