Walnuts are one of the best plant-based sources of Omega-3s that you can find, and these mildly-flavored nuts pack in plenty of Vitamin E, too. Add to that a significant amount of fiber and protein, and you’ve got one healthy ingredient. If you’re used to snacking on your walnuts straight out of the bag, check out these recipes for a few more ideas…
1. Walnut-Orange Vinaigrette
Sick of the same old salad dressing? Try this one on your next salad: walnut oil, fresh-squeezed orange juice, red-wine vinegar, finely chopped garlic, and orange zest, seasoned with salt, pepper, and a dash of soy sauce.
A little sweet and a little tangy, this recipe for walnut-infused dressing is sure to add a dose of zing to any salad. Add chopped walnuts for extra crunch!
2. Walnut, Dill, and Tuna Salad
With Omega-3s from both walnuts and tuna, this is one power-packed dish. Spice up plain old chunk tuna with chopped walnuts, fresh dill, and chopped celery and carrot.
Instead of using mayo to hold it all together, try nonfat yogurt with a little lemon juice. Season with salt, pepper, minced garlic, and cayenne. Check out this walnut, dill, and tuna salad recipe for more tips!
3. Walnut-Tomato Pesto
Add some oomph to your next pasta or pizza dish with this walnut-tomato pesto recipe. Toss fresh basil leaves, chopped walnuts, and sun dried tomatoes into your food processor, and whizz together with olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of Parmesan. If you’re using this to top pasta, make it saucier by adding some of the cooking water until it’s a saucier texture, or just use it as a dip for veggies or crostini!