Peanut, peanut, espagnoletta, arachis hypogaea … whatever you want to call it, this legume is definitely great when ground to butter. It is a delicious, versatile and perfect product in its simplicity; peanut butter accounts for a good chunk of US exports, where it is widespread. He is normally associated with George Washington Carver for his work on peanut cultivation and his information work on the nutritional benefits of this legume and its derivatives. Already among the Aztecs, peanut butter was obtained by grinding peanuts to obtain a food paste. Learn how to choose a good peanut butter to fill simple sandwiches, add it in preparations or incorporate it into more elaborate recipes.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Choosing a Good Peanut Butter
Step 1. Choose it plain or chopped
Just like there are Elvis fans and Beatles fans, there are two types of people in the world: those who love smooth peanut butter and those who love it in small pieces. The most important decision is also the funniest: Do you prefer crunchy butter or smooth and creamy butter? There is no wrong answer.
Studies have shown that, in the United States, women living on the east coast are more likely to buy the creamy version, while Californians (and West Coast residents in general) prefer the crunchy one
Step 2. Read the ingredient label
A good butter should only contain two ingredients: peanuts, salt and, at most, a sweetener like honey or sugar. If there are hydrogenated fats, avoid it. Natural peanut butter is more expensive because it only contains peanut oil, which will surface on the surface of the jar and will need to be stirred before each use.
The most important part is precisely the oil, which the large companies extract from the grinding of peanuts while transforming them into butter and then replacing it with sunflower oil. So even if you may think about buying a jar of pure peanut butter, be very careful as you may end up with cheaper ground peanut and other seed oil
Step 3. Avoid the "low fat" versions
While it may seem like a healthier version, "lean" peanut butter is usually full of hydrogenated oils and sugar that provide the same calories but make up for the lack of fat. This is a marketing ploy that doesn't take into account that the healthy fats in peanut butter are a better source of fat. The "lean" versions replace the "healthy" saturated fats with refined sugar and carbohydrates that cause blood sugar spikes. Nothing good.
Step 4. Consider grinding peanuts yourself
If you're a heavy eater of peanut butter, you could make your own treat by tweaking and perfecting the recipe. Take the peanuts you like best, work them in a blender, add a little salt or honey, to taste. As you grind, you should add a little oil. Check both the texture and flavor of the butter you are making.
- Remember to peel the peanuts before grinding them at high speed, and add some oil if necessary. Use whatever peanut variety you prefer, Valencia, Virginia, Spagnola and Runner are all great for making butter. Many prefer the Spanish variety because it has a slightly higher oil content. You can use raw peanuts too, but they will taste slightly different than roasted classic ones. If you want to make a treat, use honey roasted peanuts.
- In some health food stores, a grinding service is available, just like coffee. These are very quick grinders that give you freshly prepared butter. This is a quick and very convenient solution. Find one near your home and try it out!
Step 5. Consider other types of nut butters
Peanut is obviously a classic, but if you're looking for something different you can try exotic nuts. They are usually more expensive products but have completely different flavor characteristics. The most popular spreads and butters are:
- Almonds
- Cashew nuts
- Sunflower seeds
- Hazelnuts
- Peanuts are legumes, which means that if you have an allergy you should be better off with nuts, depending on the severity of your problem. Find alternatives that may work for you.
Step 6. Test the already mixed products
Why buy the jam on the side? You can buy peanut butter that is already mixed with some jelly, Nutella or marshmallow cream, or perhaps grape jam. It's too good to be true! While these additions can make butter harder and less spreadable, these are great fun alternatives, especially for kids.
Part 2 of 4: Typical Uses of Peanut Butter
Step 1. Spread it on toast
A quick but nutritious full breakfast includes a slice of toasted whole grain bread with a tablespoon or two of peanut butter. Warm bread, English muffins or pancakes make the butter warm, soft and delicious, as well as healthy. Start your day with a protein boost and you'll be focused and energetic all morning, kickstart your metabolism and have all the "fuel" you need. It is also a great snack.
A serving of peanut butter usually consists of two tablespoons containing 180-190 calories, 8 grams of protein, and 7-10% of the daily fiber allowance. Peanut butter is great for building tissue and strengthening the immune system
Step 2. Spread it on the fruit
Start your day with a serving of fruit, apples or bananas to get your metabolism up, but add a serving of peanut butter. Alternatively, you can dip the fruit directly into the jar, your breakfast will turn from good to excellent! Thanks to the proteins provided by the peanut butter, fruit will become a complete breakfast instead of just a snack. There is a supply of fiber, vitamins and proteins: it is difficult to imagine a quicker, tastier and simpler breakfast.
Step 3. Add it to smoothies and oatmeal for a higher protein intake
There are other typical breakfast foods that go well with peanut butter, both for its thick texture and for its sweet-salty flavor. Add a tablespoon to cooked oatmeal to spice up the flavor without using sugar, or use it as a thickener for a morning smoothie.
If you want a simple and nutritious smoothie, add half a cup of Greek yogurt in a blender, a banana, a cup of fresh or frozen berries, and a tablespoon of peanut butter. Start the blender to blend everything. If you want it to be slightly sweeter, add honey, supplements like whey protein or spirulina. If it is too thick, you can add some orange juice or honey
Step 4. Prepare a healthy snack
A classic healthy snack, which American mothers prepare for their children, consists of a stalk of celery covered with peanut butter on top of which raisins are incorporated. All this makes the snack look like a "log with ants" which is a lot of fun for children. The combination of different textures is loved by everyone, it is a healthy and fresh snack that allows even the most recalcitrant children to eat some vegetables.
Step 5. Eat it straight from the jar
Why waste time putting butter on something or on your plate? Students around the world know that spoonfuls of peanut butter are perfect meal replacements. There are far worse things you can eat as fast as peanut butter, such as jam.
Part 3 of 4: Make Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Step 1. Prepare the classic sandwich
What's better than a good old slice of bread with peanut butter and jam? From professional cyclists to bachelors too lazy to cook, bread, jam and peanut butter is a common element throughout Western civilization because it is practically perfect. And within this perfection, there is the possibility of indulging in a myriad of variations and options, making this snack simple and at the same time limitless.
The classic sandwich includes two slices of white bread such as pan carré. Spread a thin layer of butter on each slice and then add a layer of grape jam on one of the two. Close the sandwich, leaving the sides covered with butter inside, so that the jelly can impregnate the bread. Cut it in half and enjoy with a glass of milk
Step 2. Add some fruit
Start with two slices of toasted wholemeal bread. Spread a thin layer of natural, crunchy peanut butter on both slices of bread. On one of them, arrange banana slices, some honey - or Nutella if you want to be really super-greedy. Serve it with a cup of coffee, you've certainly never eaten anything better.
Step 3. With marshmallows
Start with your favorite bread, white is better. Spread one slice with creamy peanut butter while pouring marshmallow cream on the other. It is a very popular sandwich in New England, and is the unofficial sandwich in Massachusetts. Pair it with a cup of chilli hot chocolate.
Step 4. Try something extravagant, like with potatoes
Spread some crunchy peanut butter on your favorite bread, add some hot sauce (whichever you like best). Finally, fill the sandwich with some barbecue flavored chips or even plain chips. Accompany him with a nice beer but don't tell mom!
Step 5. Try the Elvis sandwich
The King of Rock's favorite sandwich is as epic as the character. Take a typical sandwich, not the one in a box or the one to be cut into slices like the Apulian one. Remove the excess crumb and add a thick layer of peanut butter, a generous amount of grape jam and a sliced banana. The finishing touch is a few strips of crispy fried bacon. Close the sandwich and fry it in bacon fat. Enjoy it with a grape drink. It is an amazing thing!
Part 4 of 4: Cooking with Peanut Butter
Step 1. Make a Thai sauce
Peanut sauce is great as a garnish both as a dip and for a wide variety of dishes, including fried, rice noodles, pork kebabs and other grilled meats. The basic ingredients are all readily available in your pantry, and you can whip up a Thai dinner on the fly for minimal expense.
Mix 2-3 tablespoons of your favorite peanut butter in a bowl with brown sugar, one teaspoon of soy sauce, sesame seed oil, rice vinegar, grated ginger, and sweet chili sauce to taste. Add a small amount of boiling water to dilute the consistency of the sauce. Adjust with spices to taste. Serve it with rice noodles or fried, decorate with chopped peanuts, green onion and parsley
Step 2. Make a coleslaw
If you have any leftover peanut butter sauce, mix it with a cold spicy coleslaw, add carrots, onion, peppers, parsley, and chopped peanuts.
Step 3. Make peanut soup
Although Americans like to claim peanut butter's authorship, African cuisine discovered this legume hundreds of years earlier. One of the most popular applications of peanuts is an aromatic broth with meat. It is delicious and simple to make.
To cook your version of this soup, bring to a boil 1.5kg of roasted chicken in chicken broth with garlic, onion, two chopped tomatoes, and some black pepper. When the ingredients start to boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer. In a saucepan, heat a couple of tablespoons of crispy peanut butter and boiling water over low heat until a liquid sauce is created. Drizzle with chili concentrate, chopped ginger, brown sugar, and soy sauce. When the oil begins to separate from the peanut sauce, add it to the pot with the broth, chicken and vegetables. Cook for 30 minutes
Step 4. Make a "sushi" with fruit and peanut butter
A great snack for school snacks is a simple roll of loaf bread, fruit and peanut butter. Take a slice of sandwich bread and spread a thin layer of butter. On the edge, arrange small slices of apple, pear, carrot or other fruit always parallel to the edge of the bread. Wrap everything in a tight roll and then slice it just like sushi. Arrange the pieces on a loaf and serve them with caramel sauce instead of soy sauce. Children will love them.
Step 5. Baked goods
Obviously, there is nothing better than peanut butter for a sweet dessert. It is an excellent complement to enrich chocolate cakes, it is versatile as a delicacy after dinner and for breakfast. Here are some typical sweets:
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Peanut Butter Balls
- Castagnaccio
- Chocolate and peanut butter cookies
- Peanut Butter Cake
