Instant Pot Cajun Spiced Walnuts

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Instant Pot Cajun Spiced Walnuts are buttery walnuts coated with a mixture of zesty spices in this easy-to-make recipe.

May 17th is National Walnut Day! Of course you must celebrate with walnuts. I suggest making Maple Walnut Fudge, Walnut Cake or these Instant Pot Cajun Spiced Walnuts!

Share the walnut love on social media today using the hashtags #NationalWalnutDay, #WalnutDay and #RecipesForHolidays.

Be sure to follow my May Food Holidays page so you never miss a food holiday in the month of May!

“They say that there are moments that open up your life like a walnut cracked, that change your point of view so that you never look at things the same way again.”

-Jodi Picoult

The History of Walnuts:

Walnuts are the oldest tree food known to man, dating back to 7,000 BC. Historians believe that walnuts contributed to the diet of early tribes of hunter gatherers. Early history suggests that walnuts came from ancient Persia, where they were reserved for royalty.

The Romans called walnuts “Jupiter’s royal acorn.”

Walnuts were traded along the Silk Road route between Asia and the Middle East. Trade of walnuts all over the world is what increased the popularity of the walnut.

Walnuts were first cultivated in California in the late 1700’s.

Today, the nut trade is big business! China is the world’s biggest producer of walnuts. California is second, producing 1 billion pounds of walnuts annually.

Ingredients Needed:

• egg white
• hot pepper sauce (like Tabasco)
• chili powder
• dried thyme
• dried oregano
• salt
• onion powder
• black pepper
• garlic powder
• walnut halves

How to make Instant Pot Cajun Spiced Walnuts:

The complete, printable recipe is at the end of this post.

In a medium bowl, combine the egg white and hot pepper sauce; stir well with a whisk until foamy. Beat in the chili powder and next 6 ingredients. Add the nuts to the egg white mixture, tossing to coat. Transfer the mixture to a 6-quart Instant Pot coated liberally with nonstick spray.

Cover the cooker with the lid, and lock the lid in place. Turn the steam release handle to the VENTING position. Select the SLOW COOK setting. Select the LOW temperature setting for 3 hours, stirring every hour.

Spread the nuts in an even layer on 2 baking sheets; cool completely. 

Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

What can you do with Cajun spiced walnuts? They’re a tasty snack or appetizer, for sure. They’re also great chopped up and added to salads. Enjoy!

Fun Facts About Walnuts:

• Walnuts are technically not a nut. They are the seed of a drupe.
• California produces more than 99% of the walnuts in the U.S. with more than 4500 walnut farms.
• Santa Barbara is the walnut capital of the world.
• The nutrition in walnuts makes them great pregnancy food.
• Walnuts can assist with sleep! They are a great source of tryptophan, and they contain melatonin too.
• Maintain freshness of walnuts by keeping them cold in the fridge or freezer.