Brazil Nuts

Also indexed as: Cream Nuts, Para Nuts

Preparation, uses, and tips

Shelled Brazil nuts can be eaten whole as snacks or covered in chocolate as a confection. They can also be sliced, chopped, or finely milled and used in sweet and savoury dishes, such as cookies and cakes or salads and stuffing. Since they have a similar taste, Brazil nuts can replace macadamia nuts as well as coconuts in most recipes. For ease in opening hard Brazil nut shells, soak the nuts in water and boil them to soften the shell.

Buying and storing tips

Unshelled Brazil nuts will keep for a few months if stored in a cool, dry place. Once shelled, the nuts must be kept under refrigeration in a tightly sealed container where they will keep for a few months.

Varieties

Brazil nuts are the edible seeds of a giant South American tree (Bertholletia excelsa) that grows wild in the Amazon River basin.

Nutrition Highlights

Brazil nuts (unblanched), 6–8 kernels (1 oz. [28g])
Calories: 186
Protein: 4.0g
Carbohydrate: 3.6g
Total Fat: 18.8g
Fiber: 1.5g
*Excellent source of: Selenium (839mcg)
*Good source of: Magnesium (63.8mg), and Thiamine (0.28mg)

*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value, based upon United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the USDA Recommended Daily Value. Nutritional information and daily nutritional guidelines may vary in different countries. Please consult the appropriate organization in your country for specific nutritional values and the recommended daily guidelines.

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The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or chemist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires August 2007.