Cashew

Imagine the jubilation when the Portuguese brought cashews (Anacardium occidentale) to India from Brazil. India is now one of the world’s major exporters of this beloved, wickedly addictive nut. Buy cashews raw and unsalted, and select for taste, not size. It’s so easy to roast them yourself. Commercially “roasted” cashews are usually fried, which means they’re likely to go stale sooner. For thickening gravies and curries, there’s no need to buy whole cashews—broken ones will do. Some organic farms on the west coast of India have started exporting cashews to the United States, and they’re excellent.