Nuts

Organic Nuts at Naturally Good Food

We like to offer a full range of  nuts, most of which are to Soil Association Organic standard, we pack many ourselves and can offer many size combinations, with a standard 10% case discount on all purchases. Included in our nut range are :

Our full listing of organic nuts is contained on this page, just scroll up for the product range and down for some a quick guide to the nuts, if you just want to see our bulk or whole range of nuts, we also stock a great range of nut butters these are agian organic with some great producers and organic raw nut butter available.

Studies have shown that those who eat nuts live longer, but this could be because the people who eat nuts tend not to eat junk food. Those that eat organically also tend to eat less junk food, so get the best of both worlds.

Why Organic ?

Many nuts are grown in poor soil on steep hill sides, this may be combined with high rainfall. This can be a problem as it is difficult to maintain soil fertility with high levels of soil leaching. In conventional farming soil leaching is often balanced by the addition of artificial fertilizers, however excess fertilizer ends up in rivers causing considerable problems, also the natural ecosystems suffers through the use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. In an organic system the nut orchards are often shared with cattle and sheep that graze under the organic nut trees. In grazing they provide additional income to the farmer and naturally increase soil fertility with their manure. The total system is in greater balance the farmer is not so reliant on the success of a particular crop. In addition, the local bee population has food all through the summer, not just when the nut trees are in bloom.

How do I know these are Organic  ?

By law in the UK all produce sold as organic must display a certification symbol or number. So when you see the Soil Association organic symbol on the organic nuts we sell you can be sure they comply with the government standard for organic produce. These standards set by the UK government and at least meet European and international standards. With a product that is imported such as nuts it is important that international standards are maintained.

Best Ethical Organic Nut Buy

The Ethical buyers guide to nuts lists the Crazy Jack range of  nuts as a best buy, so you get great taste, full organic status and an ethical best buy. So as all Crazy Jack products are t organic you can be assured of a great product.

Organic Nuts -  a quick guide

Nuts are good for a vegetarian diet as they contain protein, they are a good source of energy and have lots of calories, but you don't need to me a vegetarian to enjoy the benefits of eating organic nuts. Nuts are high in unsaturated fat, which helps maintain a healthy heart. Nuts are a good source of many minerals including iron, magnesium and zinc. Almonds, Brazils, Peanuts and Walnuts proving a good source of the antioxidant Vitamin E. Folic acid is contained in Peanuts, Hazels, Cashews and Walnuts, whilst Brazil nuts are an important source of selenium (good for the immune system). In terms of an organic diet nuts are a good choice as they are a good store cupboard line, you can buy them in reasonable bulk so that teh cost per serving can come down significantly.

Eating nuts can lower cholesterol

Eating nuts is an important part of a healthy diet, recent studies in the US have shown that eating on average 67g of nuts - a small bag - a day reduced cholesterol levels by 7.4%. In addition to reducing cholesterol levels, eating nuts also reduced the amount of triglyceride, a type of blood fat that has been linked to heart disease.

The Organic Nuts we sell

Almonds - the first in our organic nut list is organic Almonds which are rich in dietary fibre, vitamins, and minerals Almonds are packed with many important B vitamins. Almonds are also rich source of minerals like manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium. Almonds are also act as an good source of vitamin E.

Use - Almonds are often eaten on their own, raw or roasted making a good healthy snack in the evening.  Almonds are a major ingredient of marzipan, nougat and many pastries and cookies Macaroons. Almonds can also be made into a butter spread similar to peanut butter, which makes a good substitute for peanut allergy suffers, in addition in has a less salty taste.

 
As sweet Almonds have no carbohydrates they can be used in cakes and cookies for those on low-carbohydrate diets, in addition as almond flour is gluten free it is very popular for those on a gluten free diet.
 
Available - Almonds are available as blanched, Flaked almonds, Ground Almonds and Whole Almonds, all our Almonds are Organic and come in a variety of sizes from 100g to 10kg, with a standard 10% case discount.

Organic Blanched Almonds - Blanched almonds are almonds without their skin on, blanched almonds are used in many middle eastern dishes. Our organic blanched almonds are part of the Crazy Jack organic nut range, and as with all Crazy Jack products you know they will be of the best. The blanched almonds come in a 100g pack size.

Organic Flaked Almonds - Organic flaked almonds are a great decoration idea, you can bake them in  a moderate oven for about five minutes to give a golden colour. Flaked almonds are blanched almonds that have then been sliced to produce a flat disc shape.

Organic Ground Almonds - Organic Ground almonds are made from blanched almonds as Almond skins are rather bitter. Ground almonds are often called almond flour, Ground almonds are widely used in Gluten free cooking it is also a favorite ingredient in Mediterranean cooking, ground almonds can used to thicken sauces, to top a casserole and to give your crumble a moist feel.

Organic Whole Almonds - Whole Organic Almonds, eat our whole organic almonds raw or toasted on their own or in combination, one thing you can be sure of is that you will have a great tasting nut. Our whole organic almonds are available in a variety of sizes from 100g to 10kg.

Brazils -  Brazil nuts are a good source of magnesium and thiamine and perhaps the best source of dietary selenium (the level of selenium can vary greatly between batches). Brazil nuts also have a relatively high zinc content. Brazil nuts have a relatively high fat level but this is unsaturated, however it is best perhaps not to eat too many Brazil nuts (3 nuts a day). Brazil nuts can be a good source of protein in a vegetarian diet. With their high polyunsaturated fat content, (mostly omega-6) shelled Brazil nuts soon become rancid.

Use - In addition to the using as a topping for a rich fruit cake you could try adding Brazil nuts in a salad add to a nut loaf or as a final ingredient in a stir-fry.
 
 
Available - all our Brazil nuts are organic and whole and as with the rest of our organic nut selecion we offer a 10% case discount.

Cashew - Cashew nuts are a good source of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Cashew nuts are rich in heart friendly monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic and palmitoleic acids that help to lower LDL or bad cholesterol and increase HDL or good cholesterol. Cashew nuts are very rich source of minerals like manganese, potassium, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium. Cashews are also rich in B vitamins.

Use - Cashew nuts make a great snack for nibbling, they also go well in stry fries and make a very easy and truly special curry, especially if they are soaked for a little time before cooking. 

 
Available - for that eveing snack we offer roasted and salted cashew nuts, for cooking if you want to have a bit try using our cashew nut pieces and the ultimate whole cashew nuts if you can't resist. All our cashew nuts and organic.

Chestnuts -  Chestnuts are not a typical nut, most nuts are high in calories and fat, Chestnuts on the other hand are low in calories, and fat with high carbohydrate content. Chestnuts also have high water content, more like a vegetable. Chestnuts are so unlike most nuts that that is sometimes referred to as "The grain that grows on a tree".

Use – there is the classic roasting chestnuts on an open fire use, but perhaps the better use is a flour which is especially useful in gluten free cooking.

Available - we can get Chestnuts to order within a couple of days, we also stock Chestnut flour and Pasta made with chestnut flour. 

Hazelnut - Hazelnuts are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals they are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic and essential fatty acid linoleic acid that help to lower LDL or bad cholesterol and increase HDL or good cholesterol. Hazelnuts are especially high in folate which is unique to nuts, good news for expectant mums. Hazel nuts are an excellent source of vitamin E. Hazel nuts have high levels of many important B vitamins. Hazels are also rich source of minerals like manganese, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium.

Use - Hazelnuts are a very versatile nut and can be used in many dishes, they are great in desserts, can be easily added to brownies and go well with most chocolate dishes. Hazelnuts can also make an interesting addition to a salad.

  
Available - all our Hazelnuts are organic and we offer a number of different sizes, buying a larger pack will give you a great saving. In addition we also stock the Crazy Jack range, both their normal Hazelnuts and a blanched alternative.

Macadamia -  Macadamia nuts are a high energy food, with no cholesterol and low in carbohyrate. Macadamia nuts have the highest levels of unsaturated fats of any nut, and Macadamia oil has some 78% monounsaturated fat, the highest of any oil. On the negative side Macadamia nuts relatively expensive and very difficult to extract from their shells. Macadamias are native to North East Australia.

Use - Macadamia nuts work well in combination with coconut, chocolate or fish.
 
Available - unlike our other nut selection we don't offer an organic Macadamia nut, you can purchase Macadamia nuts in different sizes. 

Peanuts - Peanuts have many health benefiting nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins that are essential for optimum health. Peanuts are especially, rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids like oleic acids that help to lower LDL or "bad cholesterol" and increase HDL or "good cholesterol". Peanuts contain high concentrations of poly-phenolic anti-oxidants, primarily in p-coumaric acid; which is believed to reduce the risk of stomach cancer by reducing the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines.  Peanuts are a great source of vitamin E.

 
Use - we are familiar with Peanut butter as a snack on bread and salted peanuts with that glass in the evening, but Peanuts are used in a great variety of dishes both sweet and savoury and is widely used in Indonesian and West African cooking. 
 
Available - all our peanuts are organic and we offer a variety of sizes to suit your cooking needs, we also offer roasted and salted peanuts as part of our overall range of organic nuts.

Pecans - Pecans are a good source of protein and unsaturated fats such as oleic acid and an excellent source of antioxidants. Pecan nuts are rich source of many phyto-chemical substances that may contribute to their overall antioxidant activity, including polyphenolic antioxidant ellagic acid, vitamin E, beta-carotenes, lutein and zeaxanthin. Research studies have been suggestive of that these compounds help body remove toxic oxygen free radicals and thus, protect body from diseases, cancers as well as infections. Pecans are an excellent source of vitamin-E. The nuts are packed with many important B-complex group of vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates.  Pecans are also rich source of minerals like manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium.

Like the rest of the Crazy Jack organic nut range great care is taken in choosing the right producer, the organic Pecans from Crazy Jack arer little pecans come from trees that are up to 200 years old. Crop from the trees varies largely from year to year – a “good” season is nearly always followed by a “poor” one – but in fact, this is normal and a crop needs to be looked at over a number of years as the trees rest and respond according to the weather. Native pecan trees grow to full maturity and provide a lush feeding ground for small birds and insects which live in the bark and on the leaves of the tree – there’s more to pecans, than just pecans, and that’s the way we like it. So it choosing these organic nuts you are helping the local environment keep ist native character.

Use - the most famous use of Pecans is of course in Pecan pie, but Pecans can be used in numerous other dishes almost all of which are sweet including , Pecan Toffee Cranberry Pecan Bars , Chocolate Pecan Pie,  Pecan Supremes, Fours Praline Candy, Raspberry Cheesecake the full recipes can be found at pecan.com.
 
Available - most of the Pecans we offer are non-organic, however we also offer the Wild Organic Pecan as part of our organic nut range, so you can eat those sweet Pecan dishes and keep to an organic diet.

Pinenuts -  Pinenuts are a good source of Vitamin E and Vitamin K, they are also a good source of Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Copper and Manganese.

 
Use -  Pinenuts perhaps best known as an ingredient in Pesto, and fresh Pesto made at home is the best. Pinenuts can also be eaten raw and are especially good in salads. They can be added to many sweet and savoury dishes and the flavor and texture goes well with meats, cheese, vegetables and fruit.

Available - We sell Pinenuts in a variety of sizes upto 1kg, which should keep you going for a while, or make a great batch of Pesto for the freezer.

Pistachio -  Pistachios are a great source of copper, manganese, and phosphorus, Pistachios also contain significant amounts of potassium and magnesium, and are an especially rich source of vitamin B6 and the other B vitamins.

 
Use - Pistachio nuts make a great snack, perhaps the most famous recipe using Pistachio is Pistachio icecream, they also go well in salads.
 
 
Available - We sell a variety of sizes Pistachio nuts.

Walnuts -  last but not least in our round-up of  nuts are walnuts. Walnuts are a good natural source of omega 3 fatty acids, with 2.5 grams providing nearly all your recommended intake (Food Nutrition Board of the National Academy Institute of Medicine – US). Walnuts also have high levels Copper, Magnesium, Manganese and Phosphorus. With their high fat content Walnuts can go rancid, so take a little care in storing them. Variety and growing conditions greatly affect the quality of the walnut, so for organic walnuts choosing locality and the producer is very important in securing a good quality organic nut. The Crazy jack organic walnuts come from India where the company feels that organic nuts can get a good colour kernel with a good creamy flavour.

 
Use - Walnuts make a great tasty snack on their own, but also go well with other healthy foods. If chopped they sprinkle well of breakfast cereal, salads and can be stirred into yogurt. They will also go well in smoothies, try banana and walnut.  
 
Available - We stock organic walnuts in various sizes, they come both as Walnut halves and light quarters which work out considerably cheaper and are ideal for cooking.

Organic Nut Recipe Ideas

Nuts are great to cook with offerinf almost infinite combinations and hey can be used in a great variety of recipes, savoury and sweet. Below you will find some recipes that are great if you use organic ingredients.

• Almond and Cauliflower Korma - a nice mild vegetarian nu curry using both ground and blanched Almonds, for the best results use Almonds from the Crazy Jack organic range of nuts. If you want larger quantities don't forget we pack our own organic range which includes many nuts.
• Brazil Nut Stuffed Mushrooms - a good nut dish to have with rice and a green salad, this recipe is from the Crazy Jack Organic recipe section.
• Cashew and Fennel Soup -  Cashew makes an unusual addition to this soup. Ther are not many nut soups, so you could give this one a go.
• Walnut and celery quiche - a good quiche to go with salad  use organic eggs and cheese to completment your organic nuts.
• Bakewell Tart - A classic English Pudding to enjoy anytime, my favourite is to have the left over Bakewell Tart for breakfast, assuming it gets that far. Nuts are a good way of making a pudding with lots of natural goodness and really healthy.
• Chocolate Bakewell tart  -Try this variation on the Bakewell theme and compare the two, buy a large bar of organic chocolate a large pack of nuts especially organic ones and have a number of blind trials to check which you like most.
• Chocolate Torte Gluten Free  - A gluten free Chocolate Torte made with dark chocolate and organic ground almonds. If you have a wheat or gluten allergy nuts are a good basic to have around the kitchen.
• Date and Walnut Cake  a classic Crazy Jack Recipe.
• Raisin and Peanut Cookies - peanut butter and raisins a classic American combination or organic dried fruit and nuts.

If you have any nut recipes you would like to share with others please let us know.

Hints and Tips

Here is a list of tips and hints on nuts that we have picked up over the years, with the help of some of these tips you can use organic nuts at not a great price premium over conventional nuts.

• Combine a spoonful of organic ground almonds with breadcrumbs and use as a crumb coating for fish and chicken, ground almonds can also be used to thicken, smooth and enrich a curry.
• A tablespoon of lightly roasted organic almond flakes can be sprinkled them over ice cream or steamed trout. Use a shallow frying pan or skillet to roast the almonds.
• To remove the skin from organic whole almonds, simply soak for a minute in hot water, remove and squeeze the kernel – the nut will pop out of its little jacket.
• Blanched almonds can be toasted, finely chopping and added to a ginger-shrimp sauté or added toasted to Chinese Vegetable stir fry dishes. Many nuts make a good addition to a stir fry.
• Brazil nuts have a similar taste to Macadamia nuts and can be substituted in many recipes, this is a good tip for those wanting an organic diet as organic Macadamia nuts are hard to find.
• To keep their crunch add cashew nuts just before serving as they soften quickly when cooked, for a smooth cashew nut curry with a rich almost creamy texture soak your cashew nuts before cooking.
• Hazelnuts can be chopped, ground or sliced and added to breads, cakes, muffins and cookies for added texture, crunch and rich, nutty flavour. 
• Roasted whole hazelnuts and rich dried fruits and dark chocolate make a delicious antioxidant snack. 
• Sprinkle hazelnuts over salads and vegetables for a crunchy texture. nutty flavour and visual appeal mix.
• Pecans have a higher fat content (mostly monounsaturated fats) than other nuts and are therefore more perishable. To keep them from spoiling, double-bag and store them in the refrigerator for up to three months or in the freezer up to six.
• Pinenuts are expensive for many recipes you could substitute blanched slivered almonds this does not work for a classic pesto though. With this hint you can still use organic nuts in your recipe and keep the cost down.
• To get a more nutty flavour try lightly dry roasting walnuts in a shallow dry pan.
• In salads you could try substituting walnuts for pinenuts, these seem to work well in a green salad.
• Sunflower seeds, sesame and roasted pumpkin seeds are common nut-free substitutes for pine nuts in sauces, salads and other dishes. Sunflower seeds are especially good in pesto because they have a similar oily coating and add a meaty taste to the sauce.
• Use organic walnut halves or organic walnut quarters not whole walnuts and save as quarters and halves are much cheaper and in cooking you will not notice the difference.
• If you have difficulty digesting nuts you could try rehydrating them by soaking them in water this makes softer so they can also blend more easily in a food processor. You can then add to an organic smoothy for a perfect balanced drink bursting in goodness.

We would welcome any of your tips and hints which we could add so that more people can enjoy nuts, especially organic tips and hints.

Nuts are great for children as they are high protein and packed full of goodness, all of which are important for growing bodies, as many parents are keen on feeding their children organic they can play an important part in your childrens diet. Many children are keen to try new food, but if you are having any problems getting the kids to try organic nuts you could :

• Adding organic ground nuts to a fruit smoothie or milk shake.
• Including a selction of nuts in the daily organic lunch box.
• Add some nuts to the morning cereal.

Don't give up eating well is a habit best learnt as a child as you are building for the future and what could be better organic nuts.

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Organic Nut Producers

At Naturally Good Food we like to supply the best quality nuts we can so for us these are organic when we can, we also like to work with the best producers, among the suppliers we use are :

Crazy Jack - their range of organic pre packed nuts covers the world. With the Crazy Jack range you not only get great nuts you can also be sure that the communities producing the nuts are protected. The only disadvantage with the Crazy jack range is that the nuts are only available to small packets. Therefore, to supply larger sizes of nuts we need to pack them ourselves under our own organic license. These nuts come to us loose and are from the same source as the Crazy Jack nuts and are imported by Community Foods who own Crazy Jack.

Naturally Good Food - with our own Soil Association organic status we pack our own nuts, these nuts offer great value for money as we can offer much larger pack sizes than you can normally find and you can buy the organic for a similar price to no-organic. If you want a very large pack please let us know.