Have you ever tried cashew milk or considered adding it to your regular diet? This creamy nondairy milk is gaining popularity thanks to a wealth of cashew milk benefits for your health and cooking uses. Cashew milk is made by soaking raw cashews in water, rinsing them off, blending them together with filtered water, and straining the pulp to achieve a smooth liquid milk.

If you're making your own nut milks at home, cashews can be a great option if you're short on time. Cashews are a softer nut than almonds, for example, and can be soaked and ground up into a milk in a shorter period of time and with a very creamy result. Here are some of its benefits and how to add it to your diet.

Benefits of Cashew Milk

Whether you're a vegan, omnivore, or somewhere in between, you can enjoy cashew milk benefits. Drinking a nondairy milk is becoming the norm for more people, especially those who are lactose intolerant. Nondairy milk is also free of cholesterol or saturated fats. Cashew milk, in particular, is low in calories and sugar, as long as you either make your own or purchase "no sugar added" varieties from the supermarket. Other nutritional cashew milk benefits include a boost in the feel-good hormone tryptophan, which increases serotonin production in your brain and adds an extra dose of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that help keep your skin looking its best, according to the National Institute of Health.

How to Add It to Your Diet

Cashew milk is a wonderful alternative to traditional milk and can be enjoyed in anything from your daily cup of coffee to a cookie or cake recipe. While it hasn't gained as much popularity in recent years as almond milk, cashew milk has a versatile, light, creamy texture and a subtle nutty taste that tends to work well in both sweet and savory dishes. If you're curious about cashew milk benefits and uses but don't know where to start, consider some of these simple ways to enjoy cashew milk benefits at home:

  • Smoothies. Use cashew milk as a creamy base for any smoothie, whether it's an avocado and greens smoothie, mixed berries and yogurt, or chocolate banana and coffee.
  • Soups. Swap out a few cups of cashew milk for vegetable or chicken stock in your soup recipes to enjoy a creamier, more satisfying texture.
  • Ice cream. Use cashew milk as a healthy base for homemade ice cream this summer, with dates as a natural sweetener.
  • Salad dressings. Use a blender to make homemade, dairy-free dressings on the fly. Cashew milk is also a perfect base for a Caesar salad dressing.
  • Cereal and granola. Pour cashew milk over any cereal or oatmeal, with a dash of cinnamon for extra flavor and health benefits.
  • Curry sauce. Stir cashew milk into curry paste on the stove top, and serve it with your favorite choice of vegetables, meat, quinoa, or rice.

Creamy and versatile cashew milk is easy to make, offers a wealth of nutritional benefits, and provides fun and refreshing ways to enjoy your favorite recipes with a new twist.