🥜 Nuts & Seeds

Best Cashew Substitutes for Curry: Indian Cooking Guide

Find the best cashew substitutes for curry, butter chicken, and Indian cooking. Discover which nuts work best in traditional Indian dishes and get perfect ratios.

✓

Quick Answer

The best cashew substitutes for curry are almonds, walnuts, and pine nuts using a 1:1 ratio. Almonds are the most traditional substitute in Indian cooking, while walnuts add richness and pine nuts provide creaminess.

Best Substitutes

Almonds

1:1

Almonds are the most traditional cashew substitute in Indian cooking. They have a similar texture and mild flavor that complements Indian spices perfectly.

Best for:

butter chickenpaneer butter masalatikka masalaIndian currykormawhen you want traditional flavor

Almonds are the most commonly used cashew substitute in Indian cooking. Toast them lightly before adding to curry for best flavor. They provide a similar creamy texture when ground.

Walnuts

1:1

Walnuts add a rich, earthy flavor to Indian curries and work well as a cashew substitute. They provide good texture and complement Indian spices.

Best for:

butter chickenIndian currywhen you want richer flavorkormacreamy curries

Walnuts have a more pronounced flavor than cashews and add richness to curries. They work well in dishes where you want a stronger nut presence.

Pine Nuts

1:1

Pine nuts provide a creamy texture similar to cashews and work well in Indian curries. They have a mild, buttery flavor that complements spices.

Best for:

butter chickencreamy currieswhen you want creamy texturekormamild curries

Pine nuts are more expensive than cashews but provide excellent creaminess in curries. They work particularly well in creamy Indian dishes.

Macadamia Nuts

1:1

Macadamia nuts are the closest substitute to cashews with their creamy texture and mild flavor. Perfect for Indian curries and creamy dishes.

Best for:

butter chickenpaneer butter masalacreamy currieswhen you want closest matchkorma

Macadamia nuts are the most similar to cashews in both texture and flavor. They're perfect when you want the closest possible substitute in Indian cooking.

Brazil Nuts

1:1

Brazil nuts offer a rich, creamy texture that works well in Indian curries. They add a slightly different flavor profile but complement Indian spices well.

Best for:

Indian currywhen you want rich flavorcreamy currieskorma

Brazil nuts are larger and have a richer flavor than cashews. They work well in Indian curries where you want a more substantial nut presence.

Pecans

1:1

Pecans add a sweet, buttery flavor to Indian curries and work well as a cashew substitute. They provide good texture and complement mild spices.

Best for:

mild currieswhen you want sweet flavorkormacreamy curries

Pecans have a sweeter flavor than cashews and work particularly well in mild Indian curries. They add a nice sweetness to the dish.

Cooking Tips

💡Toast nuts lightly before adding to curry for enhanced flavor
💡For creamy curries, grind nuts into a paste before adding
💡Almonds are the most traditional cashew substitute in Indian cooking
💡Add nuts towards the end of cooking to maintain their texture
💡For butter chicken, almonds work best as a cashew substitute
💡In paneer butter masala, walnuts add nice richness

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best substitute for cashews in butter chicken?

Almonds are the best substitute for cashews in butter chicken. They have a similar texture and mild flavor that complements the rich, creamy sauce. Use a 1:1 ratio and toast them lightly before adding to the curry.

Can I substitute walnuts for cashews in Indian curry?

Yes, walnuts work well as a cashew substitute in Indian curry. They add a rich, earthy flavor that complements Indian spices. Use a 1:1 ratio and consider grinding them for creamy curries.

What's the best substitute for cashews in paneer butter masala?

Almonds and walnuts are the best substitutes for cashews in paneer butter masala. Almonds provide traditional flavor, while walnuts add richness. Use a 1:1 ratio and toast them lightly for best results.

Can I use pine nuts instead of cashews in curry?

Yes, pine nuts work well as a cashew substitute in curry. They provide a creamy texture and mild, buttery flavor that complements Indian spices. Use a 1:1 ratio for best results.

What's the best substitute for cashews in tikka masala?

Almonds are the best substitute for cashews in tikka masala. They have a similar texture and mild flavor that works well with the creamy tomato sauce. Use a 1:1 ratio and toast them lightly before adding.